For students considering studying in Asia, Japan offers a wide range of higher education options. The country has a strong reputation for the quality of education it offers. However, admission selectivity varies considerably among Japanese universities, programs, and application routes.
Are you looking to study in Japan but unsure which university to choose? In this article, we list Japanese universities and specific international-student admission routes from the highest to the lowest reported acceptance rate. The figures below are calculated by dividing the number of accepted applicants by the total number of applicants. They are not necessarily university-wide acceptance rates.
Let’s take a look at these universities in Japan with high acceptance rates.
Universities in Japan with High Rates of Acceptance
1. Nihon Fukushi University
Nihon Fukushi University (NFU) is a private university in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Its predecessor was established as a junior college in 1953, and it became a four-year university in 1957. As its name, “Fukushi,” or welfare, suggests, NFU has a longstanding focus on social welfare and related fields. It has since developed into a comprehensive university offering programs in areas such as social welfare, education, health sciences, economics, sports sciences, international studies, and nursing.
According to the university’s current admissions guide, the 2026 international-student selection resulted in 53 successful applicants out of 66 applicants, equivalent to an acceptance rate of 80.3%. This figure applies to the admission categories reported in the guide and should not be interpreted as a university-wide rate for every faculty or admission route.
2. Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU)
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU), located in Beppu, Oita Prefecture, is a private university that opened in 2000. It is a highly international institution where international students make up nearly half of the student body. Since its establishment, APU has welcomed students from more than 170 countries and regions. The university provides education in both English and Japanese and aims to cultivate graduates who can work effectively in multicultural environments.
The latest official acceptance data located for APU cover international undergraduate applicants for April 2025 entry. APU admitted 469 of 657 applicants, resulting in an acceptance rate of 71.4%. The university offers undergraduate programs through the College of Asia Pacific Studies, College of International Management, and College of Sustainability and Tourism. Applicants should note that admission outcomes can vary by intake, program, and applicant category.
3. Kanazawa University
Kanazawa University was established as a national university in 1949, although its origins can be traced to a smallpox vaccination center founded in 1862. It is a comprehensive university whose undergraduate academic structure is organized into the College of Human and Social Sciences, College of Science and Engineering, and College of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences.
For the 2026 privately financed international-student selection, Kanazawa University reported 54 applicants, 45 examinees, and 35 successful applicants. Using the total number of applicants, the acceptance rate was 64.8%. The results apply only to this selection category and can vary by college, school, and year.
4. Tokyo University of Information Sciences
Tokyo University of Information Sciences (TUIS) is a private university in Chiba, Japan, founded in 1988 by the Tokyo University of Agriculture Educational Corporation. It was the first private university in Japan to include the word “information” in its name. The university currently has a Faculty of Informatics, a Faculty of Nursing, and a Graduate School of Informatics.
TUIS emphasizes practical education in areas such as information systems, data science, media, and information security. Its Faculty of Informatics includes study areas related to information systems, data science, and media design, while its Faculty of Nursing offers professionally focused nursing education.
For the 2026 international-student selection for the Faculty of Informatics, TUIS reported 104 applicants across two rounds and 57 successful applicants. This produces an overall acceptance rate of 54.8%. The rate applies specifically to this faculty and admission route; outcomes for nursing, graduate programs, and other selection methods may differ.
5. Kyoto University of Foreign Studies (KUFS)
Kyoto University of Foreign Studies (KUFS) is a private university in Kyoto, Japan. Its educational foundation dates to 1947, while the university itself was established in 1959. KUFS specializes in foreign languages and international studies. Its current academic structure includes nine language departments in the Faculty of Foreign Studies, along with Global Studies and Global Tourism programs in the Faculty of Global Engagement.
For the university’s four April 2026 international admission rounds, KUFS reported 228 applicants and 108 successful applicants, producing an acceptance rate of 47.4%. This calculation does not include the university’s separately reported September-entry selection. Admission results can differ substantially by application round and department.
