Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

100 Best Universities in Japan for Sports

If you are looking to study Sports in Japan, our index highlights the top 100 domain-leading institutions. Based on 3.84M scholarly articles and 85.96M peer-reviewed citations, we reveal the best research labs driving innovation in Sports. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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Field of Study

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1

Tokyo

University of Tokyo

#1 in Asia #19 in the World

36% Acceptance

28,918 Enrollment

1877 Founded

2

Tsukuba

University of Tsukuba

#23 in Asia #219 in the World

18% Acceptance

16,684 Enrollment

1973 Founded

3

Suita

Osaka University

#6 in Asia #88 in the World

13% Acceptance

23,234 Enrollment

1931 Founded

4

Kyoto

Kyoto University

#2 in Asia #50 in the World

11% Acceptance

22,365 Enrollment

1897 Founded

5

Tokyo

Waseda University

#29 in Asia #266 in the World

10% Acceptance

47,094 Enrollment

1882 Founded

6

Nagoya

Nagoya University

#18 in Asia #176 in the World

14% Acceptance

15,959 Enrollment

1939 Founded

7

Tokyo

Keio University

#15 in Asia #162 in the World

12% Acceptance

33,518 Enrollment

1858 Founded

8

Sendai

Tohoku University

#9 in Asia #114 in the World

30% Acceptance

17,975 Enrollment

1907 Founded

9

Sapporo

Hokkaido University

#19 in Asia #186 in the World

27% Acceptance

17,770 Enrollment

1918 Founded

10

Fujikawaguchiko

Health Science University

#1778 in Asia #5045 in the World

33% Acceptance

370 Enrollment

2003 Founded

11

Fukuoka

Kyushu University

#17 in Asia #175 in the World

14% Acceptance

18,813 Enrollment

1911 Founded

12

Hachioji

Tokyo Metropolitan University

#130 in Asia #751 in the World

21% Acceptance

9,126 Enrollment

2005 Founded

13

Tokyo

Tokyo Institute of Technology

#26 in Asia #251 in the World

10% Acceptance

6,551 Enrollment

1881 Founded

14

Tokyo

Tokyo University of Science

#78 in Asia #515 in the World

31% Acceptance

19,768 Enrollment

1881 Founded

15

Toyohashi

Toyohashi Sozo University

#2543 in Asia #6656 in the World

41% Acceptance

2,500 Enrollment

1996 Founded

16

Togane

Josai International University

#1238 in Asia #3808 in the World

27% Acceptance

5,037 Enrollment

1992 Founded

17

Osaka

Osaka City University

#132 in Asia #753 in the World

22% Acceptance

8,230 Enrollment

1928 Founded

18

Maebashi

Maebashi Institute of Technology

#2064 in Asia #5649 in the World

38% Acceptance

10,000 Enrollment

1997 Founded

19

Kashihara

Nara Medical University

#310 in Asia #1289 in the World

31% Acceptance

981 Enrollment

1945 Founded

20

Gifu

Gifu University

#143 in Asia #803 in the World

35% Acceptance

7,227 Enrollment

1949 Founded

21

Tokyo

Japan Women’s University

#567 in Asia #2072 in the World

33% Acceptance

6,572 Enrollment

1901 Founded

22

Suzuka

Suzuka University of Medical Science

#1890 in Asia #5277 in the World

47% Acceptance

4,685 Enrollment

1991 Founded

23

Neyagawa

Setsunan University

#861 in Asia #2886 in the World

20% Acceptance

10,000 Enrollment

1975 Founded

24

Kumatori

Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences

#1456 in Asia #4298 in the World

20% Acceptance

2,500 Enrollment

1965 Founded

25

Kagoshima

Kagoshima University

#144 in Asia #806 in the World

30% Acceptance

9,090 Enrollment

1949 Founded

26

Daito

Shijonawate Gakuen University

#2600 in Asia #6769 in the World

45% Acceptance

2,500 Enrollment

1926 Founded

27

Yamagata

Yamagata Prefectural University of Health Sciences

#2742 in Asia #7070 in the World

30% Acceptance

2,500 Enrollment

2000 Founded

28

Tokyo

Toho University

#183 in Asia #914 in the World

47% Acceptance

5,198 Enrollment

1925 Founded

29

Sapporo

Sapporo Medical University

#290 in Asia #1235 in the World

39% Acceptance

981 Enrollment

1950 Founded

30

Morioka

Iwate Medical University

#446 in Asia #1703 in the World

32% Acceptance

981 Enrollment

1928 Founded

31

Kobe

University of Hyogo

#362 in Asia #1428 in the World

