100 Best universities for Psychology 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 Psychology. A graph of 22.6M citations received by 1.12M academic papers made by 498 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 Psychology

#2 in Asia

#77 in the World

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

2. Kyoto University

For Psychology

#7 in Asia

#111 in the World

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

3. Osaka University

For Psychology

#16 in Asia

#149 in the World

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

4. Tohoku University

For Psychology

#25 in Asia

#196 in the World

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

5. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Psychology

#26 in Asia

#197 in the World

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

6. Nagoya University

For Psychology

#29 in Asia

#232 in the World

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

7. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Psychology

#34 in Asia

#275 in the World

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

8. Keio University

For Psychology

#41 in Asia

#292 in the World

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

9. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Psychology

#47 in Asia

#343 in the World

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

10. Chiba University

For Psychology

#66 in Asia

#404 in the World

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

11. Kobe University

For Psychology

#69 in Asia

#418 in the World

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

12. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Psychology

#74 in Asia

#438 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

13. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Psychology

#75 in Asia

#441 in the World

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

14. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Psychology

#79 in Asia

#457 in the World

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

15. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Psychology

#84 in Asia

#480 in the World

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

16. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Psychology

#93 in Asia

#512 in the World

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

17. Juntendo University

For Psychology

#95 in Asia

#517 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1836

18. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Psychology

#96 in Asia

#526 in the World

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

19. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Psychology

#104 in Asia

#563 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

20. Nihon University

For Psychology

#109 in Asia

#577 in the World

Founded: 1889

21. Osaka City University

For Psychology

#114 in Asia

#594 in the World

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

22. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Psychology

#118 in Asia

#602 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

23. Waseda University

For Psychology

#123 in Asia

#616 in the World

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

24. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Psychology

#125 in Asia

#619 in the World

Founded: 1972

25. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Psychology

#130 in Asia

#631 in the World

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

26. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Psychology

#134 in Asia

#639 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

27. Nippon Medical School

For Psychology

#140 in Asia

#656 in the World

Founded: 1904

28. Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine

For Psychology

#150 in Asia

#694 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1872

29. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Psychology

#151 in Asia

#695 in the World

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

30. Kitasato University

For Psychology

#152 in Asia

#697 in the World

Founded: 1962

31. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Psychology

#161 in Asia

#727 in the World

Founded: 1949

32. Mie University

For Psychology

#165 in Asia

#737 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Founded: 1949

33. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Psychology

#169 in Asia

#751 in the World

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

34. Kurume University

For Psychology

#171 in Asia

#755 in the World

Founded: 1928

35. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Psychology

#172 in Asia

#762 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

36. Nagoya City University

For Psychology

#174 in Asia

#768 in the World

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

37. Gifu University

For Psychology

#178 in Asia

#776 in the World

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

38. Tokai University

For Psychology

#180 in Asia

#780 in the World

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

39. Tokyo University of Science

For Psychology

#183 in Asia

#785 in the World

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

40. Toho University

For Psychology

#185 in Asia

#788 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

41. Jikei University School of Medicine

For Psychology

#186 in Asia

#790 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 981
Founded: 1881

42. Sapporo Medical University

Japan | Sapporo

For Psychology

#192 in Asia

#810 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1950

43. Nara Medical University

Japan | Kashihara

For Psychology

#193 in Asia

#814 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1945

44. Showa University

For Psychology

#196 in Asia

#818 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

45. Teikyo University

For Psychology

#205 in Asia

#839 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

46. Hamamatsu University School of Medicine

Japan | Hamamatsu

For Psychology

#221 in Asia

#885 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1974

47. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Psychology

#223 in Asia

#889 in the World

Founded: 1934

48. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Psychology

#224 in Asia

#890 in the World

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

49. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Psychology

#226 in Asia

#894 in the World

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

50. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Psychology

#229 in Asia

#903 in the World

Founded: 1978

51. Fujita Health University

Japan | Toyoake

For Psychology

