100 Best universities for Psychology 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 Psychology. A graph of 21.5M citations received by 1.09M academic papers made by 494 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

#75 in the World

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

2. Kyoto University

For Psychology

#7 in Asia

#108 in the World

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

3. Osaka University

For Psychology

#13 in Asia

#144 in the World

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

4. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Psychology

#24 in Asia

#192 in the World

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

5. Tohoku University

For Psychology

#25 in Asia

#193 in the World

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

6. Nagoya University

For Psychology

#28 in Asia

#230 in the World

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

7. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Psychology

#33 in Asia

#271 in the World

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

8. Keio University

For Psychology

#38 in Asia

#290 in the World

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

9. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Psychology

#45 in Asia

#339 in the World

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

10. Chiba University

For Psychology

#63 in Asia

#396 in the World

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

11. Kobe University

For Psychology

#66 in Asia

#408 in the World

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

12. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Psychology

#69 in Asia

#428 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

13. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Psychology

#72 in Asia

#434 in the World

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

14. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Psychology

#75 in Asia

#448 in the World

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

15. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Psychology

#81 in Asia

#472 in the World

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

16. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Psychology

#87 in Asia

#500 in the World

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

17. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Psychology

#91 in Asia

#513 in the World

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

18. Juntendo University

For Psychology

#92 in Asia

#514 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1836

19. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Psychology

#97 in Asia

#551 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

20. Nihon University

For Psychology

#104 in Asia

#565 in the World

Founded: 1889

21. Osaka City University

For Psychology

#108 in Asia

#580 in the World

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

22. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Psychology

#110 in Asia

#587 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

23. Waseda University

For Psychology

#120 in Asia

#611 in the World

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

24. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Psychology

#121 in Asia

#612 in the World

Founded: 1972

25. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Psychology

#123 in Asia

#620 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

26. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Psychology

#124 in Asia

#624 in the World

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

27. Nippon Medical School

For Psychology

#135 in Asia

#646 in the World

Founded: 1904

28. Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine

For Psychology

#139 in Asia

#673 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1872

29. Kitasato University

For Psychology

#143 in Asia

#679 in the World

Founded: 1962

30. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Psychology

#146 in Asia

#684 in the World

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

31. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Psychology

#155 in Asia

#714 in the World

Founded: 1949

32. Mie University

For Psychology

#159 in Asia

#725 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Founded: 1949

33. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Psychology

#161 in Asia

#734 in the World

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

34. Kurume University

For Psychology

#162 in Asia

#735 in the World

Founded: 1928

35. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Psychology

#163 in Asia

#743 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

36. Nagoya City University

For Psychology

#168 in Asia

#753 in the World

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

37. Gifu University

For Psychology

#171 in Asia

#762 in the World

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

38. Tokai University

For Psychology

#175 in Asia

#769 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

39. Tokyo University of Science

For Psychology

#176 in Asia

#770 in the World

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

40. Toho University

For Psychology

#177 in Asia

#774 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

41. Jikei University School of Medicine

For Psychology

#181 in Asia

#785 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

42. Sapporo Medical University

Japan | Sapporo

For Psychology

#184 in Asia

#793 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1950

43. Showa University

For Psychology

#187 in Asia

#801 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

44. Nara Medical University

Japan | Kashihara

For Psychology

#189 in Asia

#806 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1945

45. Teikyo University

For Psychology

#195 in Asia

#819 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

46. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Psychology

#210 in Asia

#864 in the World

Founded: 1934

47. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Psychology

#211 in Asia

#865 in the World

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

48. Hamamatsu University School of Medicine

Japan | Hamamatsu

For Psychology

#214 in Asia

#871 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1974

49. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Psychology

#218 in Asia

#879 in the World

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

50. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Psychology

#221 in Asia

#887 in the World

Founded: 1978

51. Fujita Health University

Japan | Toyoake

For Psychology