34% Acceptance

6,551 Enrollment

2004 Founded

32

Hikone

University of Shiga Prefecture

#917 in Asia #3025 in the World

38% Acceptance

3,000 Enrollment

1995 Founded

33

Toyoake

Fujita Health University

#277 in Asia #1192 in the World

27% Acceptance

3,106 Enrollment

1964 Founded

34

Tochigi

Dokkyo Medical University

#551 in Asia #2009 in the World

37% Acceptance

981 Enrollment

1972 Founded

35

Okayama

Okayama University of Science

#436 in Asia #1675 in the World

30% Acceptance

6,551 Enrollment

1962 Founded

36

Maebashi

Gunma University

#145 in Asia #809 in the World

21% Acceptance

10,127 Enrollment

1949 Founded

37

Kariya

Aichi University of Education

#876 in Asia #2917 in the World

19% Acceptance

4,317 Enrollment

1873 Founded

38

Fukushima

Fukushima University

#732 in Asia #2532 in the World

39% Acceptance

3,633 Enrollment

1949 Founded

39

Tokyo

Tokyo Denki University

#411 in Asia #1599 in the World

26% Acceptance

31,739 Enrollment

1907 Founded

40

Suita

Kansai University

#199 in Asia #971 in the World

35% Acceptance

29,749 Enrollment

1922 Founded

41

Nara

Nara Women’s University

#484 in Asia #1819 in the World

17% Acceptance

2,631 Enrollment

1908 Founded

42

Kumamoto

Kumamoto Health Science University

#2290 in Asia #6132 in the World

53% Acceptance

9,090 Enrollment

2003 Founded

43

Ishikari

Health Sciences University of Hokkaido

#726 in Asia #2520 in the World

30% Acceptance

12,068 Enrollment

1974 Founded

44

Chita

Nihon Fukushi University

#1077 in Asia #3426 in the World

37% Acceptance

10,000 Enrollment

1953 Founded

45

Yamagata

Yamagata University

#155 in Asia #847 in the World

34% Acceptance

9,208 Enrollment

1949 Founded

46

Tokyo

Kitasato University

#169 in Asia #881 in the World

36% Acceptance

4,685 Enrollment

1962 Founded

47

Sango

Naragakuen University

#2172 in Asia #5873 in the World

49% Acceptance

5,462 Enrollment

1984 Founded

48

Morioka

Iwate University

#358 in Asia #1412 in the World

33% Acceptance

5,402 Enrollment

1949 Founded

49

Kobe

Kobe University

#41 in Asia #360 in the World

35% Acceptance

16,214 Enrollment

1902 Founded

50

Hikone

Shiga University

#689 in Asia #2398 in the World

36% Acceptance

3,702 Enrollment

1949 Founded

51

Toyama

University of Toyama

#227 in Asia #1034 in the World

30% Acceptance

9,208 Enrollment

1975 Founded

52

Tochigi

Jichi Medical University

#247 in Asia #1091 in the World

28% Acceptance

981 Enrollment

1972 Founded

53

Okayama

Okayama University

#64 in Asia #458 in the World

30% Acceptance

13,057 Enrollment

1922 Founded

54

Machida

J. F. Oberlin University

#1096 in Asia #3473 in the World

37% Acceptance

10,000 Enrollment

55

Kanzaki

Nishikyushu University

#1898 in Asia #5288 in the World

52% Acceptance

2,500 Enrollment

1968 Founded

56

Fukushima

Fukushima Medical University

#387 in Asia #1535 in the World

10% Acceptance

981 Enrollment

1952 Founded

57

Tokyo

Toyo University

#341 in Asia #1370 in the World

36% Acceptance

47,094 Enrollment

1887 Founded

58

Soka

Dokkyo University

#574 in Asia #2084 in the World

47% Acceptance

981 Enrollment

1964 Founded

59

Nagoya

Daido University

#1824 in Asia #5137 in the World

39% Acceptance

8,146 Enrollment

1964 Founded

60

Kumamoto

Kumamoto University

#109 in Asia #657 in the World

18% Acceptance

11,098 Enrollment

1949 Founded

61

Imizu

Toyama Prefectural University

#1471 in Asia #4333 in the World

30% Acceptance

5,402 Enrollment

1990 Founded

62

Chiba

Tokyo Dental College

#465 in Asia #1769 in the World

30% Acceptance

1,178 Enrollment

1890 Founded

63

Wakayama

Wakayama University

#589 in Asia #2136 in the World

38% Acceptance

31,739 Enrollment

1949 Founded

64

Tokyo

Meiji University

#154 in Asia #841 in the World

47% Acceptance

47,094 Enrollment

1881 Founded

65

Sakai

Osaka Prefecture University

#189 in Asia #939 in the World

21% Acceptance

6,551 Enrollment

1949 Founded

66

Moriguchi

Kansai Medical University

#374 in Asia #1470 in the World

33% Acceptance

