100 Best universities for Physics 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 Physics. A graph of 57.7M citations received by 3.06M academic papers made by 513 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 Physics

#1 in Asia

#5 in the World

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

2. Kyoto University

For Physics

#3 in Asia

#14 in the World

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

3. Tohoku University

For Physics

#4 in Asia

#24 in the World

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

4. Osaka University

For Physics

#5 in Asia

#25 in the World

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

5. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Physics

#14 in Asia

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

6. Nagoya University

For Physics

#19 in Asia

#70 in the World

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

7. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Physics

#21 in Asia

#78 in the World

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

8. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Physics

#33 in Asia

#112 in the World

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

9. Tokyo University of Science

For Physics

#55 in Asia

#192 in the World

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

10. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Physics

#58 in Asia

#205 in the World

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

11. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Physics

#70 in Asia

#255 in the World

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

12. Keio University

For Physics

#80 in Asia

#283 in the World

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

13. Waseda University

For Physics

#82 in Asia

#299 in the World

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

14. Kobe University

For Physics

#103 in Asia

#378 in the World

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

15. Chiba University

For Physics

#108 in Asia

#397 in the World

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

16. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Physics

#112 in Asia

#422 in the World

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

17. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Physics

#123 in Asia

#458 in the World

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

18. Osaka Prefecture University

For Physics

#132 in Asia

#483 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

19. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Physics

#142 in Asia

#521 in the World

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

20. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Physics

#146 in Asia

#531 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

21. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Physics

#154 in Asia

#548 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1905

22. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Physics

#156 in Asia

#557 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

23. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Physics

#166 in Asia

#589 in the World

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

24. Nihon University

For Physics

#168 in Asia

#594 in the World

Founded: 1889

25. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Physics

#176 in Asia

#607 in the World

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

26. Osaka City University

For Physics

#177 in Asia

#608 in the World

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

27. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Physics

#178 in Asia

#609 in the World

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

28. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Physics

#182 in Asia

#616 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1949

29. University of Electro-Communications

For Physics

#188 in Asia

#625 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1949

30. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Physics

#198 in Asia

#683 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

31. Toyohashi University of Technology

Japan | Toyohashi

For Physics

#199 in Asia

#685 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1976

32. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Physics

#200 in Asia

#687 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

33. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Physics

#203 in Asia

#695 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1907

34. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Physics

#208 in Asia

#700 in the World

Founded: 1949

35. Nagaoka University of Technology

Japan | Nagaoka

For Physics

#220 in Asia

#739 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1976

36. Kyoto Institute of Technology

For Physics

#223 in Asia

#748 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

37. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Physics

#226 in Asia

#753 in the World

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

38. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Physics

#227 in Asia

#754 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

39. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Physics

#233 in Asia

#766 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

40. Gifu University

For Physics

#236 in Asia

#771 in the World

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

41. Tokai University

For Physics

#245 in Asia

#802 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

42. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Physics

#248 in Asia

#809 in the World

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

43. Ritsumeikan University

For Physics

#255 in Asia

#821 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

44. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Physics

#256 in Asia

#822 in the World

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

45. Mie University

For Physics

#260 in Asia

#833 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Founded: 1949

46. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Physics

#280 in Asia

#874 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

47. Ibaraki University

For Physics

#290 in Asia

#907 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

48. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Physics

#293 in Asia

#917 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

49. University of Yamanashi

For Physics

#297 in Asia

#925 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

50. University of Toyama

For Physics

