100 Best universities for Physics 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 Physics. A graph of 45.5M citations received by 2.77M academic papers made by 503 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

#4 in the World

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

2. Kyoto University

For Physics

#3 in Asia

#10 in the World

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

3. Tohoku University

For Physics

#4 in Asia

#22 in the World

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

4. Osaka University

For Physics

#5 in Asia

#23 in the World

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

5. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Physics

#12 in Asia

#48 in the World

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

6. Nagoya University

For Physics

#17 in Asia

#66 in the World

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

7. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Physics

#19 in Asia

#71 in the World

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

8. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Physics

#30 in Asia

#104 in the World

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

9. Tokyo University of Science

For Physics

#48 in Asia

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1881

10. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Physics

#55 in Asia

#195 in the World

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

11. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Physics

#68 in Asia

#246 in the World

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

12. Keio University

For Physics

#78 in Asia

#281 in the World

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

13. Waseda University

For Physics

#80 in Asia

#288 in the World

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

14. Kobe University

For Physics

#98 in Asia

#368 in the World

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

15. Chiba University

For Physics

#103 in Asia

#381 in the World

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

16. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Physics

#107 in Asia

#399 in the World

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

17. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Physics

#114 in Asia

#436 in the World

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

18. Osaka Prefecture University

For Physics

#120 in Asia

#449 in the World

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

19. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Physics

#134 in Asia

#507 in the World

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

20. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Physics

#136 in Asia

#517 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

21. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Physics

#138 in Asia

#520 in the World

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

22. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Physics

#147 in Asia

#532 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

23. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Physics

#160 in Asia

#570 in the World

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

24. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Physics

#161 in Asia

#572 in the World

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

25. Osaka City University

For Physics

#162 in Asia

#579 in the World

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

26. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Physics

#163 in Asia

#584 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1949

27. Nihon University

For Physics

#164 in Asia

#585 in the World

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

28. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Physics

#165 in Asia

#587 in the World

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

29. University of Electro-Communications

For Physics

#170 in Asia

#603 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 5,329
Founded: 1949

30. Toyohashi University of Technology

Japan | Toyohashi

For Physics

#189 in Asia

#649 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1976

31. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Physics

#191 in Asia

#658 in the World

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

32. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Physics

#197 in Asia

#673 in the World

Founded: 1949

33. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Physics

#200 in Asia

#678 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

34. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Physics

#201 in Asia

#680 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 5,876
Founded: 1907

35. Kyoto Institute of Technology

For Physics

#206 in Asia

#708 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

36. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Physics

#207 in Asia

#709 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

37. Nagaoka University of Technology

Japan | Nagaoka

For Physics

#211 in Asia

#720 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1976

38. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Physics

#217 in Asia

#736 in the World

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

39. Gifu University

For Physics

#218 in Asia

#741 in the World

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

40. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Physics

#223 in Asia

#760 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

41. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Physics

#225 in Asia

#768 in the World

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

42. Tokai University

For Physics

#228 in Asia

#774 in the World

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

43. Mie University

For Physics

#229 in Asia

#775 in the World

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

44. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Physics

#235 in Asia

#790 in the World

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

45. Ritsumeikan University

For Physics

#243 in Asia

#808 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

46. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Physics

#255 in Asia

#835 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 9,031
Male:Female: 68:32
Founded: 1949

47. Ibaraki University

For Physics

#266 in Asia

#859 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 8,249
Founded: 1949

48. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Physics

#274 in Asia

#883 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

49. University of Yamanashi

For Physics

#278 in Asia

#892 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

50. University of Toyama

For Physics

#287 in Asia

#914 in the World

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

51. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Physics

#289 in Asia

#918 in the World

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

52. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For Physics

#291 in Asia

#922 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 891
Male:Female: 83:17
Founded: 1990

53. Saga University

For Physics

#295 in Asia

#931 in the World

Founded: 1949

54. Kansai University

For Physics

#302 in Asia

#944 in the World

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

55. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Physics

#303 in Asia

#948 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

56. Doshisha University

For Physics

#333 in Asia

#1005 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 28,354
Male:Female: 62:38
Founded: 1920