3,106 Enrollment

1928 Founded

67

Kitakyushu

Kyushu Kyoritsu University

#1671 in Asia #4776 in the World

42% Acceptance

18,813 Enrollment

1965 Founded

68

Higashiosaka

Kindai University

#97 in Asia #604 in the World

50% Acceptance

38,857 Enrollment

1949 Founded

69

Tottori

Tottori University

#230 in Asia #1044 in the World

34% Acceptance

6,179 Enrollment

1949 Founded

70

Tamana

Kyushu University of Nursing and Social Welfare

#2837 in Asia #7282 in the World

70% Acceptance

2,500 Enrollment

1998 Founded

71

Oita

Oita University

#332 in Asia #1350 in the World

40% Acceptance

5,781 Enrollment

1949 Founded

72

Kyoto

Kyoto Tachibana University

#1506 in Asia #4431 in the World

34% Acceptance

2,500 Enrollment

1967 Founded

73

Kanoya

National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya

#1357 in Asia #4086 in the World

34% Acceptance

2,500 Enrollment

1981 Founded

74

Fukuoka

Kyushu Sangyo University

#735 in Asia #2538 in the World

42% Acceptance

20,000 Enrollment

1960 Founded

75

Tokyo

Ochanomizu University

#326 in Asia #1331 in the World

12% Acceptance

2,075 Enrollment

1874 Founded

76

Soja

Okayama Prefectural University

#1279 in Asia #3907 in the World

50% Acceptance

28,354 Enrollment

1993 Founded

77

Nagoya

Nagoya Gakuin University

#1648 in Asia #4730 in the World

45% Acceptance

5,000 Enrollment

1964 Founded

78

Koshigaya

Saitama Prefectural University

#2182 in Asia #5893 in the World

45% Acceptance

2,500 Enrollment

1999 Founded

79

Ikoma

Nara Institute of Science and Technology

#296 in Asia #1256 in the World

31% Acceptance

28,918 Enrollment

1991 Founded

80

Chiba

Chiba University

#68 in Asia #485 in the World

32% Acceptance

13,983 Enrollment

1949 Founded

81

Wakayama

Wakayama Medical University

#505 in Asia #1875 in the World

30% Acceptance

981 Enrollment

1945 Founded

82

Tokyo

Tokai University

#106 in Asia #633 in the World

50% Acceptance

29,700 Enrollment

1946 Founded

83

Sakado

Kagawa Nutrition University

#1095 in Asia #3472 in the World

50% Acceptance

2,871 Enrollment

1961 Founded

84

Miyoshi

Tokai Gakuen University

#1688 in Asia #4810 in the World

35% Acceptance

2,871 Enrollment

1995 Founded

85

Kitakyushu

Kyushu Dental College

#930 in Asia #3058 in the World

8% Acceptance

1,178 Enrollment

1914 Founded

86

Higashihiroshima

Hiroshima University

#35 in Asia #319 in the World

33% Acceptance

15,505 Enrollment

1949 Founded

87

Tokyo

Bunkyo Gakuin University

#2353 in Asia #6261 in the World

51% Acceptance

5,462 Enrollment

1924 Founded

88

Takatsuki

Aino University

#2315 in Asia #6185 in the World

42% Acceptance

3,000 Enrollment

2004 Founded

89

Nisshin

Aichi Gakuin University

#487 in Asia #1828 in the World

60% Acceptance

1,178 Enrollment

1953 Founded

90

Kyoto

Bukkyo University

#1286 in Asia #3925 in the World

43% Acceptance

11,421 Enrollment

1887 Founded

91

Kanazawa

Hokuriku University

#1318 in Asia #3994 in the World

50% Acceptance

2,000 Enrollment

1975 Founded

92

Fukuoka

Fukuoka University

#186 in Asia #925 in the World

36% Acceptance

5,781 Enrollment

1934 Founded

93

Tokyo

Tokyo University of the Arts

#305 in Asia #1278 in the World

29% Acceptance

3,217 Enrollment

1949 Founded

94

Shiojiri

Matsumoto Dental University

#1237 in Asia #3807 in the World

10% Acceptance

1,178 Enrollment

1972 Founded

95

Nagoya

Aichi Shukutoku University

#1334 in Asia #4030 in the World

43% Acceptance

5,462 Enrollment

1975 Founded

96

Koryo

#2375 in Asia #6297 in the World

56% Acceptance

2,500 Enrollment

1946 Founded

97

Ichihara

Teikyo Heisei University

#1366 in Asia #4103 in the World

39% Acceptance

6,000 Enrollment

1987 Founded

98

Atsugi

Kanagawa Institute of Technology

#1062 in Asia #3389 in the World

38% Acceptance

31,739 Enrollment

1975 Founded

99

Utsunomiya

Utsunomiya University

#423 in Asia #1626 in the World

38% Acceptance

9,126 Enrollment

1949 Founded

100

Tokyo

Juntendo University

#94 in Asia #588 in the World

31% Acceptance

981 Enrollment

1836 Founded