100 Best Medical schools 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 Medicine. A graph of 62.1M citations received by 2.73M 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

#46 in the World

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

2. Osaka University

For Medicine

#4 in Asia

#67 in the World

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

3. Kyoto University

For Medicine

#5 in Asia

#69 in the World

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

4. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Medicine

#19 in Asia

#133 in the World

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

5. Tohoku University

For Medicine

#21 in Asia

#144 in the World

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

6. Nagoya University

For Medicine

#25 in Asia

#167 in the World

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

7. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Medicine

#26 in Asia

#168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 17,770
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

#38 in Asia

#247 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

10. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Medicine

#46 in Asia

#273 in the World

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

11. Chiba University

For Medicine

#47 in Asia

#274 in the World

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

12. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Medicine

#50 in Asia

#286 in the World

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

13. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Medicine

#52 in Asia

#293 in the World

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

14. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Medicine

#54 in Asia

#308 in the World

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

15. Kobe University

For Medicine

#57 in Asia

#314 in the World

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

16. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Medicine

#58 in Asia

#318 in the World

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

17. Juntendo University

For Medicine

#64 in Asia

#341 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1836

18. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Medicine

#71 in Asia

#380 in the World

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

19. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Medicine

#74 in Asia

#384 in the World

Founded: 1972

20. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Medicine

#75 in Asia

#391 in the World

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

21. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Medicine

#76 in Asia

#394 in the World

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

22. Osaka City University

For Medicine

#79 in Asia

#406 in the World

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

23. Nihon University

For Medicine

#80 in Asia

#410 in the World

Founded: 1889

24. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Medicine

#84 in Asia

#421 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

25. Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine

For Medicine

#88 in Asia

#431 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1872

26. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Medicine

#96 in Asia

#449 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

27. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Medicine

#98 in Asia

#455 in the World

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

28. Kitasato University

For Medicine

#101 in Asia

#458 in the World

Founded: 1962

29. Kurume University

For Medicine

#103 in Asia

#462 in the World

Founded: 1928

30. Sapporo Medical University

Japan | Sapporo

For Medicine

#105 in Asia

#474 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1950

31. Nippon Medical School

For Medicine

#106 in Asia

#479 in the World

Founded: 1904

32. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Medicine

#111 in Asia

#491 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

33. Gifu University

For Medicine

#113 in Asia

#493 in the World

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

34. Nagoya City University

For Medicine

#116 in Asia

#502 in the World

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

35. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Medicine

#118 in Asia

#505 in the World

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

36. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Medicine

#120 in Asia

#512 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

37. Jikei University School of Medicine

For Medicine

#121 in Asia

#516 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 981
Founded: 1881

38. Showa University

For Medicine

#123 in Asia

#520 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

39. Mie University

For Medicine

#125 in Asia

#529 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Founded: 1949

40. Tokyo University of Science

For Medicine

#127 in Asia

#534 in the World

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

41. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Medicine

#134 in Asia

#547 in the World

Founded: 1949

42. Tokai University

For Medicine

#136 in Asia

#550 in the World

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

43. Toho University

For Medicine

#141 in Asia

#570 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

44. Nara Medical University

Japan | Kashihara

For Medicine

#144 in Asia

#578 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1945

45. Teikyo University

For Medicine

#146 in Asia

#581 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

46. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Medicine

#148 in Asia

#585 in the World

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

47. Saitama Medical School

Japan | Moroyama

For Medicine

#150 in Asia

#589 in the World

Founded: 1972

48. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Medicine

#161 in Asia

#616 in the World

Founded: 1934

49. Kansai Medical University

Japan | Moriguchi

For Medicine

#164 in Asia

#622 in the World

Founded: 1928

50. Hyogo College of Medicine

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Medicine

#165 in Asia

#627 in the World

Founded: 1971

51. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Medicine

#166 in Asia

#630 in the World

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

52. Shiga University of Medical Science

For Medicine

#169 in Asia

#636 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1974

53. Tokyo Medical University

For Medicine

#170 in Asia

#638 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1916

54. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Medicine

#171 in Asia

#643 in the World

Founded: 1978

55. Hamamatsu University School of Medicine

Japan | Hamamatsu

For Medicine

#174 in Asia

#651 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1974

56. Fukushima Medical University

Japan | Fukushima

For Medicine

#190 in Asia

#686 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1952

57. Fujita Health University

Japan | Toyoake

For Medicine

#191 in Asia

#692 in the World

Enrollment: 3,106
Founded: 1964

58. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Medicine

#199 in Asia

#716 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

59. Shimane University

For Medicine

#200 in Asia

#719 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

60. Tohoku Pharmaceutical University

For Medicine

#205 in Asia

#735 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1939

61. Akita University

For Medicine

#209 in Asia

#748 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Founded: 1949

62. Iwate Medical University

Japan | Morioka

For Medicine

#210 in Asia

#749 in the World

Founded: 1928

63. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Medicine

#212 in Asia

#753 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

64. Health Science University

Japan | Fujikawaguchiko

For Medicine

#213 in Asia

#754 in the World

Founded: 2003

65. Wakayama Medical University

Japan | Wakayama

For Medicine

#215 in Asia

#758 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1945

66. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Medicine

#220 in Asia

#770 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1949

67. Osaka Medical College

Japan | Takatsuki

For Medicine

#221 in Asia

#771 in the World

Founded: 1927

68. Waseda University

For Medicine

#222 in Asia

#773 in the World

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

69. Kyorin University

For Medicine

#226 in Asia

#781 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

70. St. Marianna University School of Medicine

Japan | Kawasaki

For Medicine

#227 in Asia

#782 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1971

71. University of Toyama

For Medicine

#232 in Asia

#789 in the World

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

72. Oita University

For Medicine

#237 in Asia

#807 in the World

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

73. University of Fukui

For Medicine

#249 in Asia

#835 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

74. University of Yamanashi

For Medicine

#250 in Asia

#837 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

75. University of Miyazaki

Japan | Miyazaki

For Medicine

#277 in Asia

#914 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1949

76. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Medicine

#281 in Asia

#926 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

77. Kanazawa Medical University

For Medicine

#285 in Asia

#934 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1972

78. Aichi Medical University

Japan | Nagakute

For Medicine

#287 in Asia

#939 in the World

Founded: 1971

79. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Medicine

#294 in Asia

#976 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

80. Saga University

For Medicine

#296 in Asia

#984 in the World

Founded: 1949

81. Kyoto Pharmaceutical University

For Medicine

#308 in Asia

#1009 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1884

82. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Medicine

#318 in Asia

#1028 in the World

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

83. Osaka Prefecture University

For Medicine

#322 in Asia

#1040 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

84. Dokkyo University

For Medicine

#324 in Asia

#1044 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1964

85. Kochi University

For Medicine

#341 in Asia

#1086 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

86. Tokyo Dental College

For Medicine

#354 in Asia

#1114 in the World

Founded: 1890

87. Dokkyo Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Medicine

#358 in Asia

#1119 in the World

Founded: 1972

88. University of Shizuoka

Japan | Shizuoka

For Medicine

#373 in Asia

#1163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1987

89. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Medicine

#427 in Asia

#1274 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

90. International University of Health and Welfare

Japan | Otawara

For Medicine

#437 in Asia

#1294 in the World

Founded: 1995

91. Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine

Japan | Obihiro

For Medicine

#471 in Asia

#1369 in the World

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

92. Asahikawa Medical University

Japan | Asahikawa

For Medicine

#476 in Asia

#1382 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Founded: 1973

93. Ritsumeikan University

For Medicine

#479 in Asia

#1387 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

94. Aichi Gakuin University

Japan | Nisshin

For Medicine

#487 in Asia

#1409 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1953

95. Tokyo University of Agriculture

For Medicine

#491 in Asia

#1416 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1891

96. Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science

Japan | Hachioji

For Medicine

#498 in Asia

#1432 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1880

97. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Medicine

#523 in Asia

#1498 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1949

98. Kyushu Dental College

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Medicine

#525 in Asia

#1502 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1914

99. Gifu Pharmaceutical University

For Medicine

#528 in Asia

#1509 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1932

100. Hoshi University

For Medicine

#533 in Asia

#1518 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 Physiology350

Anesthesiology210

Bioethics/Medical Ethics23

Biomedical Engineering142

Clinical Psychology185

Critical Care Nursing96

Family medicine135

Forensic Science26

Gastroenterology and Hepatology159

Health Science143

Healthcare Management (MHA)102

Medical Physics78

Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB-GYN)100

Occupational Therapy90

Oncology and Cancer research222

Ophthalmology124

Orthodontics140

Paramedicine and Emergency medicine102

Pharmacology215

Physical Therapy317

Plastic Surgery73

Public Health292

Radiation Therapy123

Radiology and Nuclear medicine336

Respiratory Therapy86

Sonography and Ultrasound93

Sports / Exercise science58

Sports Medicine242