100 Best universities for Liberal Arts & Social Sciences 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 Liberal Arts & Social Sciences. A graph of 22.4M citations received by 1.34M academic papers made by 535 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

Japan | Tokyo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#3 in Asia

#81 in the World

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

2. Kyoto University

Japan | Kyoto

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#9 in Asia

#139 in the World

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

3. Osaka University

Japan | Suita

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#23 in Asia

#290 in the World

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

4. Tohoku University

Japan | Sendai

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#32 in Asia

#348 in the World

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

5. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#40 in Asia

#391 in the World

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

6. Nagoya University

Japan | Nagoya

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#45 in Asia

#427 in the World

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

7. Tokyo Institute of Technology

Japan | Tokyo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#53 in Asia

#455 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

8. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#54 in Asia

#466 in the World

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

9. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#61 in Asia

#488 in the World

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

10. Keio University

Japan | Tokyo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#82 in Asia

#578 in the World

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

11. Waseda University

Japan | Tokyo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#101 in Asia

#648 in the World

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

12. Kobe University

Japan | Kobe

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#105 in Asia

#663 in the World

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

13. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#110 in Asia

#686 in the World

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

14. Tokyo University of Science

Japan | Tokyo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#147 in Asia

#839 in the World

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

15. Chiba University

Japan | Chiba

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#165 in Asia

#893 in the World

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

16. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#181 in Asia

#955 in the World

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

17. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#196 in Asia

#1004 in the World

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

18. Nihon University

Japan | Tokyo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#235 in Asia

#1114 in the World

Founded: 1889

19. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#237 in Asia

#1122 in the World

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

20. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

Japan | Tokyo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#263 in Asia

#1205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

21. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#295 in Asia

#1294 in the World

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

22. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#298 in Asia

#1304 in the World

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

23. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#300 in Asia

#1310 in the World

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

24. Osaka Prefecture University

Japan | Sakai

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#308 in Asia

#1332 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

25. Hitotsubashi University

Japan | Kunitachi

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#310 in Asia

#1339 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 6,287
Founded: 1875

26. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#319 in Asia

#1358 in the World

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

27. Ritsumeikan University

Japan | Kyoto

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#323 in Asia

#1370 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

28. Osaka City University

Japan | Osaka

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#325 in Asia

#1373 in the World

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

29. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#334 in Asia

#1405 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

30. University of Electro-Communications

Japan | Chofu

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#336 in Asia

#1416 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1949

31. Tokai University

Japan | Tokyo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#360 in Asia

#1485 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

32. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#385 in Asia

#1567 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

33. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#393 in Asia

#1580 in the World

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

34. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#400 in Asia

#1594 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1907

35. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

Japan | Ikoma

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#406 in Asia

#1602 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

36. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#408 in Asia

#1604 in the World

Founded: 1949

37. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#413 in Asia

#1627 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

38. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#416 in Asia

#1631 in the World

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

39. Gifu University

Japan | Gifu

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#419 in Asia

#1644 in the World

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

40. Juntendo University

Japan | Tokyo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#422 in Asia

#1649 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1836

41. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

Japan | Nomi

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#425 in Asia

#1655 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1990

42. Nagoya Institute of Technology

Japan | Nagoya

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#437 in Asia

#1684 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1905

43. Mie University

Japan | Tsu

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#441 in Asia

#1701 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Founded: 1949

44. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#444 in Asia

#1707 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1949

45. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#451 in Asia

#1725 in the World

Founded: 1972

46. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#457 in Asia

#1740 in the World

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

47. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#466 in Asia

#1756 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

48. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

Japan | Fuchu

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#469 in Asia

#1762 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

49. Kitasato University

Japan | Tokyo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#473 in Asia

#1772 in the World

Founded: 1962

50. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#515 in Asia

#1902 in the World

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

51. Nagoya City University

Japan | Nagoya

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#519 in Asia

