100 Best Medical schools in Japan

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Japan ranked based on their research performance in Medicine. A graph of 59.2M citations received by 2.65M academic papers made by 521 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 Medicine

#1 in Asia

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 28,479
Founded: 1877

2. Osaka University

For Medicine

#2 in Asia

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 23,123
Founded: 1931

3. Kyoto University

For Medicine

#4 in Asia

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 22,455
Founded: 1897

4. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Medicine

#16 in Asia

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 18,560
Founded: 1911

5. Tohoku University

For Medicine

#20 in Asia

#142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 17,591
Founded: 1907

6. Nagoya University

For Medicine

#23 in Asia

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 15,834
Founded: 1939

7. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Medicine

#24 in Asia

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 17,541
Founded: 1918

8. Keio University

For Medicine

#31 in Asia

#214 in the World

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

9. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Medicine

#37 in Asia

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

10. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Medicine

#43 in Asia

#269 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 16,507
Founded: 1973

11. Chiba University

For Medicine

#44 in Asia

#270 in the World

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

12. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Medicine

#48 in Asia

#280 in the World

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

13. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Medicine

#51 in Asia

#289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 15,066
Founded: 1949

14. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Medicine

#52 in Asia

#304 in the World

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

15. Kobe University

For Medicine

#55 in Asia

#310 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 15,999
Founded: 1902

16. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Medicine

#56 in Asia

#312 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 7,629
Founded: 1949

17. Juntendo University

For Medicine

#62 in Asia

#339 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1836

18. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Medicine

#68 in Asia

#375 in the World

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

19. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Medicine

#69 in Asia

#377 in the World

Founded: 1972

20. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Medicine

#70 in Asia

#378 in the World

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

21. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Medicine

#75 in Asia

#395 in the World

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

22. Osaka City University

For Medicine

#76 in Asia

#396 in the World

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

23. Nihon University

For Medicine

#78 in Asia

#404 in the World

Founded: 1889

24. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Medicine

#81 in Asia

#417 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

25. Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine

For Medicine

#84 in Asia

#424 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1872

26. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Medicine

#90 in Asia

#439 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

27. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Medicine

#93 in Asia

#446 in the World

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

28. Kitasato University

For Medicine

#94 in Asia

#447 in the World

Founded: 1962

29. Kurume University

For Medicine

#95 in Asia

#450 in the World

Founded: 1928

30. Sapporo Medical University

Japan | Sapporo

For Medicine

#101 in Asia

#461 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1950

31. Nippon Medical School

For Medicine

#104 in Asia

#470 in the World

Founded: 1904

32. Gifu University

For Medicine

#105 in Asia

#478 in the World

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

33. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Medicine

#106 in Asia

#479 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

34. Nagoya City University

For Medicine

#110 in Asia

#493 in the World

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

35. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Medicine

#113 in Asia

#498 in the World

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

36. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Medicine

#115 in Asia

#503 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

37. Showa University

For Medicine

#118 in Asia

#509 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

38. Jikei University School of Medicine

For Medicine

#119 in Asia

#510 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

39. Mie University

For Medicine

#122 in Asia

#516 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Founded: 1949

40. Tokyo University of Science

For Medicine

#123 in Asia

#519 in the World

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

41. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Medicine

#128 in Asia

#534 in the World

Founded: 1949

42. Tokai University

For Medicine

#131 in Asia

#541 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

43. Toho University

For Medicine

#135 in Asia

#557 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

44. Teikyo University

For Medicine

#138 in Asia

#565 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

45. Nara Medical University

Japan | Kashihara

For Medicine

#139 in Asia

#566 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1945

46. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Medicine

#142 in Asia

#572 in the World

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

47. Saitama Medical School

Japan | Moroyama

For Medicine

#144 in Asia

#580 in the World

Founded: 1972

48. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Medicine

#151 in Asia

#601 in the World

Founded: 1934

49. Hyogo College of Medicine

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Medicine

#155 in Asia

#608 in the World

Founded: 1971

50. Kansai Medical University

Japan | Moriguchi

For Medicine

#156 in Asia

#609 in the World

Founded: 1928

51. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Medicine

#161 in Asia

#618 in the World

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

52. Shiga University of Medical Science

For Medicine

#167 in Asia

#629 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1974

53. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Medicine

#169 in Asia

#636 in the World

Founded: 1978

54. Tokyo Medical University

For Medicine

#170 in Asia

#640 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1916

55. Hamamatsu University School of Medicine

Japan | Hamamatsu

For Medicine

#172 in Asia

#647 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1974

56. Fukushima Medical University

Japan | Fukushima

For Medicine

#182 in Asia

#680 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1952

57. Fujita Health University

Japan | Toyoake

For Medicine

#184 in Asia

#683 in the World

Enrollment: 3,106
Founded: 1964

58. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Medicine

#189 in Asia

#698 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

59. Shimane University

For Medicine

#192 in Asia

#701 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

60. Tohoku Pharmaceutical University

For Medicine

#199 in Asia

#716 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1939

61. Health Science University

Japan | Fujikawaguchiko

For Medicine

#204 in Asia

#727 in the World

Founded: 2003

62. Akita University

For Medicine

#206 in Asia

#731 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Founded: 1949

63. Iwate Medical University

Japan | Morioka

For Medicine

#207 in Asia

#733 in the World

Founded: 1928

64. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Medicine

#208 in Asia

#738 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

65. Wakayama Medical University

Japan | Wakayama

For Medicine

#211 in Asia

#750 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1945

66. Osaka Medical College

Japan | Takatsuki

For Medicine

#212 in Asia

#753 in the World

Founded: 1927

67. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Medicine

#213 in Asia

#754 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1949

68. Waseda University

For Medicine

#219 in Asia

#768 in the World

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

69. Kyorin University

For Medicine

#221 in Asia

#772 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

70. St. Marianna University School of Medicine

Japan | Kawasaki

For Medicine

#222 in Asia

#773 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1971

71. University of Toyama

For Medicine

#227 in Asia

#783 in the World

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

72. Oita University

For Medicine

#231 in Asia

#797 in the World

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

73. University of Fukui

For Medicine

#239 in Asia

#819 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

74. University of Yamanashi

For Medicine

#240 in Asia

#822 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

75. University of Miyazaki

Japan | Miyazaki

For Medicine

#264 in Asia

#891 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1949

76. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Medicine

#272 in Asia

#905 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

77. Kanazawa Medical University

For Medicine

#275 in Asia

#912 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1972

78. Aichi Medical University

Japan | Nagakute

For Medicine

#278 in Asia

#922 in the World

Founded: 1971

79. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Medicine

#292 in Asia

#969 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

80. Saga University

For Medicine

#294 in Asia

#981 in the World

Founded: 1949

81. Kyoto Pharmaceutical University

For Medicine

#295 in Asia

#985 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1884

82. Dokkyo University

For Medicine

#305 in Asia

#1005 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1964

83. Osaka Prefecture University

For Medicine

#312 in Asia

#1019 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

84. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Medicine

#314 in Asia

#1021 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Enrollment: 9,059
Founded: 2005

85. Kochi University

For Medicine

#334 in Asia

#1075 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

86. Tokyo Dental College

For Medicine

#344 in Asia

#1094 in the World

Founded: 1890

87. Dokkyo Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Medicine

#354 in Asia

#1124 in the World

Founded: 1972

88. University of Shizuoka

Japan | Shizuoka

For Medicine

#355 in Asia

#1130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1987

89. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Medicine

#412 in Asia

#1255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

90. International University of Health and Welfare

Japan | Otawara

For Medicine

#444 in Asia

#1317 in the World

Founded: 1995

91. Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine

Japan | Obihiro

For Medicine

#454 in Asia

#1342 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Enrollment: 1,353
Founded: 1941

92. Tokyo University of Agriculture

For Medicine

#464 in Asia

#1367 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1891

93. Ritsumeikan University

For Medicine

#475 in Asia

#1386 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

94. Asahikawa Medical University

Japan | Asahikawa

For Medicine

#477 in Asia

#1390 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Founded: 1973

95. Aichi Gakuin University

Japan | Nisshin

For Medicine

#479 in Asia

#1392 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1953

96. Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science

Japan | Hachioji

For Medicine

#485 in Asia

#1409 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1880

97. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Medicine

#503 in Asia

#1459 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1949

98. Kyushu Dental College

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Medicine

#507 in Asia

#1469 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1914

99. Gifu Pharmaceutical University

For Medicine

#513 in Asia

#1481 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1932

100. Hoshi University

For Medicine

#514 in Asia

#1482 in the World

Founded: 1911

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

Medicine subfields in Japan

Anatomy and Physiology348

Anesthesiology210

Bioethics/Medical Ethics26

Biomedical Engineering140

Clinical Psychology182

Critical Care Nursing93

Family medicine132

Forensic Science26

Gastroenterology and Hepatology156

Health Science138

Healthcare Management (MHA)101

Medical Physics80

Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB-GYN)99

Occupational Therapy89

Oncology and Cancer research219

Ophthalmology121

Orthodontics138

Paramedicine and Emergency medicine98

Pharmacology212

Physical Therapy311

Plastic Surgery73

Public Health289

Radiation Therapy122

Radiology and Nuclear medicine332

Respiratory Therapy86

Sonography and Ultrasound91

Sports / Exercise science56

Sports Medicine236