100 Best universities for Psychology 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 Psychology. A graph of 17M citations received by 996K academic papers made by 485 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

#73 in the World

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

2. Kyoto University

For Psychology

#4 in Asia

#100 in the World

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

3. Osaka University

For Psychology

#9 in Asia

#129 in the World

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

4. Tohoku University

For Psychology

#18 in Asia

#177 in the World

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

5. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Psychology

#19 in Asia

#179 in the World

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

6. Nagoya University

For Psychology

#27 in Asia

#222 in the World

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

7. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Psychology

#31 in Asia

#258 in the World

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

8. Keio University

For Psychology

#34 in Asia

#281 in the World

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

9. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Psychology

#42 in Asia

#320 in the World

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

10. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Psychology

#52 in Asia

#373 in the World

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

11. Chiba University

For Psychology

#56 in Asia

#385 in the World

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

12. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Psychology

#58 in Asia

#396 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

13. Kobe University

For Psychology

#60 in Asia

#404 in the World

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

14. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Psychology

#65 in Asia

#418 in the World

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

15. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Psychology

#73 in Asia

#456 in the World

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

16. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Psychology

#77 in Asia

#471 in the World

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

17. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Psychology

#79 in Asia

#479 in the World

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

18. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Psychology

#84 in Asia

#510 in the World

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

19. Juntendo University

For Psychology

#85 in Asia

#511 in the World

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

20. Nihon University

For Psychology

#93 in Asia

#537 in the World

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

21. Osaka City University

For Psychology

#94 in Asia

#549 in the World

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

22. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Psychology

#95 in Asia

#550 in the World

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

23. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Psychology

#104 in Asia

#589 in the World

Founded: 1972

24. Waseda University

For Psychology

#106 in Asia

#594 in the World

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

25. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Psychology

#107 in Asia

#596 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

26. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Psychology

#108 in Asia

#597 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1928

27. Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine

For Psychology

#117 in Asia

#622 in the World

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

28. Nippon Medical School

For Psychology

#118 in Asia

#624 in the World

Founded: 1904

29. Kitasato University

For Psychology

#124 in Asia

#646 in the World

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

30. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Psychology

#126 in Asia

#650 in the World

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

31. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Psychology

#132 in Asia

#665 in the World

Founded: 1949

32. Tokyo University of Science

For Psychology

#133 in Asia

#666 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1881

33. Mie University

For Psychology

#138 in Asia

#676 in the World

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

34. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Psychology

#141 in Asia

#685 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1949

35. Kurume University

For Psychology

#143 in Asia

#688 in the World

Founded: 1928

36. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Psychology

#150 in Asia

#713 in the World

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

37. Nagoya City University

For Psychology

#152 in Asia

#717 in the World

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

38. Gifu University

For Psychology

#157 in Asia

#724 in the World

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

39. Toho University

For Psychology

#159 in Asia

#737 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

40. Jikei University School of Medicine

For Psychology

#161 in Asia

#740 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

41. Tokai University

For Psychology

#162 in Asia

#748 in the World

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

42. Showa University

For Psychology

#163 in Asia

#752 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

43. Sapporo Medical University

Japan | Sapporo

For Psychology

#166 in Asia

#757 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1950

44. Teikyo University

For Psychology

#171 in Asia

#766 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

45. Nara Medical University

Japan | Kashihara

For Psychology

#174 in Asia

#774 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1945

46. Hamamatsu University School of Medicine

Japan | Hamamatsu

For Psychology

#178 in Asia

#785 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 934
Male:Female: 51:49
Founded: 1974

47. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Psychology

#185 in Asia

#795 in the World

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

48. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Psychology

#188 in Asia

#801 in the World

Enrollment: 20,356
Founded: 1934

49. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Psychology

#192 in Asia

#818 in the World

Founded: 1978

50. Fujita Health University

Japan | Toyoake

For Psychology

#193 in Asia

#820 in the World

Enrollment: 3,065
Male:Female: 44:56
Founded: 1964

51. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Psychology

#194 in Asia

#822 in the World

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

52. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Psychology

#196 in Asia

#831 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

53. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Psychology

#206 in Asia

#856 in the World

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

54. Shiga University of Medical Science

For Psychology

#207 in Asia

#860 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Enrollment: 1,107
Founded: 1974

