180 Best Public Universities in Japan for International Students

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Japan can be an absolute dream come true for many aspiring international students. The education system here is among the best in Asia, allowing you to start a career anywhere in the globe. Additionally, studying in Japan means you'll see firsthand its traditional yet high-tech society and enjoy the many perks it offers.

There are 704 universities you can find in Japan, and 180 of them are public universities. Having these many choices makes Japan a great place for international students.

In this article, you’ll find out the public universities in Japan, with some added information on programs, tuition, and how many international students you’ll be studying with. Let’s get started!

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Rank University Location
1 University of Tokyo Tokyo, Japan
2 Kyoto University Kyoto, Japan
3 Osaka University Suita, Japan
4 Tohoku University Sendai, Japan
5 Nagoya University Nagoya, Japan
6 Institute of Science Tokyo Tokyo, Japan
7 Kyushu University Fukuoka, Japan
8 Hokkaido University Sapporo, Japan
9 University of Tsukuba Tsukuba, Japan
10 Hiroshima University Higashihiroshima, Japan
11 Kobe University Kobe, Japan
12 Chiba University Chiba, Japan
13 Okayama University Okayama, Japan
14 Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology Nomi, Japan
15 Kumamoto University Kumamoto, Japan
16 University of Tokushima Tokushima, Japan
17 Kanazawa University Kanazawa, Japan
18 Hitotsubashi University Kunitachi, Japan
19 Shizuoka University Shizouka, Japan
20 Niigata University Niigata, Japan
21 Osaka Metropolitan University Osaka, Japan
22 Shinshu University Matsumoto, Japan
23 Nagasaki University Nagasaki, Japan
24 Yokohama City University Yokohama, Japan
25 The University of Electro-Communications Chofu, Japan
26 National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies Minato, Japan
27 Tokyo Metropolitan University Tokyo, Japan
28 Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Fuchu, Japan
29 Yokohama National University Yokohama, Japan
30 Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University Beppu, Japan
31 Gifu University Gifu, Japan
32 University of Toyama Toyama, Japan
33 Ehime University Matsuyama, Japan
34 Kagoshima University Kagoshima, Japan
35 Yamagata University Yamagata, Japan
36 Nara Institute of Science and Technology Ikoma, Japan
37 Gunma University Maebashi, Japan
38 Yamaguchi University Yamaguchi, Japan
39 Kyushu Institute of Technology Kitakyushu, Japan
40 Tokyo University of the Arts Tokyo, Japan
41 Mie University Tsu, Japan
42 Nagoya Institute of Technology Nagoya, Japan
43 Kagawa University Takamatsu, Japan
44 Saitama University Saitama, Japan
45 University of the Ryukyus Okinawa, Japan
46 Nagoya City University Nagoya, Japan
47 Ochanomizu University Tokyo, Japan
48 University of Aizu Aizuwakamatsu, Japan
49 Fujita Health University Toyoake, Japan
50 Toyohashi University of Technology Toyohashi, Japan
51 University of Yamanashi Kofu, Japan
52 Tottori University Tottori, Japan
53 Hirosaki University Hirosaki, Japan
54 Kyoto Institute of Technology Kyoto, Japan
55 Shimane University Matsue, Japan
56 Saga University Saga, Japan
57 Nagaoka University of Technology Nagaoka, Japan
58 Ibaraki University Mito, Japan
59 Kochi University Kochi, Japan
60 University of Miyazaki Miyazaki, Japan
61 Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Kyoto, Japan
62 Iwate University Morioka, Japan
63 Akita University Akita, Japan
64 Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology Tokyo, Japan
65 Utsunomiya University Utsunomiya, Japan
66 Oita University Oita, Japan
67 Tokyo Gakugei University Koganei, Japan
68 Sapporo Medical University Sapporo, Japan
69 Tokyo University of Foreign Studies Fuchu, Japan
70 Nara Women’s University Nara, Japan
71 Hamamatsu University School of Medicine Hamamatsu, Japan
72 University of Shizuoka Shizuoka, Japan
73 Fukushima Medical University Fukushima, Japan
74 Shiga University of Medical Science Otsu, Japan
75 Wakayama University Wakayama, Japan
76 Wakayama Medical University Wakayama, Japan
77 Nara Medical University Kashihara, Japan
78 Muroran Institute of Technology Muroran, Japan
79 Shiga University Hikone, Japan
80 Fukushima University Fukushima, Japan
81 Kochi University of Technology Kami, Japan
82 Asahikawa Medical University Asahikawa, Japan
83 Hokkaido University of Education Sapporo, Japan
84 Hiroshima City University Hiroshima, Japan
85 Iwate Prefectural University Takizawa, Japan
86 Aichi University of Education Kariya, Japan
87 Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine Obihiro, Japan
88 Graduate University for Advanced Studies Hayama, Japan