57. University of Fukui

For Physics

#350 in Asia

#1041 in the World

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

58. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Physics

#353 in Asia

#1054 in the World

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

59. Sophia University

For Physics

#361 in Asia

#1072 in the World

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

60. Aoyama Gakuin University

For Physics

#372 in Asia

#1093 in the World

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

61. Meijo University

For Physics

#373 in Asia

#1095 in the World

Enrollment: 3,835
Founded: 1926

62. University of Hyogo

For Physics

#374 in Asia

#1096 in the World

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

63. Okayama University of Science

Japan | Okayama

For Physics

#376 in Asia

#1098 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 6,050
Founded: 1962

64. Iwate University

Japan | Morioka

For Physics

#389 in Asia

#1123 in the World

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

65. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Physics

#396 in Asia

#1137 in the World

Enrollment: 20,356
Founded: 1934

66. Kanagawa University

Japan | Yokohama

For Physics

#404 in Asia

#1154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 18,693
Founded: 1949

67. Shimane University

For Physics

#412 in Asia

#1175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

68. Akita University

For Physics

#418 in Asia

#1186 in the World

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

69. Chuo University

Japan | Hachioji

For Physics

#424 in Asia

#1193 in the World

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

70. Toyota Technological Institute

For Physics

#426 in Asia

#1199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1981

71. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Physics

#433 in Asia

#1212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 25,254
Founded: 1912

72. Toho University

For Physics

#437 in Asia

#1220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

73. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Physics

#438 in Asia

#1221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1928

74. Meiji University

For Physics

#456 in Asia

#1256 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 31,339
Founded: 1881

75. Kitasato University

For Physics

#460 in Asia

#1264 in the World

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

76. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Physics

#467 in Asia

#1289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

77. Shibaura Institute of Technology

For Physics

#468 in Asia

#1291 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Founded: 1949

78. Utsunomiya University

Japan | Utsunomiya

For Physics

#500 in Asia

#1356 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

79. Nagoya City University

For Physics

#506 in Asia

#1368 in the World

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

80. Nagaoka University

Japan | Nagaoka

For Physics

#508 in Asia

#1371 in the World

Founded: 2001

81. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Physics

#512 in Asia

#1379 in the World

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

82. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Physics

#513 in Asia

#1382 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

83. Hosei University

For Physics

#516 in Asia

#1387 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1880

84. Muroran Institute of Technology

Japan | Muroran

For Physics

#527 in Asia

#1405 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1949

85. Oita University

For Physics

#537 in Asia

#1427 in the World

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

86. Tokyo Denki University

For Physics

#542 in Asia

#1437 in the World

Founded: 1907

87. University of Miyazaki

Japan | Miyazaki

For Physics

#546 in Asia

#1446 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1949

88. Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine

For Physics

#552 in Asia

#1462 in the World

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

89. Teikyo University

For Physics

#553 in Asia

#1464 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

90. Kanazawa Institute of Technology

Japan | Nonoichi

For Physics

#557 in Asia

#1475 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1965

91. Chubu University

Japan | Kasugai

For Physics

#560 in Asia

#1483 in the World

Founded: 1938

92. Chiba Institute of Technology

Japan | Narashino

For Physics

#574 in Asia

#1510 in the World

Enrollment: 9,853
Founded: 1942

93. Gakushuin University

For Physics

#579 in Asia

#1519 in the World

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

94. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Physics

#587 in Asia

#1529 in the World

Founded: 1972

95. Ochanomizu University

For Physics

#591 in Asia

#1536 in the World

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

96. Showa University

For Physics

#592 in Asia

#1537 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

97. Juntendo University

For Physics

#596 in Asia

#1542 in the World

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

98. University of Shizuoka

Japan | Shizuoka

For Physics

#612 in Asia

#1570 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1987

99. Kogakuin University

For Physics

#613 in Asia

#1572 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1887

100. Kochi University

For Physics

#615 in Asia

#1575 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

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 Engineering269

Applied/Engineering Physics89

Astrobiology116

Astrophysics and Astronomy279

Atomic and Molecular physics185

Condensed Matter Physics198

Materials Science378

Medical Physics81

Nanotechnology239

Nuclear Physics272

Optical Engineering342

Quantum and Particle physics436

Theoretical Physics126