100 Best universities for Sociology in Japan

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Japan ranked based on their research performance in Sociology. A graph of 7.33M citations received by 377K academic papers made by 438 universities in Japan was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Tokyo

For Sociology

#7 in Asia

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 28,918
Founded: 1877

2. Kyoto University

For Sociology

#9 in Asia

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 22,365
Founded: 1897

3. Osaka University

For Sociology

#33 in Asia

#371 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 23,234
Founded: 1931

4. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Sociology

#35 in Asia

#392 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 18,813
Founded: 1911

5. Tohoku University

For Sociology

#37 in Asia

#414 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 17,975
Founded: 1907

6. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Sociology

#50 in Asia

#469 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 17,770
Founded: 1918

7. Nagoya University

For Sociology

#57 in Asia

#492 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 15,959
Founded: 1939

8. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Sociology

#61 in Asia

#515 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 16,684
Founded: 1973

9. Keio University

For Sociology

#80 in Asia

#609 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 33,518
Founded: 1858

10. Waseda University

For Sociology

#97 in Asia

#694 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 47,094
Founded: 1882

11. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Sociology

#98 in Asia

#697 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 15,505
Founded: 1949

12. Kobe University

For Sociology

#105 in Asia

#731 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 16,214
Founded: 1902

13. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Sociology

#120 in Asia

#778 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

14. Chiba University

For Sociology

#159 in Asia

#919 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 13,983
Founded: 1949

15. Nihon University

For Sociology

#192 in Asia

#994 in the World

Founded: 1889

16. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Sociology

#201 in Asia

#1023 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 13,057
Founded: 1922

17. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Sociology

#202 in Asia

#1025 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

18. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Sociology

#227 in Asia

#1134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Enrollment: 9,126
Founded: 2005

19. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Sociology

#250 in Asia

#1189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 12,068
Founded: 1922

20. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Sociology

#251 in Asia

#1191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 9,090
Founded: 1949

21. Tokyo University of Science

For Sociology

#253 in Asia

#1194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 19,768
Founded: 1881

22. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Sociology

#283 in Asia

#1297 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 10,127
Founded: 1949

23. Ritsumeikan University

For Sociology

#285 in Asia

#1300 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

24. Osaka City University

For Sociology

#329 in Asia

#1430 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Enrollment: 8,230
Founded: 1928

25. Juntendo University

For Sociology

#342 in Asia

#1458 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1836

26. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Sociology

#357 in Asia

#1508 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

27. Gifu University

For Sociology

#366 in Asia

#1532 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 7,227
Founded: 1949

28. University of Electro-Communications

For Sociology

#370 in Asia

#1544 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1949

29. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Sociology

#373 in Asia

#1549 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 10,849
Founded: 1949

30. Tokai University

For Sociology

#379 in Asia

#1567 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 29,700
Founded: 1946

31. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Sociology

#380 in Asia

#1570 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 9,033
Founded: 1949

32. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Sociology

#382 in Asia

#1576 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 11,098
Founded: 1949

33. Hitotsubashi University

Japan | Kunitachi

For Sociology

#387 in Asia

#1591 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 6,287
Founded: 1875

34. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Sociology

#397 in Asia

#1625 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 38,857
Founded: 1949

35. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Sociology

#409 in Asia

#1657 in the World

Founded: 1972

36. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Sociology

#419 in Asia

#1678 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 5,198
Founded: 1928

37. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Sociology

#421 in Asia

#1685 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

38. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Sociology

#430 in Asia

#1698 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 6,179
Founded: 1949

39. Doshisha University

For Sociology

#442 in Asia

#1735 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 28,354
Founded: 1920

40. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Sociology

#449 in Asia

#1758 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

41. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Sociology

#457 in Asia

#1771 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

42. Mie University

For Sociology

#478 in Asia

#1805 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Founded: 1949

43. Nagoya City University

For Sociology

#483 in Asia

#1816 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Enrollment: 4,685
Founded: 1950

44. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Sociology

#495 in Asia

#1852 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

45. Shiga University of Medical Science

For Sociology

#513 in Asia

#1912 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1974

46. University of Toyama

For Sociology

#519 in Asia

#1923 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 9,208
Founded: 1975

47. Shimane University

For Sociology

#528 in Asia

#1943 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

48. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For Sociology

#534 in Asia

#1955 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1990

49. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Sociology

#535 in Asia

#1962 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1949

50. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Sociology

#546 in Asia

#1992 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

51. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Sociology

#548 in Asia

#1995 in the World

Founded: 1978

52. Teikyo University

For Sociology

#558 in Asia

#2020 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

53. Kitasato University

For Sociology

#559 in Asia

#2023 in the World

Founded: 1962

54. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Sociology

#568 in Asia

#2047 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

55. Osaka Prefecture University

For Sociology

#574 in Asia

#2058 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

56. Kansai University

For Sociology

#575 in Asia

#2059 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 29,749
Founded: 1922

57. Kurume University

For Sociology

#578 in Asia

#2067 in the World

Founded: 1928

58. Showa University

For Sociology

#580 in Asia

#2072 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

59. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Sociology

#581 in Asia

#2074 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

60. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Sociology

#588 in Asia

#2092 in the World

Founded: 1949

61. Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine

For Sociology

#594 in Asia

#2108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1872

62. University of Yamanashi

For Sociology

#597 in Asia

#2122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

63. Sapporo Medical University

Japan | Sapporo

For Sociology

#598 in Asia

#2124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1950

64. Toho University

For Sociology

#599 in Asia

#2125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

65. Saga University

For Sociology

#601 in Asia

#2128 in the World

Founded: 1949

66. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Sociology

#605 in Asia

#2144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

67. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Sociology

#621 in Asia

#2175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

68. Nippon Medical School

For Sociology

#630 in Asia

#2196 in the World

Founded: 1904

69. Fukushima Medical University

Japan | Fukushima

For Sociology

#635 in Asia

#2205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1952

70. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Sociology

#651 in Asia

#2249 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 26,248
Founded: 1912

71. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Sociology

#654 in Asia

#2257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1905

72. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Sociology

#657 in Asia

#2264 in the World

Founded: 1934

73. Sophia University

For Sociology

#658 in Asia

#2265 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 13,280
Founded: 1913

74. Aoyama Gakuin University

For Sociology

#661 in Asia

#2273 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 20,285
Founded: 1874

75. Hosei University

For Sociology

#663 in Asia

#2283 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1880

76. Meiji University

For Sociology

#667 in Asia

#2297 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1881

77. Chuo University

Japan | Hachioji

For Sociology

#676 in Asia

#2315 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 31,739
Founded: 1885

78. Fujita Health University

Japan | Toyoake

For Sociology

#684 in Asia

#2328 in the World

Enrollment: 3,106
Founded: 1964

79. Rikkyo University

For Sociology

#693 in Asia

#2350 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 20,720
Founded: 1922

80. Nanzan University

For Sociology

#696 in Asia

#2354 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 9,883
Founded: 1949

81. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Sociology

#706 in Asia

#2387 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1907

82. Jikei University School of Medicine

For Sociology

#718 in Asia

#2406 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 981
Founded: 1881

83. Akita University

For Sociology

#733 in Asia

#2438 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Founded: 1949

84. University of Fukui

For Sociology

#752 in Asia

#2477 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

85. Iwate Medical University

Japan | Morioka

For Sociology

#763 in Asia

#2505 in the World

Founded: 1928

86. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Sociology

#776 in Asia

#2539 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1949

87. Ochanomizu University

For Sociology

#805 in Asia

#2597 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 2,075
Founded: 1874

88. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Sociology

#811 in Asia

#2610 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

89. Tokyo University of the Arts

For Sociology

#813 in Asia

#2613 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Enrollment: 3,217
Founded: 1949

90. Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST)

For Sociology

#819 in Asia

#2622 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 237
Male:Female: 56:44

91. University of Miyazaki

Japan | Miyazaki

For Sociology

#836 in Asia

#2664 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1949

92. Hamamatsu University School of Medicine

Japan | Hamamatsu

For Sociology

#837 in Asia

#2666 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1974

93. University of Aizu

Japan | Aizuwakamatsu

For Sociology

#857 in Asia

#2704 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 1,371
Founded: 1993

94. Nara Women's University

For Sociology

#864 in Asia

#2716 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 2,631
Founded: 1908

95. Tokyo Medical University

For Sociology

#867 in Asia

#2720 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1916

96. Ibaraki University

For Sociology

#870 in Asia

#2725 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

97. Nara Medical University

Japan | Kashihara

For Sociology

#874 in Asia

#2736 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1945

98. Oita University

For Sociology

#887 in Asia

#2758 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 5,781
Founded: 1949

99. St. Marianna University School of Medicine

Japan | Kawasaki

For Sociology

#888 in Asia

#2767 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1971

100. Ryukoku University

For Sociology

#902 in Asia

#2797 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1639

The best cities to study Sociology in Japan based on the number of universities and their ranks are Tokyo, Kyoto, Suita, and Fukuoka.

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Japan

Anthropology163

Broadcast Journalism9

Classics and Ancient History93

Communications and Public Relations49

Criminology and Criminal Justice11

Early Childhood Education7

Education Majors170

Forensic Science26

Gender Studies37

Human Rights Law2

Intellectual Property and Patent Law16

International Law10

International Relations and Diplomacy18

Journalism and Digital Media24

Law Enforcement8

Library and Information science143

Media Studies17

Military science10

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution17

Occupational Safety and Health28

Political Economy19

Political Science431

Public Policy / Administration31

Radio and Television broadcasting15

Special Education15

Sports / Exercise science58

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies148

Urban and Regional planning35