100 Best universities for Physics 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 Physics. A graph of 60.2M citations received by 3.11M academic papers made by 515 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: 28,918
Founded: 1877

2. Kyoto University

For Physics

#3 in Asia

#16 in the World

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

3. Tohoku University

For Physics

#5 in Asia

#25 in the World

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

4. Osaka University

For Physics

#6 in Asia

#26 in the World

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

5. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Physics

#15 in Asia

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

6. Nagoya University

For Physics

#20 in Asia

#72 in the World

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

7. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Physics

#22 in Asia

#81 in the World

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

8. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Physics

#34 in Asia

#113 in the World

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

9. Tokyo University of Science

For Physics

#58 in Asia

#198 in the World

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

10. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Physics

#61 in Asia

#209 in the World

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

11. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Physics

#74 in Asia

#260 in the World

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

12. Keio University

For Physics

#84 in Asia

#289 in the World

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

13. Waseda University

For Physics

#88 in Asia

#306 in the World

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

14. Kobe University

For Physics

#107 in Asia

#387 in the World

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

15. Chiba University

For Physics

#111 in Asia

#405 in the World

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

16. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Physics

#116 in Asia

#430 in the World

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

17. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Physics

#127 in Asia

#465 in the World

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

18. Osaka Prefecture University

For Physics

#138 in Asia

#495 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

19. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Physics

#151 in Asia

#531 in the World

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

20. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Physics

#155 in Asia

#543 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

21. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Physics

#162 in Asia

#562 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1905

22. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Physics

#163 in Asia

#568 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

23. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Physics

#177 in Asia

#601 in the World

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

24. Nihon University

For Physics

#182 in Asia

#610 in the World

Founded: 1889

25. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Physics

#183 in Asia

#615 in the World

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

26. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Physics

#187 in Asia

#626 in the World

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

27. Osaka City University

For Physics

#188 in Asia

#627 in the World

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

28. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Physics

#189 in Asia

#629 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1949

29. University of Electro-Communications

For Physics

#191 in Asia

#634 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1949

30. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Physics

#208 in Asia

#699 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

31. Toyohashi University of Technology

Japan | Toyohashi

For Physics

#210 in Asia

#701 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1976

32. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Physics

#212 in Asia

#705 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

33. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Physics

#215 in Asia

#709 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1907

34. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Physics

#218 in Asia

#714 in the World

Founded: 1949

35. Nagaoka University of Technology

Japan | Nagaoka

For Physics

#231 in Asia

#755 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1976

36. Kyoto Institute of Technology

For Physics

#234 in Asia

#762 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

37. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Physics

#238 in Asia

#769 in the World

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

38. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Physics

#241 in Asia

#774 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

39. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Physics

#250 in Asia

#790 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

40. Gifu University

For Physics

#251 in Asia

#795 in the World

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

41. Ritsumeikan University

For Physics

#261 in Asia

#823 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

42. Tokai University

For Physics

#263 in Asia

#827 in the World

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

43. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Physics

#266 in Asia

#833 in the World

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

44. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Physics

#270 in Asia

#840 in the World

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

45. Mie University

For Physics

#278 in Asia

#859 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Founded: 1949

46. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Physics

#286 in Asia

#884 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

47. Ibaraki University

For Physics

#302 in Asia

#928 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

48. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Physics

#303 in Asia

#930 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

49. University of Yamanashi

For Physics

#306 in Asia

#942 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

50. University of Toyama

