National Universities in Japan: 40 Government Universities With Locations

Searching for “Japan schools” often leads to confusing results. This page clears that up. It lists 40 national universities in Japan, with the city and prefecture of each. National universities are run by the Japanese government system under MEXT, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

A quick note first. Japan’s public elementary and junior high schools assign students by home address. Families cannot pick them from a list. That is why this guide focuses on universities, where students actually choose.

How Many National Universities Does Japan Have?

Japan had 86 national universities as of 2022, plus 98 public and 619 private ones. Since 2004, each national university operates as a National University Corporation. Each has limited autonomy over its own operations.

Ten of them hold “Designated National University” status. MEXT created this title in 2017 to strengthen research and education. Seven were once imperial universities: Tokyo, Kyoto, Tohoku, Kyushu, Hokkaido, Osaka, and Nagoya.

National vs. Public vs. Private: What’s the Difference?

• National universities: The national government system runs them. Every prefecture has at least one.
• Public universities: Local or prefectural governments run them.
• Private universities: These receive no government ownership or institutional funding.

The government sets standard tuition for national universities. It usually costs less than private tuition. Some universities set their own fees, so always check the current figure on the university’s site.

List of 40 National Universities in Japan

#	University	City	Prefecture	Note
1	University of Tokyo	Bunkyo, Tokyo	Tokyo	Designated; former imperial
2	Kyoto University	Kyoto	Kyoto	Designated; former imperial
3	Tohoku University	Sendai	Miyagi	Designated; former imperial
4	Institute of Science Tokyo	Tokyo	Tokyo	Designated; formed from Tokyo Tech and TMDU
5	Nagoya University	Nagoya	Aichi	Designated; former imperial
6	University of Osaka	Suita / Toyonaka / Minoh	Osaka	Designated; former imperial
7	Hitotsubashi University	Kunitachi	Tokyo	Designated; social sciences
8	University of Tsukuba	Tsukuba	Ibaraki	Designated
9	Kyushu University	Fukuoka	Fukuoka	Designated; former imperial
10	Hokkaido University	Sapporo	Hokkaido	Former imperial
11	Chiba University	Chiba	Chiba
12	Kobe University	Kobe	Hyogo
13	Hiroshima University	Higashihiroshima	Hiroshima
14	Okayama University	Okayama	Okayama
15	Kanazawa University	Kanazawa	Ishikawa
16	Nagasaki University	Nagasaki	Nagasaki
17	Kumamoto University	Kumamoto	Kumamoto
18	Niigata University	Niigata	Niigata
19	Gifu University	Gifu	Gifu
20	Shizuoka University	Shizuoka	Shizuoka	Also has a Hamamatsu campus
21	Yokohama National University	Yokohama	Kanagawa
22	Saitama University	Saitama	Saitama
23	Tokyo University of Foreign Studies	Fuchu	Tokyo	Languages and area studies
24	Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology	Fuchu / Koganei	Tokyo	Agriculture and engineering
25	Ochanomizu University	Bunkyo	Tokyo	Women’s university
26	Tokyo University of the Arts	Taito (Ueno)	Tokyo	Fine arts and music
27	Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology	Minato / Koto	Tokyo	Marine science
28	University of Electro-Communications	Chofu	Tokyo	Science and technology
29	Nara Women’s University	Nara	Nara	Women’s university
30	Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST)	Ikoma	Nara	Graduate-level science
31	Kyoto Institute of Technology	Kyoto	Kyoto	Science and technology
32	Nagoya Institute of Technology	Nagoya	Aichi	Science and technology
33	Toyohashi University of Technology	Toyohashi	Aichi	Science and technology
34	Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST)	Nomi	Ishikawa	Graduate-level science
35	University of the Ryukyus	Nishihara	Okinawa
36	Kagoshima University	Kagoshima	Kagoshima
37	Yamaguchi University	Yamaguchi	Yamaguchi
38	Shinshu University	Matsumoto	Nagano	Multi-campus
39	Mie University	Tsu	Mie
40	Ehime University	Matsuyama	Ehime

How to Choose a National University

Start with your subject, not the ranking. A strong engineering school may not suit an arts student. Then compare these points:

• Language of instruction. Many programs teach in Japanese. Check whether your target program offers degrees in English. The Japan Association of National Universities lists English-taught degree courses and exchange programs.
• Location and cost of living. Tokyo costs more than Sendai or Kumamoto. Smaller cities often stretch a student budget further.
• Entry requirements. Each university sets its own exams, deadlines, and documents. Read the international admissions page early.
• Scholarships. The Japanese government offers MEXT scholarships, and JASSO supports international students.

For official guidance, use the Study in Japan website run by JASSO. It covers admissions, living costs, and scholarships in English.

Visiting a Campus? Combine It With a Trip

Many of these universities sit in cities worth visiting. Kyoto and Tokyo top the list. Our Japan travel guide shows how to plan the route. If you visit Kyoto, add a quiet stop at Honen-in, a hidden temple. In Tokyo, our street food guide tells you where to eat between campus visits.

FAQ

How many national universities does Japan have?
Japan had 86 as of 2022, according to MEXT figures.

Are national universities cheaper than private ones?
Usually yes. The government sets standard tuition for national universities. Check each university’s current fees.

Can international students apply?
Yes. Each university runs its own international admissions process. Start with the university’s official site.

Which are the top national universities in Japan?
The University of Tokyo and Kyoto University lead most rankings. The other former imperial universities also rank highly.

Can I choose a government elementary or junior high school in Japan?
Generally no. Local authorities assign public schools by home address.

Final Word

This list gives you a starting point. It covers 40 of Japan’s 86 national universities. Verify current details on each university’s official website before you apply. Rules, fees, and program names change every year.