#1908 in the World

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

52. Doshisha University

Japan | Kyoto

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#546 in Asia

#2000 in the World

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

53. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#555 in Asia

#2021 in the World

Founded: 1934

54. Meiji University

Japan | Tokyo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#563 in Asia

#2037 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1881

55. Hosei University

Japan | Tokyo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#568 in Asia

#2047 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1880

56. Kansai University

Japan | Suita

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#570 in Asia

#2050 in the World

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

57. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#574 in Asia

#2059 in the World

Founded: 1978

58. Chuo University

Japan | Hachioji

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#577 in Asia

#2067 in the World

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

59. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#581 in Asia

#2074 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

60. Nippon Medical School

Japan | Tokyo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#588 in Asia

#2092 in the World

Founded: 1904

61. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#589 in Asia

#2097 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

62. Saga University

Japan | Saga

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#601 in Asia

#2117 in the World

Founded: 1949

63. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#603 in Asia

#2121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1949

64. Toyohashi University of Technology

Japan | Toyohashi

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#610 in Asia

#2138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1976

65. Teikyo University

Japan | Tokyo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#613 in Asia

#2144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

66. Ibaraki University

Japan | Mito

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#616 in Asia

#2151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

67. University of Toyama

Japan | Toyama

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#617 in Asia

#2152 in the World

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

68. Toho University

Japan | Tokyo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#622 in Asia

#2162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

69. Shimane University

Japan | Matsue

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#625 in Asia

#2168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

70. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#630 in Asia

#2178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

71. Kurume University

Japan | Kurume

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#632 in Asia

#2187 in the World

Founded: 1928

72. Sapporo Medical University

Japan | Sapporo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#634 in Asia

#2191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1950

73. Sophia University

Japan | Tokyo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#641 in Asia

#2202 in the World

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

74. Aoyama Gakuin University

Japan | Tokyo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#655 in Asia

#2228 in the World

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

75. Health Science University

Japan | Fujikawaguchiko

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#661 in Asia

#2238 in the World

Founded: 2003

76. University of Yamanashi

Japan | Kofu

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#666 in Asia

#2255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

77. Showa University

Japan | Tokyo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#673 in Asia

#2267 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

78. University of Fukui

Japan | Fukui

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#680 in Asia

#2284 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

79. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#685 in Asia

#2293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

80. University of Aizu

Japan | Aizuwakamatsu

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#704 in Asia

#2352 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 1,371
Founded: 1993

81. Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine

Japan | Kyoto

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#713 in Asia

#2370 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1872

82. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

Japan | Miura

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#716 in Asia

#2386 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

83. Jikei University School of Medicine

Japan | Tokyo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#730 in Asia

#2420 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

84. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#744 in Asia

#2455 in the World

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

85. Akita University

Japan | Akita

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#745 in Asia

#2457 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Founded: 1949

86. Kyoto Institute of Technology

Japan | Kyoto

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#752 in Asia

#2468 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

87. Ryukoku University

Japan | Kyoto

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#756 in Asia

#2474 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1639

88. Oita University

Japan | Oita

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#775 in Asia

#2530 in the World

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

89. Tokyo Medical University

Japan | Tokyo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#808 in Asia

#2603 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1916

90. Hamamatsu University School of Medicine

Japan | Hamamatsu

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#811 in Asia

#2606 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1974

91. Rikkyo University

Japan | Tokyo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#825 in Asia

#2634 in the World

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

92. Saitama Medical School

Japan | Moroyama

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#831 in Asia

#2641 in the World

Founded: 1972

93. Tokyo Denki University

Japan | Tokyo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#839 in Asia

#2654 in the World

Founded: 1907

94. Shiga University of Medical Science

Japan | Otsu

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#849 in Asia

#2684 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1974

95. Fukushima Medical University

Japan | Fukushima

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#855 in Asia

#2692 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1952

96. Toyo University

Japan | Tokyo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#861 in Asia

#2709 in the World

Founded: 1887

97. Nagaoka University of Technology

Japan | Nagaoka

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#886 in Asia

#2775 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1976

98. Ochanomizu University

Japan | Tokyo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#887 in Asia

#2778 in the World

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

99. Fujita Health University

Japan | Toyoake

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#892 in Asia

#2785 in the World

Enrollment: 3,106
Founded: 1964

100. University of Miyazaki

Japan | Miyazaki

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#896 in Asia

#2793 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1949

The best cities to study Liberal Arts & Social Sciences in Japan based on the number of universities and their ranks are Tokyo, Kyoto, Suita, and Sendai.