6. Kagawa University
Kagawa University is a national university in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, established in 1949. It currently has six faculties: Education, Law, Economics, Medicine, Engineering and Design, and Agriculture. The university combines regional engagement with research and international collaboration.
For the 2026 privately financed international undergraduate selection, Kagawa University reported 27 applicants, 24 examinees, and 11 successful applicants. Based on the number of applicants, the acceptance rate was 40.7%. Prospective undergraduate students should also note that the university states that undergraduate administrative matters and classes are generally conducted in Japanese, requiring advanced Japanese-language proficiency.
7. Nagasaki University
Nagasaki University is a national university in Nagasaki, Japan. Its medical roots date to 1857, when a Western-style medical training institute was established in Nagasaki. Today, the university has 10 undergraduate faculties and schools and conducts education and research in fields including medicine, economics, engineering, environmental science, tropical medicine, and radiation health.
For the university’s 2026 foreign-student selection, 21 of 86 applicants were accepted, resulting in an acceptance rate of 24.4%. The university also reported that 41 of the 86 applicants took the examination, illustrating why rates calculated from applicants can differ from rates calculated from examinees. The figure in this article consistently uses total applicants as the denominator.
8. Kwansei Gakuin University (School of International Studies)
Kwansei Gakuin University (KGU), located in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, is a private Christian university founded in 1889. Its educational philosophy is represented by the motto “Mastery for Service,” which encourages students to develop their abilities for the benefit of society. The university currently has 11 undergraduate schools and 13 graduate schools and places a strong emphasis on international education and exchange.
The School of International Studies offers an English-based degree option through which students can complete their degree by taking courses taught in English, although Japanese-language study is also required. For 2026 international admission to the English-based program, 20 of 85 applicants were accepted, giving an acceptance rate of 23.5%. The separate Japanese-based international-student selection admitted 22 of 237 applicants, or 9.3%. Therefore, the previously reported rate of approximately 65% does not reflect the university’s current official results.
9. Nihon University
Nihon University, also known as Nichidai, is a large private university in Japan. Its predecessor, Nihon Law School, was founded in 1889. The university offers programs across a broad range of academic and professional fields, and admission competitiveness differs considerably among colleges, departments, and selection methods.
According to the university’s 2026 international-student undergraduate admission results, Nihon University received 2,975 applications and accepted 585 applicants, resulting in an overall rate of 19.7% for the reported international-student selection. Because individual colleges report substantially different applicant and admission totals, students should consult the results for their intended college rather than relying only on the combined figure.
10. University of Kitakyushu
The University of Kitakyushu is a public university in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. Its history began in July 1946 with the establishment of Kokura Municipal College of Foreign Affairs. The university operates the Kitagata and Hibikino campuses and offers programs through the faculties of Foreign Studies, Economics and Business Administration, Humanities, Law, and Environmental Engineering, as well as the School of Regional Development.
For the 2026 special selection for international students, the university reported 142 applicants and 25 successful applicants, excluding a separately listed returnee applicant. This gives an acceptance rate of 17.6%. The university also reported 106 examinees and 11 enrolled students. These results show that the selection remains competitive despite the university’s international and regional engagement.
FAQs: Studying in Japan
Can You Easily Get Into Japanese Universities?
Not necessarily. Admission difficulty varies by university, faculty, degree level, and selection route. In the examples in this article, the latest official acceptance rates range from about 18% to 80%. Applicants should review the results and requirements for the specific program and admission route they plan to use.
Which University in Japan is the Hardest to Get Into?
There is no authoritative nationwide ranking that identifies one university as the single hardest to enter. Kyoto University is highly selective, but its official admissions data are reported by faculty and selection route rather than as one international acceptance rate. Kyoto University was founded in 1897.
We hope this article on universities in Japan with comparatively high acceptance rates was helpful. If you are interested, you can find valuable resources on the Japan Page and available programs for international students.
