100 Best Medical schools in Japan

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Japan ranked based on their research performance in Medicine. A graph of 46.7M citations received by 2.39M academic papers made by 517 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

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 28,218
Founded: 1877

2. Osaka University

For Medicine

#2 in Asia

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 23,123
Male:Female: 68:32
Founded: 1931

3. Kyoto University

For Medicine

#3 in Asia

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 22,455
Male:Female: 76:24
Founded: 1897

4. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Medicine

#13 in Asia

#116 in the World

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

5. Tohoku University

For Medicine

#14 in Asia

#127 in the World

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

6. Nagoya University

For Medicine

#20 in Asia

#156 in the World

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

7. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Medicine

#22 in Asia

#160 in the World

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

8. Keio University

For Medicine

#29 in Asia

#210 in the World

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

9. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Medicine

#34 in Asia

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

10. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Medicine

#37 in Asia

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 16,507
Male:Female: 61:39
Founded: 1973

11. Chiba University

For Medicine

#40 in Asia

#255 in the World

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

12. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Medicine

#41 in Asia

#257 in the World

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

13. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Medicine

#44 in Asia

#275 in the World

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

14. Kobe University

For Medicine

#49 in Asia

#296 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 15,871
Founded: 1902

15. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Medicine

#50 in Asia

#299 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 10,127
Male:Female: 64:36
Founded: 1949

16. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Medicine

#54 in Asia

#309 in the World

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

17. Juntendo University

For Medicine

#60 in Asia

#334 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 3,802
Founded: 1836

18. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Medicine

#63 in Asia

#366 in the World

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

19. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Medicine

#64 in Asia

#371 in the World

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

20. Osaka City University

For Medicine

#67 in Asia

#378 in the World

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

21. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Medicine

#68 in Asia

#381 in the World

Founded: 1972

22. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Medicine

#71 in Asia

#389 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1928

23. Nihon University

For Medicine

#72 in Asia

#395 in the World

Enrollment: 77,651
Male:Female: 68:32
Founded: 1889

24. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Medicine

#74 in Asia

#399 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

25. Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine

For Medicine

#77 in Asia

#409 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 1,223
Founded: 1872

26. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Medicine

#80 in Asia

#419 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Enrollment: 6,556
Male:Female: 63:37
Founded: 1949

27. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Medicine

#86 in Asia

#433 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1949

28. Kurume University

For Medicine

#88 in Asia

#437 in the World

Founded: 1928

29. Kitasato University

For Medicine

#90 in Asia

#440 in the World

Enrollment: 8,576
Male:Female: 46:54
Founded: 1962

30. Sapporo Medical University

Japan | Sapporo

For Medicine

#93 in Asia

#450 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1950

31. Tokyo University of Science

For Medicine

#94 in Asia

#453 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1881

32. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Medicine

#95 in Asia

#455 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 10,357
Founded: 1881

33. Gifu University

For Medicine

#96 in Asia

#458 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 7,227
Male:Female: 65:35
Founded: 1949

34. Nippon Medical School

For Medicine

#97 in Asia

#462 in the World

Founded: 1904

35. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Medicine

#99 in Asia

#467 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 10,661
Male:Female: 62:38
Founded: 1949

36. Nagoya City University

For Medicine

#101 in Asia

#475 in the World

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

37. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Medicine

#102 in Asia

#480 in the World

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

38. Showa University

For Medicine

#106 in Asia

#490 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

39. Jikei University School of Medicine

For Medicine

#111 in Asia

#502 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

40. Mie University

For Medicine

#112 in Asia

#503 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Male:Female: 63:37
Founded: 1949

41. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Medicine

#114 in Asia

#511 in the World

Founded: 1949

42. Tokai University

For Medicine

#122 in Asia

#526 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 28,535
Founded: 1946

43. Teikyo University

For Medicine

#126 in Asia

#538 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

44. Toho University

For Medicine

#128 in Asia

#543 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

45. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Medicine

#129 in Asia

#544 in the World

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

46. Nara Medical University

Japan | Kashihara

For Medicine

#130 in Asia

#545 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1945

47. Saitama Medical School

Japan | Moroyama

For Medicine

#136 in Asia

#563 in the World

Founded: 1972

48. Hyogo College of Medicine

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Medicine

#139 in Asia

#575 in the World

Founded: 1971

49. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Medicine

#142 in Asia

#583 in the World

Enrollment: 20,356
Founded: 1934

50. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Medicine

#146 in Asia

#589 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 6,195
Founded: 1949

51. Kansai Medical University

Japan | Moriguchi

For Medicine

#149 in Asia

#594 in the World

Enrollment: 782
Founded: 1928

52. Hamamatsu University School of Medicine

Japan | Hamamatsu

For Medicine

#153 in Asia

#603 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 934
Male:Female: 51:49
Founded: 1974

53. Shiga University of Medical Science

For Medicine

#154 in Asia

#604 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Enrollment: 1,107
Founded: 1974

54. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Medicine

#155 in Asia

#605 in the World

Founded: 1978

55. Tokyo Medical University

For Medicine

#158 in Asia

#611 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1916

56. Health Science University

Japan | Fujikawaguchiko

For Medicine

#162 in Asia

#623 in the World

Founded: 2003

57. Fujita Health University

Japan | Toyoake

For Medicine

#170 in Asia

#653 in the World

Enrollment: 3,065
Male:Female: 44:56
Founded: 1964

58. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Medicine

#172 in Asia

#660 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

59. Fukushima Medical University

Japan | Fukushima

For Medicine

#173 in Asia

#661 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 1,095
Founded: 1952

60. Shimane University

For Medicine

#176 in Asia

#666 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

61. Tohoku Pharmaceutical University

For Medicine

#177 in Asia

#667 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1939

62. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Medicine

#180 in Asia

#678 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

63. Akita University

For Medicine

#185 in Asia

#685 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 5,157
Founded: 1949

64. Iwate Medical University

Japan | Morioka

For Medicine

#188 in Asia

#699 in the World

Founded: 1928

65. Osaka Medical College

Japan | Takatsuki

For Medicine

#193 in Asia

#716 in the World

Enrollment: 1,195
Male:Female: 53:47
Founded: 1927

66. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Medicine

#194 in Asia

#718 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 6,539
Founded: 1949

67. Wakayama Medical University

Japan | Wakayama

For Medicine

#196 in Asia

#720 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1945

68. Waseda University

For Medicine

#200 in Asia

#731 in the World

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

69. St. Marianna University School of Medicine

Japan | Kawasaki

For Medicine

#206 in Asia

#737 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1971

70. Kyorin University

For Medicine

#209 in Asia

#742 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 4,820
Founded: 1966

71. Oita University

For Medicine

#215 in Asia

#761 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 5,781
Male:Female: 62:38
Founded: 1949

72. University of Toyama

For Medicine

#217 in Asia

#766 in the World

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

73. University of Yamanashi

For Medicine

#224 in Asia

#790 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

74. University of Fukui

For Medicine

#225 in Asia

#794 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 5,167
Founded: 1949

75. University of Miyazaki

Japan | Miyazaki

For Medicine

#242 in Asia

#841 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1949

76. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Medicine

#248 in Asia

#859 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

77. Aichi Medical University

Japan | Nagakute

For Medicine

#254 in Asia

#882 in the World

Enrollment: 1,239
Founded: 1971

78. Kanazawa Medical University

For Medicine

#257 in Asia

#888 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 913
Founded: 1972

79. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Medicine

#261 in Asia

#900 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

80. Kyoto Pharmaceutical University

For Medicine

#265 in Asia

#912 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 2,301
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1884

81. Dokkyo University

For Medicine

#276 in Asia

#940 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 8,675
Male:Female: 53:47
Founded: 1964

82. Osaka Prefecture University

For Medicine

#277 in Asia

#944 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Enrollment: 8,051
Founded: 1949

83. Saga University

For Medicine

#279 in Asia

#955 in the World

Founded: 1949

84. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Medicine

#286 in Asia

#969 in the World

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

85. Kochi University

For Medicine

#311 in Asia

#1043 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

86. University of Shizuoka

Japan | Shizuoka

For Medicine

#320 in Asia

#1066 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1987

87. Tokyo Dental College

For Medicine

#322 in Asia

#1072 in the World

Founded: 1890

88. Dokkyo Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Medicine

#340 in Asia

#1120 in the World

Founded: 1972

89. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Medicine

#360 in Asia

#1172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

90. Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science

Japan | Hachioji

For Medicine

#385 in Asia

#1231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1880

91. Tokyo University of Agriculture

For Medicine

#392 in Asia

#1243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1891

92. Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine

Japan | Obihiro

For Medicine

#394 in Asia

#1247 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Enrollment: 1,337
Founded: 1941

93. International University of Health and Welfare

Japan | Otawara

For Medicine

#430 in Asia

#1313 in the World

Enrollment: 6,130
Founded: 1995

94. Ritsumeikan University

For Medicine

#441 in Asia

#1330 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

95. Asahikawa Medical University

Japan | Asahikawa

For Medicine

#446 in Asia

#1341 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 1,132
Male:Female: 56:44
Founded: 1973

96. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Medicine

#449 in Asia

#1346 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 10,090
Founded: 1949

97. Aichi Gakuin University

Japan | Nisshin

For Medicine

#451 in Asia

#1357 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1953

98. Hoshi University

For Medicine

#455 in Asia

#1365 in the World

Enrollment: 1,640
Founded: 1911

99. Gifu Pharmaceutical University

For Medicine

#458 in Asia

#1372 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1932

100. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Medicine

#464 in Asia

#1394 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Enrollment: 5,776
Founded: 1905

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 Physiology343

Anesthesiology202

Bioethics/Medical Ethics25

Biomedical Engineering136

Clinical Psychology165

Critical Care Nursing87

Family medicine118

Forensic Science27

Gastroenterology and Hepatology152

Health Science127

Healthcare Management (MHA)95

Medical Physics81

Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB-GYN)98

Occupational Therapy81

Oncology and Cancer research215

Ophthalmology120

Orthodontics128

Paramedicine and Emergency medicine96

Pharmacology205

Physical Therapy298

Plastic Surgery69

Public Health278

Radiation Therapy119

Radiology and Nuclear medicine321

Respiratory Therapy88

Sonography and Ultrasound89

Sports / Exercise science50

Sports Medicine226