#230 in Asia

#904 in the World

Enrollment: 3,106
Founded: 1964

52. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Psychology

#231 in Asia

#909 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

53. Saitama Medical School

Japan | Moroyama

For Psychology

#232 in Asia

#912 in the World

Founded: 1972

54. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Psychology

#236 in Asia

#920 in the World

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

55. Shiga University of Medical Science

For Psychology

#237 in Asia

#931 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1974

56. Fukushima Medical University

Japan | Fukushima

For Psychology

#238 in Asia

#932 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1952

57. Kansai Medical University

Japan | Moriguchi

For Psychology

#247 in Asia

#951 in the World

Founded: 1928

58. Hyogo College of Medicine

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Psychology

#248 in Asia

#952 in the World

Founded: 1971

59. Tokyo Medical University

For Psychology

#255 in Asia

#970 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1916

60. University of Fukui

For Psychology

#261 in Asia

#980 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

61. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Psychology

#262 in Asia

#981 in the World

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

62. Iwate Medical University

Japan | Morioka

For Psychology

#272 in Asia

#1002 in the World

Founded: 1928

63. Tohoku Pharmaceutical University

For Psychology

#274 in Asia

#1010 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1939

64. Akita University

For Psychology

#279 in Asia

#1018 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Founded: 1949

65. Shimane University

For Psychology

#281 in Asia

#1020 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

66. Wakayama Medical University

Japan | Wakayama

For Psychology

#285 in Asia

#1031 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1945

67. University of Toyama

For Psychology

#290 in Asia

#1039 in the World

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

68. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Psychology

#307 in Asia

#1089 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1949

69. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Psychology

#309 in Asia

#1092 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

70. Kyorin University

For Psychology

#321 in Asia

#1121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

71. Health Science University

Japan | Fujikawaguchiko

For Psychology

#327 in Asia

#1133 in the World

Founded: 2003

72. Osaka Prefecture University

For Psychology

#332 in Asia

#1146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

73. University of Yamanashi

For Psychology

#334 in Asia

#1148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

74. St. Marianna University School of Medicine

Japan | Kawasaki

For Psychology

#335 in Asia

#1150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1971

75. Osaka Medical College

Japan | Takatsuki

For Psychology

#345 in Asia

#1171 in the World

Founded: 1927

76. Oita University

For Psychology

#355 in Asia

#1204 in the World

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

77. University of Electro-Communications

For Psychology

#368 in Asia

#1246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1949

78. Dokkyo University

For Psychology

#375 in Asia

#1257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1964

79. Ritsumeikan University

For Psychology

#376 in Asia

#1259 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

80. Saga University

For Psychology

#378 in Asia

#1264 in the World

Founded: 1949

81. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Psychology

#385 in Asia

#1282 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

82. University of Miyazaki

Japan | Miyazaki

For Psychology

#389 in Asia

#1291 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1949

83. Aichi Medical University

Japan | Nagakute

For Psychology

#395 in Asia

#1299 in the World

Founded: 1971

84. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Psychology

#401 in Asia

#1311 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

85. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Psychology

#402 in Asia

#1314 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

86. Kanazawa Medical University

For Psychology

#440 in Asia

#1414 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1972

87. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Psychology

#447 in Asia

#1440 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1907

88. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Psychology

#460 in Asia

#1464 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1905

89. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Psychology

#472 in Asia

#1487 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

90. Doshisha University

For Psychology

#480 in Asia

#1506 in the World

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

91. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Psychology

#481 in Asia

#1512 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

92. Kyoto Pharmaceutical University

For Psychology

#491 in Asia

#1535 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1884

93. Dokkyo Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Psychology

#494 in Asia

#1538 in the World

Founded: 1972

94. International University of Health and Welfare

Japan | Otawara

For Psychology

#522 in Asia

#1603 in the World

Founded: 1995

95. Kochi University

For Psychology

#525 in Asia

#1607 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

96. University of Shizuoka

Japan | Shizuoka

For Psychology

#533 in Asia

#1622 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1987

97. Kansai University

For Psychology

#600 in Asia

#1766 in the World

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

98. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Psychology

#608 in Asia

#1785 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1949

99. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Psychology

#625 in Asia

#1823 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

100. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For Psychology

#628 in Asia

#1827 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 Fukuoka.

Psychology subfields in Japan

Child Psychology228

Clinical Psychology182

Cognitive Science250

Education Majors170

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution17

Neuroscience401

Occupational Therapy89

Organizational / Business / IO Psychology8

Social Psychology302

Special Education15