🇯🇵Japan

Japan combines world-leading research universities (University of Tokyo, Kyoto University) with a distinctive culture and the MEXT government scholarship programme, though the language barrier is a real consideration for non-Japanese-medium programmes.

Popular Places

Mount Fuji

Honshu

Japan's highest peak and iconic symbol, popular for climbing and views.

Hotels from ~$60-250/night

Fushimi Inari Shrine

Kyoto

Shinto shrine famous for thousands of red torii gates.

Hotels from ~$60-220/night

Tokyo (Shibuya, Shinjuku)

Tokyo

Capital city blending ultramodern life with traditional culture.

Hotels from ~$80-350/night

Osaka Castle

Osaka

Historic Japanese castle surrounded by parkland.

Hotels from ~$70-280/night

Nara Park

Nara

Park known for freely roaming deer and Todai-ji temple.

Hotels from ~$60-230/night

Universities in Japan

Tokyo

University of Tokyo

Japan's most prestigious university, based in Tokyo, the University of Tokyo (Todai) is particularly renowned across nearly all fields and consistently ranked Asia's top or near-top university. Located in Tokyo, Japan. International students: Not surfaced in this search pass. Admission requirements — Academic: Requirements differ by pathway: Japanese-taught undergraduate, English-medium courses, the Japanese Government MEXT scholarship route, or other special selections. English language: GENERAL: TOEFL iBT 80+ or IELTS 6.5+ for most English-medium programmes; COMPETITIVE ADMITS: TOEFL 95+ or IELTS 7.0+ typically seen among successful applicants Acceptance rate: Overall acceptance rate estimated 30-35%; more competitive for international/highly sought-after programmes.

18%intl. students

Tokyo

Waseda University

One of Japan's most prestigious private universities, based in Tokyo, Waseda is known for its School of International Liberal Studies (SILS) and a long history of educating international students. Located in Tokyo, Japan. International students: Not surfaced in this search pass. Admission requirements — Academic: Not surfaced in this search pass; course-specific. English language: FUNDAMENTAL SCIENCE ENGINEERING ENGLISH PROGRAM: TOEFL iBT 80 or IELTS 6.5; SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL LIBERAL STUDIES COMPETITIVE: TOEFL 95+/120, IELTS Academic 5.0+/6, or IELTS 7+; EXCHANGE STUDENTS: TOEFL iBT 80 or IELTS 6.0 Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

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Tokyo

Keio University

Japan's oldest private institution of higher learning, founded in 1858, based in Tokyo, Keio is particularly renowned for business, economics, and medicine. Located in Tokyo, Japan. International students: Not surfaced in this search pass. Admission requirements — Academic: Not surfaced in this search pass; course-specific. English language: GENERAL: IELTS around 6.5 or TOEFL approximately 85-95 for English-taught programmes Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

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Tokyo

Tokyo Institute of Technology

Japan's leading science and technology university, based in Tokyo (recently merged into 'Institute of Science Tokyo' alongside Tokyo Medical and Dental University), particularly renowned for engineering and materials science. Located in Tokyo, Japan. International students: More than 10,000 total students (4,940 bachelor's, 5,096 graduate); specific international headcount not surfaced (as of: reported 2024). Admission requirements — Academic: Minimum GPA of 3.0 in the relevant subject for undergraduate; graduate applicants typically need a GPA equivalent to 3.3-3.5/4.0 (75-80/100), with competitive applicants at 3.7/4.0 (85+/100). English language: GLOBAL SCIENCE COURSE: TOEFL iBT 80, TOEFL PBT 550, or IELTS 6.5; GENERAL UNDERGRADUATE: IELTS 6.5; GENERAL POSTGRADUATE: IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 78+ Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

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Kyoto

Kyoto University

Japan's second-most prestigious national university after Tokyo, based in Kyoto, particularly renowned for basic sciences and having produced numerous Nobel laureates. Located in Kyoto, Japan. International students: Not surfaced university-wide; the Civil Engineering International Course caps admission at 30 total students as one example (as of: reported 2024). Admission requirements — Academic: Not surfaced in this search pass; course-specific. English language: IUP AND ENGLISH TAUGHT POSTGRADUATE: TOEFL 80+ or IELTS 6.5+ Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

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Osaka

Osaka University

One of Japan's leading national universities, based in Osaka, particularly renowned for medicine and engineering, with about 12% of its student body international. Located in Osaka, Japan. International students: Approximately 2,800-3,000+ international students, about 12% of 23,000 total students (as of: reported 2024). Admission requirements — Academic: Not surfaced in this search pass; course-specific. English language: GENERAL: TOEFL iBT 80 or IELTS 6.0+ for many programmes; INTERNATIONAL COURSE ENGINEERING SCIENCE: TOEFL iBT 80+ or IELTS 6.5+ Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

12%intl. students

Nagoya

Nagoya University

One of Japan's leading national universities, based in Nagoya, home to the Global 30 International Programs offering degrees entirely in English with no Japanese proficiency required. Located in Nagoya, Japan. International students: Not surfaced in this search pass. Admission requirements — Academic: Not surfaced in this search pass; course-specific. English language: GENERAL GRADUATE: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 80/PBT 60, or Duolingo 110+; ENGINEERING GRADUATE: TOEFL 550 (CBT 213/iBT 79), TOEIC 730, or IELTS 5.5 Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