55. Saitama Medical School

Japan | Moroyama

For Psychology

#210 in Asia

#869 in the World

Founded: 1972

56. Kansai Medical University

Japan | Moriguchi

For Psychology

#215 in Asia

#889 in the World

Enrollment: 782
Founded: 1928

57. Tokyo Medical University

For Psychology

#222 in Asia

#898 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1916

58. Fukushima Medical University

Japan | Fukushima

For Psychology

#223 in Asia

#899 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 1,095
Founded: 1952

59. Hyogo College of Medicine

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Psychology

#224 in Asia

#900 in the World

Founded: 1971

60. Iwate Medical University

Japan | Morioka

For Psychology

#232 in Asia

#926 in the World

Founded: 1928

61. Tohoku Pharmaceutical University

For Psychology

#234 in Asia

#930 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1939

62. University of Fukui

For Psychology

#236 in Asia

#937 in the World

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

63. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Psychology

#237 in Asia

#940 in the World

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

64. Akita University

For Psychology

#242 in Asia

#951 in the World

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

65. Shimane University

For Psychology

#247 in Asia

#965 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

66. Health Science University

Japan | Fujikawaguchiko

For Psychology

#253 in Asia

#974 in the World

Founded: 2003

67. Wakayama Medical University

Japan | Wakayama

For Psychology

#254 in Asia

#975 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1945

68. University of Toyama

For Psychology

#259 in Asia

#990 in the World

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

69. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Psychology

#264 in Asia

#1004 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

70. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Psychology

#265 in Asia

#1008 in the World

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

71. Osaka Prefecture University

For Psychology

#273 in Asia

#1037 in the World

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

72. University of Yamanashi

For Psychology

#286 in Asia

#1066 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

73. Kyorin University

For Psychology

#288 in Asia

#1070 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 4,820
Founded: 1966

74. Osaka Medical College

Japan | Takatsuki

For Psychology

#289 in Asia

#1078 in the World

Enrollment: 1,195
Male:Female: 53:47
Founded: 1927

75. St. Marianna University School of Medicine

Japan | Kawasaki

For Psychology

#293 in Asia

#1086 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1971

76. Oita University

For Psychology

#297 in Asia

#1098 in the World

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

77. University of Electro-Communications

For Psychology

#315 in Asia

#1139 in the World

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

78. Dokkyo University

For Psychology

#322 in Asia

#1155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 8,675
Male:Female: 53:47
Founded: 1964

79. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Psychology

#338 in Asia

#1194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

80. University of Miyazaki

Japan | Miyazaki

For Psychology

#341 in Asia

#1205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1949

81. Saga University

For Psychology

#346 in Asia

#1215 in the World

Founded: 1949

82. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Psychology

#347 in Asia

#1220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

83. Aichi Medical University

Japan | Nagakute

For Psychology

#350 in Asia

#1224 in the World

Enrollment: 1,239
Founded: 1971

84. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Psychology

#352 in Asia

#1232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

85. Ritsumeikan University

For Psychology

#356 in Asia

#1244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

86. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Psychology

#382 in Asia

#1306 in the World

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

87. Kanazawa Medical University

For Psychology

#390 in Asia

#1329 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 913
Founded: 1972

88. Kyoto Pharmaceutical University

For Psychology

#392 in Asia

#1331 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 2,301
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1884

89. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Psychology

#405 in Asia

#1365 in the World

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

90. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Psychology

#407 in Asia

#1368 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

91. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Psychology

#420 in Asia

#1406 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

92. Doshisha University

For Psychology

#437 in Asia

#1455 in the World

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

93. Dokkyo Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Psychology

#453 in Asia

#1494 in the World

Founded: 1972

94. University of Shizuoka

Japan | Shizuoka

For Psychology

#460 in Asia

#1507 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1987

95. International University of Health and Welfare

Japan | Otawara

For Psychology

#473 in Asia

#1541 in the World

Enrollment: 6,130
Founded: 1995

96. Kochi University

For Psychology

#474 in Asia

#1543 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

97. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Psychology

#496 in Asia

#1612 in the World

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

98. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Psychology

#511 in Asia

#1645 in the World

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

99. Kansai University

For Psychology

#515 in Asia

#1651 in the World

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

100. Hoshi University

For Psychology

#537 in Asia

#1690 in the World

Enrollment: 1,640
Founded: 1911

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 Psychology212

Clinical Psychology165

Cognitive Science242

Education Majors158

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution19

Neuroscience383

Occupational Therapy81

Organizational / Business / IO Psychology8

Social Psychology284

Special Education15