89 Bunkyo University Koshigaya, Japan
90 Miyagi University of Education Sendai, Japan
91 Kitami Institute of Technology Kitami, Japan
92 Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University Takatsuki, Japan
93 University of Kitakyushu Kitakyushu, Japan
94 Toyama Prefectural University Imizu, Japan
95 Rakuno Gakuen University Ebetsu, Japan
96 Kyoto Prefectural University Kyoto, Japan
97 Health Sciences University of Hokkaido Tobetsu, Japan
98 Musashi University Tokyo, Japan
99 University of Shiga Prefecture Hikone, Japan
100 Nara University of Education Nara, Japan
101 SANNO University Tokyo, Japan
102 University of Teacher Education Fukuoka Munakata, Japan
103 Prefectural University of Hiroshima Hiroshima, Japan
104 Naruto University of Education Naruto, Japan
105 Future University Hakodate Hakodate, Japan
106 Kyoto City University of Arts Kyoto, Japan
107 Joetsu University of Education Joetsu, Japan
108 Aichi Shukutoku University Nagakute, Japan
109 Aichi Prefectural University Nagakute, Japan
110 Otaru University of Commerce Otaru, Japan
111 Hyogo University of Teacher Education Kato, Japan
112 Tsukuba University of Technology Tsukuba, Japan
113 Fukui Prefectural University Eiheiji, Japan
114 Akita International University Akita, Japan
115 Kobe City University of Foreign Studies Kobe, Japan
116 Okayama Prefectural University Soja, Japan
117 Akita Prefectural University Akita, Japan
118 National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya Kanoya, Japan
119 Sanyo-onoda City University Sanyo Onoda, Japan
120 Kagawa Prefectural College of Health Sciences Takamatsu, Japan
121 Prefectural University of Kumamoto Kumamoto, Japan
122 Wako University Machida, Japan
123 Tsuru University Tsuru, Japan
124 Gifu Pharmaceutical University Gifu, Japan
125 Takasaki City University of Economics Takasaki, Japan
126 Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences Ogaki, Japan
127 Sapporo City University Sapporo, Japan
128 Kanazawa College of Art Kanazawa, Japan
129 Nagano University Ueda, Japan
130 Miyagi University Sendai, Japan
131 Yamaguchi Prefectural University Yamaguchi, Japan
132 Maebashi Institute of Technology Maebashi, Japan
133 Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology Tokyo, Japan
134 Saitama Prefectural University Koshigaya, Japan
135 Kyoto University of Education Kyoto, Japan
136 Shizuoka University of Art and Culture Hamamatsu, Japan
137 Shimonoseki City University Shimonoseki, Japan
138 Kanagawa University of Human Services Yokosuka, Japan
139 Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences Ami, Japan
140 Komazawa Women’s University Inagi, Japan
141 Chitose Institute of Science and Technology Chitose, Japan
142 Tottori University of Environmental Studies Tottori, Japan
143 University of Kochi Kochi, Japan
144 Nagaoka Institute of Design Nagaoka, Japan
145 Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts Naha, Japan
146 University of Shimane Hamada, Japan
147 Fukuoka Prefectural University Tagawa, Japan
148 Aomori University of Health and Welfare Aomori, Japan
149 Suwa University of Science Chino, Japan
150 Gunma Prefectural Women’s University Tamamura, Japan
151 Aomori Public University Aomori, Japan
152 Meio University Nago, Japan
153 Niigata College of Nursing Joetsu, Japan
154 Oita University of Nursing and Health Sciences Oita, Japan
155 Ishikawa Prefectural University Nonoichi, Japan
156 Miyazaki Municipal University Miyazaki, Japan
157 Toyohashi Sozo University Toyohashi, Japan
158 Onomichi University Onomichi, Japan
159 Mie Prefectural College of Nursing Tsu, Japan
160 Shunan University Shunan, Japan
161 Okinawa Prefectural College of Nursing Naha, Japan
162 University of Human Environments Okazaki, Japan
163 Miyazaki Prefectural Nursing University Miyazaki, Japan
164 Yamagata Prefectural University of Health Sciences Yamagata, Japan
165 Kobe City College of Nursing Kobe, Japan
166 Kyushu International University Kitakyushu, Japan
167 Kushiro Public University of Economics Kushiro, Japan
168 Ishikawa Prefectural Nursing University Kahoku, Japan
169 Yamanashi Prefectural University Kofu, Japan
170 Nagano College of Nursing Komagane, Japan
171 Nayoro City University Nayoro, Japan
172 University of Fukuchiyama Fukuchiyama, Japan
173 Musashino Gakuin University Sayama, Japan
174 National Fisheries University Shimonoseki, Japan
175 Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music Nagakute, Japan
176 Kobe Kaisei College Kobe, Japan
177 Ehime Prefectural University of Health Sciences Tobe, Japan
178 Gifu College of Nursing Hashima, Japan
179 Nihon Bunka University Hachioji, Japan
180 Nara Prefectual University Nara, Japan

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