18%intl. students

Sendai

Tohoku University

One of Japan's oldest national universities, founded in 1907, based in Sendai, known for being the first Japanese university to admit women and international students. Located in Sendai, Japan. International students: Approximately 1,346 international students out of a total student body of 18,798 (as of: reported 2024). Admission requirements — Academic: Privately financed international students take the Privately Financed International Students Entrance Examination (in Japanese); Japanese-taught programme applicants take the EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students) in June or November of the prior year. English language: UNDERGRADUATE GENERAL: TOEFL iBT 79+; FGL FIRST YEAR GLOBAL LEADERS PROGRAMME: TOEFL iBT 80+ or IELTS 6.5+ Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

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Fukuoka

Kyushu University

One of Japan's leading national universities, based in Fukuoka, with all graduate schools offering English-taught international programmes. Located in Fukuoka, Japan. International students: Approximately 2,200 international students out of about 18,700 total students (11,700 undergraduates) (as of: reported 2024). Admission requirements — Academic: Not surfaced in this search pass; course-specific. English language: UNDERGRADUATE: TOEFL iBT 80 minimum, IELTS Academic 6.5 minimum; EXCHANGE ENGLISH TAUGHT: TOEFL iBT 79 or IELTS 6.0 Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

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Sapporo

Hokkaido University

One of Japan's seven former Imperial Universities, based in Sapporo on the northern island of Hokkaido, particularly renowned for agriculture, veterinary medicine, and environmental science, with a large, green campus distinct from Japan's more urban flagships. Located in Sapporo, Japan. International students: Not surfaced in this search pass. Admission requirements — Academic: Not surfaced in this search pass; course-specific. English language: EXCHANGE PROGRAMMES: TOEFL iBT 79 or IELTS 6.5; INTEGRATED SCIENCE PROGRAMME: TOEFL iBT 79+, IELTS Academic 6.0+, or Duolingo 110+ Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

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Tokyo

Tokyo University of Science

One of Japan's leading private science and engineering universities, based in Tokyo, known for producing a large share of Japan's science teachers and researchers. Located in Tokyo, Japan. International students: Not surfaced in this search pass. Admission requirements — Academic: Not surfaced in this search pass; course-specific. English language: GENERAL: IELTS and TOEFL accepted; specific minimums vary significantly by programme and were not surfaced in this pass Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

18%intl. students

Tokyo

Shibaura Institute of Technology

A private engineering-focused university in Tokyo, Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT) is known for its strong industry partnerships and practical, hands-on engineering education. Located in Tokyo, Japan. International students: Not surfaced in this search pass. Admission requirements — Academic: Not surfaced in this search pass; course-specific. English language: GENERAL: IELTS Academic 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 80 typically required, though this varies by programme Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

18%intl. students

Tokyo

Tokyo Denki University

A private university in Adachi, Tokyo, founded in 1907 as Denki Gakko (Electricity School), Tokyo Denki University specializes in engineering and the sciences. Located in Tokyo, Japan. International students: Not surfaced in this search pass; total enrollment over 9,900 (as of: reported 2024). Admission requirements — Academic: Not surfaced in this search pass; course-specific. English language: GENERAL: IELTS 5.5 minimum; TOEFL also accepted though a specific minimum was not surfaced in this pass Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

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Nagoya

Nagoya Institute of Technology

A public technical university in Nagoya, distinct from Nagoya University, specializing in engineering and technology education. Located in Nagoya, Japan. International students: Not surfaced in this search pass; total enrollment approximately 5,770 (as of: reported 2024). Admission requirements — Academic: Not surfaced in this search pass; course-specific. English language: GENERAL: IELTS 6.0 minimum (lowest published requirement across its programmes) Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

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Kitakyushu

Kyushu Institute of Technology

A public technical university with campuses in Kitakyushu and Iizuka, Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech) specializes in engineering, computer science, and life sciences. Located in Kitakyushu, Japan. International students: Not surfaced in this search pass. Admission requirements — Academic: High school diploma or equivalent; minimum age 18. English language: GENERAL: IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL 70 minimum (some sources cite TOEFL 80 for successful admission) Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

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Osaka

Osaka Institute of Technology

A private technical university in Osaka, Osaka Institute of Technology (OIT) offers engineering, information science, and robotics programmes with strong ties to the Kansai region's manufacturing industry. Located in Osaka, Japan. International students: Not surfaced in this search pass. Admission requirements — Academic: Not surfaced in this search pass; course-specific. English language: GENERAL: JLPT, TOEFL, IELTS, and TOEIC all accepted as proof of language proficiency; specific score minimums not surfaced in this pass Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

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Nationwide (51 campuses)

National Institute of Technology (KOSEN)

A nationwide network of 51 public 'Colleges of Technology' (KOSEN), the National Institute of Technology offers a distinctive five-year technical education starting at age 15 after junior high school, producing highly regarded practical engineers; international students typically join at the third-year transfer point rather than from year one. Located in Nationwide (51 campuses), Japan. International students: Not surfaced in this search pass; the network includes a mix of MEXT-government-scholarship students and privately-financed international students (as of: reported 2024). Admission requirements — Academic: International students generally need 11+ years of prior schooling (equivalent to the second year of high school) to transfer directly into KOSEN's third year, skipping years one and two. English language: GENERAL: Requirements vary significantly by individual KOSEN college; not surfaced uniformly in this pass Acceptance rate: Not surfaced.

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