100 Best Physical Therapy 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 Physical Therapy. A graph of 2.84M citations received by 171K academic papers made by 317 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 Physical Therapy

#1 in Asia

#68 in the World

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

2. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Physical Therapy

#8 in Asia

#153 in the World

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

3. Kyoto University

For Physical Therapy

#9 in Asia

#158 in the World

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

4. Osaka University

For Physical Therapy

#11 in Asia

#174 in the World

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

5. Nagoya University

For Physical Therapy

#19 in Asia

#227 in the World

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

6. Tohoku University

For Physical Therapy

#21 in Asia

#230 in the World

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

7. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Physical Therapy

#28 in Asia

#260 in the World

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

8. Keio University

For Physical Therapy

#30 in Asia

#280 in the World

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

9. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Physical Therapy

#32 in Asia

#286 in the World

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

10. Waseda University

For Physical Therapy

#36 in Asia

#298 in the World

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

11. Health Science University

Japan | Fujikawaguchiko

For Physical Therapy

#37 in Asia

#300 in the World

Founded: 2003

12. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Physical Therapy

#46 in Asia

#363 in the World

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

13. Juntendo University

For Physical Therapy

#53 in Asia

#394 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1836

14. Kobe University

For Physical Therapy

#61 in Asia

#419 in the World

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

15. Kitasato University

For Physical Therapy

#64 in Asia

#432 in the World

Founded: 1962

16. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Physical Therapy

#68 in Asia

#458 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

17. Chiba University

For Physical Therapy

#69 in Asia

#467 in the World

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

18. Nihon University

For Physical Therapy

#72 in Asia

#482 in the World

Founded: 1889

19. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Physical Therapy

#83 in Asia

#536 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

20. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Physical Therapy

#89 in Asia

#560 in the World

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

21. Ritsumeikan University

For Physical Therapy

#99 in Asia

#582 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

22. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Physical Therapy

#102 in Asia

#589 in the World

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

23. Osaka City University

For Physical Therapy

#106 in Asia

#598 in the World

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

24. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Physical Therapy

#108 in Asia

#604 in the World

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

25. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Physical Therapy

#110 in Asia

#622 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

26. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Physical Therapy

#116 in Asia

#634 in the World

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

27. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Physical Therapy

#118 in Asia

#641 in the World

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

28. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Physical Therapy

#130 in Asia

#683 in the World

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

29. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Physical Therapy

#131 in Asia

#688 in the World

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

30. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Physical Therapy

#139 in Asia

#711 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

31. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Physical Therapy

#144 in Asia

#730 in the World

Founded: 1934

32. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Physical Therapy

#146 in Asia

#738 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

33. Gifu University

For Physical Therapy

#148 in Asia

#748 in the World

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

34. Sapporo Medical University

Japan | Sapporo

For Physical Therapy

#150 in Asia

#753 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1950

35. International University of Health and Welfare

Japan | Otawara

For Physical Therapy

#153 in Asia

#767 in the World

Founded: 1995

36. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Physical Therapy

#156 in Asia

#780 in the World

Founded: 1949

37. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Physical Therapy

#157 in Asia

#781 in the World

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

38. Tokai University

For Physical Therapy

#160 in Asia

#785 in the World

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

39. Akita University

For Physical Therapy

#166 in Asia

#797 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Founded: 1949

40. Teikyo University

For Physical Therapy

#167 in Asia

#805 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

41. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Physical Therapy

#172 in Asia

#821 in the World

Founded: 1978

42. Nippon Medical School

For Physical Therapy

#176 in Asia

#830 in the World

Founded: 1904

43. Jikei University School of Medicine

For Physical Therapy

#180 in Asia

#838 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 981
Founded: 1881

44. Tokyo Medical University

For Physical Therapy

#187 in Asia

#853 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1916

45. Fukushima Medical University

Japan | Fukushima

For Physical Therapy

#188 in Asia

#855 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1952

46. Showa University

For Physical Therapy

#190 in Asia

#857 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

47. Nagoya City University

For Physical Therapy

#191 in Asia

#858 in the World

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

48. Fujita Health University

Japan | Toyoake

For Physical Therapy

#194 in Asia

#862 in the World

Enrollment: 3,106
Founded: 1964

49. Nara Medical University

Japan | Kashihara

For Physical Therapy

#195 in Asia

#865 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1945

50. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Physical Therapy

#198 in Asia

#871 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