#231 in Asia

#908 in the World

Enrollment: 3,106
Founded: 1964

52. Saitama Medical School

Japan | Moroyama

For Psychology

#236 in Asia

#921 in the World

Founded: 1972

53. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Psychology

#237 in Asia

#923 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

54. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Psychology

#241 in Asia

#932 in the World

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

55. Fukushima Medical University

Japan | Fukushima

For Psychology

#242 in Asia

#934 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1952

56. Shiga University of Medical Science

For Psychology

#248 in Asia

#949 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1974

57. Kansai Medical University

Japan | Moriguchi

For Psychology

#255 in Asia

#968 in the World

Founded: 1928

58. Hyogo College of Medicine

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Psychology

#260 in Asia

#975 in the World

Founded: 1971

59. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Psychology

#266 in Asia

#984 in the World

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

60. Tokyo Medical University

For Psychology

#271 in Asia

#989 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1916

61. University of Fukui

For Psychology

#281 in Asia

#1011 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

62. Iwate Medical University

Japan | Morioka

For Psychology

#285 in Asia

#1028 in the World

Founded: 1928

63. Shimane University

For Psychology

#287 in Asia

#1032 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

64. Akita University

For Psychology

#289 in Asia

#1034 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Founded: 1949

65. Tohoku Pharmaceutical University

For Psychology

#292 in Asia

#1039 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1939

66. Wakayama Medical University

Japan | Wakayama

For Psychology

#294 in Asia

#1041 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1945

67. University of Toyama

For Psychology

#295 in Asia

#1044 in the World

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

68. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Psychology

#324 in Asia

#1117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1949

69. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Psychology

#327 in Asia

#1121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

70. Kyorin University

For Psychology

#339 in Asia

#1149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

71. University of Yamanashi

For Psychology

#346 in Asia

#1167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

72. St. Marianna University School of Medicine

Japan | Kawasaki

For Psychology

#348 in Asia

#1169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1971

73. Osaka Prefecture University

For Psychology

#351 in Asia

#1176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

74. Health Science University

Japan | Fujikawaguchiko

For Psychology

#352 in Asia

#1177 in the World

Founded: 2003

75. Osaka Medical College

Japan | Takatsuki

For Psychology

#363 in Asia

#1213 in the World

Founded: 1927

76. Oita University

For Psychology

#369 in Asia

#1227 in the World

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

77. Ritsumeikan University

For Psychology

#381 in Asia

#1258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

78. University of Electro-Communications

For Psychology

#384 in Asia

#1269 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1949

79. Saga University

For Psychology

#391 in Asia

#1281 in the World

Founded: 1949

80. Dokkyo University

For Psychology

#399 in Asia

#1298 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1964

81. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Psychology

#405 in Asia

#1313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

82. University of Miyazaki

Japan | Miyazaki

For Psychology

#406 in Asia

#1317 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1949

83. Aichi Medical University

Japan | Nagakute

For Psychology

#408 in Asia

#1321 in the World

Founded: 1971

84. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Psychology

#414 in Asia

#1339 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

85. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Psychology

#415 in Asia

#1340 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

86. Kanazawa Medical University

For Psychology

#462 in Asia

#1451 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1972

87. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Psychology

#470 in Asia

#1474 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1907

88. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Psychology

#477 in Asia

#1491 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1905

89. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Psychology

#480 in Asia

#1496 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

90. Doshisha University

For Psychology

#489 in Asia

#1517 in the World

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

91. Dokkyo Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Psychology

#493 in Asia

#1526 in the World

Founded: 1972

92. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Psychology

#496 in Asia

#1531 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

93. Kyoto Pharmaceutical University

For Psychology

#515 in Asia

#1568 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1884

94. International University of Health and Welfare

Japan | Otawara

For Psychology

#521 in Asia

#1584 in the World

Founded: 1995

95. Kochi University

For Psychology

#555 in Asia

#1640 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

96. University of Shizuoka

Japan | Shizuoka

For Psychology

#565 in Asia

#1664 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1987

97. Kansai University

For Psychology

#617 in Asia

#1773 in the World

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

98. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Psychology

#641 in Asia

#1832 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1949

99. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Psychology

#653 in Asia

#1861 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

100. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For Psychology

#654 in Asia

#1862 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1990

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

Psychology subfields in Japan

Child Psychology233

Clinical Psychology185

Cognitive Science256

Education Majors170

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution17

Neuroscience407

Occupational Therapy90

Organizational / Business / IO Psychology8

Social Psychology307

Special Education15