181 Best Public Universities in Japan

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 706 universities you can find in Japan, and 181 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!

Can International Students Study in Public Universities in Japan?

Absolutely! International students in public universities in Japan can pursue different program levels, but the most popular ones are bachelor’s and master’s programs.

As for tuition fees, note that these vary across specific disciplines and program levels, with some charging significantly more than others. Specifically, public universities in Japan charge up to 2,190,000 Yen for bachelor’s and 1,300,000 Yen for master’s studies.

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