51. National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya

For Physical Therapy

#199 in Asia

#872 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1981

52. Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine

For Physical Therapy

#200 in Asia

#873 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1872

53. Toho University

For Physical Therapy

#205 in Asia

#888 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

54. Saga University

For Physical Therapy

#211 in Asia

#902 in the World

Founded: 1949

55. Tokyo University of Science

For Physical Therapy

#212 in Asia

#907 in the World

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

56. Mie University

For Physical Therapy

#224 in Asia

#929 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Founded: 1949

57. Wakayama Medical University

Japan | Wakayama

For Physical Therapy

#235 in Asia

#953 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1945

58. Niigata University of Health and Welfare

Japan | Niigata

For Physical Therapy

#238 in Asia

#957 in the World

Founded: 2001

59. Saitama Medical School

Japan | Moroyama

For Physical Therapy

#242 in Asia

#970 in the World

Founded: 1972

60. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Physical Therapy

#243 in Asia

#972 in the World

Founded: 1972

61. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Physical Therapy

#247 in Asia

#976 in the World

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

62. Kurume University

For Physical Therapy

#252 in Asia

#987 in the World

Founded: 1928

63. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Physical Therapy

#255 in Asia

#1009 in the World

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

64. St. Marianna University School of Medicine

Japan | Kawasaki

For Physical Therapy

#264 in Asia

#1029 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1971

65. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Physical Therapy

#276 in Asia

#1050 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

66. Osaka Prefecture University

For Physical Therapy

#279 in Asia

#1055 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

67. Hyogo College of Medicine

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Physical Therapy

#285 in Asia

#1066 in the World

Founded: 1971

68. Nippon Sport Science University

For Physical Therapy

#308 in Asia

#1120 in the World

Founded: 1891

69. Kansai Medical University

Japan | Moriguchi

For Physical Therapy

#310 in Asia

#1123 in the World

Founded: 1928

70. Tokyo University of Agriculture

For Physical Therapy

#312 in Asia

#1127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1891

71. Aichi Medical University

Japan | Nagakute

For Physical Therapy

#314 in Asia

#1130 in the World

Founded: 1971

72. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Physical Therapy

#319 in Asia

#1143 in the World

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

73. University of Fukui

For Physical Therapy

#322 in Asia

#1146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

74. Oita University

For Physical Therapy

#323 in Asia

#1150 in the World

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

75. University of Electro-Communications

For Physical Therapy

#324 in Asia

#1151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1949

76. Shimane University

For Physical Therapy

#326 in Asia

#1156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

77. University of Miyazaki

Japan | Miyazaki

For Physical Therapy

#331 in Asia

#1167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1949

78. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Physical Therapy

#337 in Asia

#1185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1949

79. Osaka Medical College

Japan | Takatsuki

For Physical Therapy

#338 in Asia

#1190 in the World

Founded: 1927

80. Nagaoka University of Technology

Japan | Nagaoka

For Physical Therapy

#344 in Asia

#1206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1976

81. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Physical Therapy

#348 in Asia

#1212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

82. University of Toyama

For Physical Therapy

#351 in Asia

#1216 in the World

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

83. Tohoku Pharmaceutical University

For Physical Therapy

#355 in Asia

#1227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1939

84. Kyorin University

For Physical Therapy

#357 in Asia

#1230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

85. University of Yamanashi

For Physical Therapy

#363 in Asia

#1241 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

86. Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare

Japan | Kurashiki

For Physical Therapy

#369 in Asia

#1259 in the World

Founded: 1991

87. Shibaura Institute of Technology

For Physical Therapy

#370 in Asia

#1260 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Founded: 1949

88. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Physical Therapy

#376 in Asia

#1271 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1905

89. Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences

Japan | Kumatori

For Physical Therapy

#385 in Asia

#1293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 2,500
Founded: 1965

90. Hamamatsu University School of Medicine

Japan | Hamamatsu

For Physical Therapy

#388 in Asia

#1302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1974

91. Tokyo University of the Arts

For Physical Therapy

#395 in Asia

#1322 in the World

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

92. Shiga University of Medical Science

For Physical Therapy

#397 in Asia

#1331 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1974

93. Chukyo University

For Physical Therapy

#402 in Asia

#1346 in the World

Founded: 1927

94. Toyo University

For Physical Therapy

#403 in Asia

#1349 in the World

Founded: 1887

95. Dokkyo Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Physical Therapy

#412 in Asia

#1366 in the World

Founded: 1972

96. Doshisha University

For Physical Therapy

#415 in Asia

#1376 in the World

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

97. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Physical Therapy

#434 in Asia

#1431 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1907

98. Kansai University

For Physical Therapy

#437 in Asia

#1436 in the World

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

99. Kochi University

For Physical Therapy

#441 in Asia

#1444 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

100. Kochi University of Technology

For Physical Therapy

#442 in Asia

#1447 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1997

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

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

Plastic Surgery73

Public Health292

Radiation Therapy123

Radiology and Nuclear medicine336

Respiratory Therapy86

Sonography and Ultrasound93

Sports / Exercise science58

Sports Medicine242