For Physics

#315 in Asia

#961 in the World

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

51. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Physics

#318 in Asia

#978 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

52. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For Physics

#326 in Asia

#989 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1990

53. Saga University

For Physics

#329 in Asia

#993 in the World

Founded: 1949

54. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Physics

#331 in Asia

#995 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

55. Kansai University

For Physics

#347 in Asia

#1017 in the World

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

56. Doshisha University

For Physics

#372 in Asia

#1060 in the World

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

57. University of Fukui

For Physics

#386 in Asia

#1088 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

58. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Physics

#403 in Asia

#1120 in the World

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

59. Sophia University

For Physics

#416 in Asia

#1154 in the World

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

60. University of Hyogo

For Physics

#422 in Asia

#1169 in the World

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

61. Okayama University of Science

Japan | Okayama

For Physics

#434 in Asia

#1193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1962

62. Meijo University

For Physics

#436 in Asia

#1196 in the World

Founded: 1926

63. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Physics

#452 in Asia

#1224 in the World

Founded: 1934

64. Iwate University

Japan | Morioka

For Physics

#456 in Asia

#1232 in the World

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

65. Shimane University

For Physics

#457 in Asia

#1233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

66. Aoyama Gakuin University

For Physics

#458 in Asia

#1234 in the World

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

67. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Physics

#460 in Asia

#1238 in the World

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

68. Kanagawa University

Japan | Yokohama

For Physics

#466 in Asia

#1254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1949

69. Chuo University

Japan | Hachioji

For Physics

#470 in Asia

#1263 in the World

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

70. Akita University

For Physics

#477 in Asia

#1278 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Founded: 1949

71. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Physics

#478 in Asia

#1280 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 26,248
Founded: 1912

72. Toho University

For Physics

#487 in Asia

#1293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

73. Toyota Technological Institute

For Physics

#490 in Asia

#1301 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1981

74. Meiji University

For Physics

#497 in Asia

#1320 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1881

75. Kitasato University

For Physics

#508 in Asia

#1340 in the World

Founded: 1962

76. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Physics

#513 in Asia

#1350 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

77. Shibaura Institute of Technology

For Physics

#525 in Asia

#1376 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Founded: 1949

78. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Physics

#558 in Asia

#1455 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

79. Nagoya City University

For Physics

#560 in Asia

#1458 in the World

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

80. Utsunomiya University

Japan | Utsunomiya

For Physics

#562 in Asia

#1460 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

81. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Physics

#568 in Asia

#1475 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1949

82. Oita University

For Physics

#584 in Asia

#1504 in the World

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

83. Hosei University

For Physics

#588 in Asia

#1510 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1880

84. Juntendo University

For Physics

#591 in Asia

#1513 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1836

85. Teikyo University

For Physics

#602 in Asia

#1532 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

86. Muroran Institute of Technology

Japan | Muroran

For Physics

#604 in Asia

#1535 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1949

87. Tokyo Denki University

For Physics

#609 in Asia

#1544 in the World

Founded: 1907

88. Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine

For Physics

#614 in Asia

#1551 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1872

89. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Physics

#616 in Asia

#1553 in the World

Founded: 1972

90. University of Miyazaki

Japan | Miyazaki

For Physics

#619 in Asia

#1564 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1949

91. Showa University

For Physics

#621 in Asia

#1569 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

92. Chubu University

Japan | Kasugai

For Physics

#627 in Asia

#1578 in the World

Founded: 1938

93. Chiba Institute of Technology

Japan | Narashino

For Physics

#652 in Asia

#1621 in the World

Founded: 1942

94. Nagaoka University

Japan | Nagaoka

For Physics

#662 in Asia

#1632 in the World

Founded: 2001

95. Kanazawa Institute of Technology

Japan | Nonoichi

For Physics

#663 in Asia

#1633 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 5,917
Founded: 1965

96. Rikkyo University

For Physics

#666 in Asia

#1638 in the World

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

97. Kochi University

For Physics

#670 in Asia

#1646 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

98. Gakushuin University

For Physics

#673 in Asia

#1650 in the World

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

99. Ochanomizu University

For Physics

#676 in Asia

#1655 in the World

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

100. University of Shizuoka

Japan | Shizuoka

For Physics

#684 in Asia

#1666 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 Engineering285

Applied/Engineering Physics96

Astrobiology129

Astrophysics and Astronomy296

Atomic and Molecular physics189

Condensed Matter Physics203

Materials Science392

Medical Physics78

Nanotechnology248

Nuclear Physics283

Optical Engineering356

Quantum and Particle physics456

Theoretical Physics133