#306 in Asia

#948 in the World

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

51. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Physics

#309 in Asia

#953 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

52. Saga University

For Physics

#314 in Asia

#970 in the World

Founded: 1949

53. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For Physics

#315 in Asia

#972 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1990

54. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Physics

#321 in Asia

#985 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

55. Kansai University

For Physics

#326 in Asia

#992 in the World

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

56. Doshisha University

For Physics

#357 in Asia

#1039 in the World

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

57. University of Fukui

For Physics

#367 in Asia

#1064 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

58. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Physics

#385 in Asia

#1092 in the World

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

59. Sophia University

For Physics

#392 in Asia

#1117 in the World

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

60. University of Hyogo

For Physics

#405 in Asia

#1143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 6,551
Founded: 2004

61. Okayama University of Science

Japan | Okayama

For Physics

#409 in Asia

#1151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1962

62. Meijo University

For Physics

#412 in Asia

#1162 in the World

Founded: 1926

63. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Physics

#429 in Asia

#1193 in the World

Founded: 1934

64. Iwate University

Japan | Morioka

For Physics

#430 in Asia

#1195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 5,402
Founded: 1949

65. Aoyama Gakuin University

For Physics

#433 in Asia

#1202 in the World

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

66. Shimane University

For Physics

#434 in Asia

#1204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

67. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Physics

#445 in Asia

#1224 in the World

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

68. Kanagawa University

Japan | Yokohama

For Physics

#448 in Asia

#1228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1949

69. Chuo University

Japan | Hachioji

For Physics

#455 in Asia

#1243 in the World

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

70. Akita University

For Physics

#461 in Asia

#1253 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Founded: 1949

71. Toho University

For Physics

#469 in Asia

#1266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

72. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Physics

#470 in Asia

#1267 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 25,679
Founded: 1912

73. Toyota Technological Institute

For Physics

#472 in Asia

#1273 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1981

74. Meiji University

For Physics

#481 in Asia

#1297 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1881

75. Kitasato University

For Physics

#485 in Asia

#1308 in the World

Founded: 1962

76. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Physics

#498 in Asia

#1336 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

77. Shibaura Institute of Technology

For Physics

#508 in Asia

#1356 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Founded: 1949

78. Utsunomiya University

Japan | Utsunomiya

For Physics

#539 in Asia

#1423 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

79. Nagoya City University

For Physics

#540 in Asia

#1424 in the World

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

80. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Physics

#541 in Asia

#1425 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

81. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Physics

#553 in Asia

#1451 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1949

82. Hosei University

For Physics

#564 in Asia

#1478 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1880

83. Oita University

For Physics

#565 in Asia

#1479 in the World

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

84. Juntendo University

For Physics

#571 in Asia

#1491 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1836

85. Muroran Institute of Technology

Japan | Muroran

For Physics

#576 in Asia

#1499 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1949

86. Teikyo University

For Physics

#577 in Asia

#1500 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

87. Tokyo Denki University

For Physics

#581 in Asia

#1505 in the World

Founded: 1907

88. Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine

For Physics

#593 in Asia

#1527 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1872

89. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Physics

#597 in Asia

#1535 in the World

Founded: 1972

90. University of Miyazaki

Japan | Miyazaki

For Physics

#598 in Asia

#1536 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1949

91. Showa University

For Physics

#600 in Asia

#1538 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

92. Chubu University

Japan | Kasugai

For Physics

#608 in Asia

#1556 in the World

Founded: 1938

93. Nagaoka University

Japan | Nagaoka

For Physics

#619 in Asia

#1573 in the World

Founded: 2001

94. Kanazawa Institute of Technology

Japan | Nonoichi

For Physics

#622 in Asia

#1582 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1965

95. Chiba Institute of Technology

Japan | Narashino

For Physics

#626 in Asia

#1587 in the World

Founded: 1942

96. Gakushuin University

For Physics

#639 in Asia

#1606 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 9,240
Founded: 1877

97. Ochanomizu University

For Physics

#641 in Asia

#1609 in the World

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

98. Rikkyo University

For Physics

#642 in Asia

#1611 in the World

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

99. Kochi University

For Physics

#645 in Asia

#1617 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

100. University of Shizuoka

Japan | Shizuoka

For Physics

#655 in Asia

#1629 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1987

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

Physics subfields in Japan

Acoustical Engineering280

Applied/Engineering Physics96

Astrobiology126

Astrophysics and Astronomy292

Atomic and Molecular physics191

Condensed Matter Physics203

Materials Science388

Medical Physics80

Nanotechnology246

Nuclear Physics282

Optical Engineering353

Quantum and Particle physics452

Theoretical Physics133