Top 10 Best Schools in Japan

Best schools in Japan

Best schools in Japan — Just like every other advanced country, Japan has one of the best schools in Asia. 

Japan has many schools that are recognised worldwide. Although academic schools seem to be the most popular, Japan also has schools that are dedicated to providing certain kinds of professional education which includes art and design, fashion, music, and other skill-related courses.

Japan schools include public and private universities, centers for continuing education, vocational/trade schools, apprenticeship programs, colleges, community colleges, career/technical schools, and campus transition programs. 

Having that many schools listed here can span over thousands of schools. But in this article, I have made a list to showcase some of the best schools you can find in Japan. So in case you have just moved to Japan or you are a local searching for the best schools to apply to, let this list be your guide.

List of the Best Schools in Japan

Like I have pointed out before, Japan has a range of schools that can be considered the best at different educational levels. The schools listed here are universities, high schools, basic schools, and a few schools offering professional courses.

  1. Tokyo Designer Gakuin
  2. Osaka Designers’ College
  3. Kodokan Judo Institute
  4. University of Tokyo
  5. Osaka University
  6. Tohoku University
  7. Tokyo Institute of Technology
  8. Kyoto University
  9. Seisen International School
  10. American School in Japan

1. Tokyo Designer Gakuin

Tokyo Designer Gakuin is the first school in Japan to introduce animation to its curriculum. They teach courses in fashion history, materials, business acumen, technology and skills from drawing to pattern making to sewing.  Tokyo Designer Gakuin strives to promote talent in fashion design alongside other creative fields like music and arts.

Their range of courses include:

  • Fashion Design
  • Fashion Stylist
  • Fashion Business
  • Fashion Coordinator
  • Buyer
  • Patterner
  • Bridal Fashion
  • Make-Up Artist
  • Graphic Design
  • Illustration
  • Manga
  • Animation
  • Game Creator
  • Product Design
  • Art
  • Interior Design
  • Architectural Design

Location: 2-11 Kandasurugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0062

Website: www.tdg.ac.jp

2. Osaka Designers’ College

Osaka Designers’ College, also known as Osaka Dezaina Senmon Gakkou, offers a range of courses that prepares students for the huddles in the fashion industry. The school boasts that 95.8% of their students find jobs after graduation

All instructors are practicing designers. This allows students to learn the latest fashion and techniques with first-hand experience. Some of the courses they offer includes:

  • Fashion Design
  • Make-Up Art
  • Special Make-Up and Effects
  • Graphic Design
  • Illustration
  • Characters Design
  • Animation
  • Manga
  • Computer Graphics
  • Interior Design
  • Interior Coordinator
  • Product Design
  • Total Visual Design

Location: 2-30-20 Dojima, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0003

Website: www.odc.ac.jp

3. Kodokan Judo Institute

The Kodokan Judo Institute is the best at training people who want to master the art of Judo. Many Judo trainees around the world have roots in the Kodokan Judo Institute. The institution offers short-term practice periods for Judo trainees with some level of experience to brush up and advance their skills in Judo.  

The Kodokan Judo Institute arranges separate classes for women and men. They also offer classes for boys and girls. Their beginner classes called Futsu-ka (Class 1 for 3 months) and Tokushu-ka (Class 2 – for 9 months) are structured in a way that a student who can complete both classes in the adult division can achieve the First Dan rank.

Location: 1 Chome-16-30 Kasuga, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 112-0003, Japan.

Website: www kodokanjudoinstitute.org

4. University of Tokyo

The University of Tokyo has a graduation rate of 85% – 97% ranging among departments. Graduates from the University of Tokyo usually have an average salary of about $175,000 – $427,000 per year. About 97% are employed after two years of graduation and about 98% are positive they will get a job in their field after graduation.

The University of Tokyo is not too selective about its student admissions, this earns them an admission rate of 34.2%. The students to staff ratio is 6:1. Tuition costs about 535,800 JPY for home students. The freshman life on campus is top-rated and they offer online courses programs too.

Website: www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ja

Location: 7 Chome-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan.

5. Osaka University

Osaka University has a graduation rate of 84% – 94% ranging among departments. Graduates from Osaka University usually have an average salary of about $24,000 – $186,000 per year. About 96% are employed after two years of graduation and about 93% are positive they will get a job in their field after graduation.

Osaka University is not too selective about its student admissions, this earns them an acceptance rate of 41%. The student to faculty ratio is 59:1. Tuition costs about 535,800 JPY per year. The freshman life on campus is top-rated and they offer online courses programs too.

Website: www.osaka-u.ac.jp/ja

Location: 1-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan

6. Tohoku University

Tohoku University has a graduation rate of 86% – 98% ranging among departments. Graduates from Tohoku University usually have an average salary of about $50,000 – $197,000 per year. About 94% are employed after two years of graduation and about 97% are positive they will get a job in their field after graduation.

Tohoku University is not too selective about its student admissions, this earns them an acceptance rate of 41%. The student to faculty ratio is 6:1. Tuition costs about 535,800 JPY per year. The freshman life on campus is top-rated and they offer online courses programs too.

Website: www.tohoku.ac.jp

Location: 2 Chome-1-1 Katahira, Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8577, Japan

7. Tokyo Institute of Technology

Tokyo Institute of Technology has a graduation rate of 89% – 97% ranging among departments. Graduates from Tokyo Institute of Technology usually have an average salary of about $40,000 – $180,000 per year. About 95% are employed after two years of graduation and about 96% are positive they will get a job in their field after graduation.

Tokyo Institute of Technology is selective about its student admissions, this earns them an acceptance rate of 10%. The student to faculty ratio is 9:1. Tuition costs about 535,800 JPY per year. The freshman life on campus is top-rated and they offer online courses programs too.

Website: www.titech.ac.jp

Location: 2 Chome-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro City, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan

8. Kyoto University

Kyoto University has a graduation rate of 85% – 94% ranging among departments. Graduates from Kyoto University usually have an average salary of about $53,000 – $170,000 per year. About 94% are employed after two years of graduation and about 92% are positive they will get a job in their field after graduation.

Kyoto University is not too selective about its student admissions, this earns them an acceptance rate of 40%. The student to faculty ratio is 9:1. Tuition costs about 535,800 JPY per year. The freshman life on campus is top-rated and they offer online courses programs too.

Website: www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/ja

Location: Yoshidahonmachi, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan.

9. Seisen International School

Seisen International School is a Catholic, girls only school but with a co-ed Montessori kindergarten. They are accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and the Council of International Schools (CIS).

Seisen International School is a diverse school that is open to all students of the world. Japanese language and culture is introduced into the school’s curriculum from the first class up to the last class. They have tons of students from different races, ethnic groups, and economic backgrounds. About 30% of their student population are Japanese/Asians, 30% of the student population are from the UK/Europe, and about 40% are from the US/Canada. 

They offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma and their average scores are 3 points above the global figure and approximately 50 per cent go to university in America. 

Location: 1 Chome-12-15 Yoga, Setagaya City, Tokyo 158-0097, Japan

Website: www.seisen.com

10. American School in Japan

The American School in Japan is a independent, non-profit, co-educational day school that has an American-style college preparatory education system. They use English as their language of instruction and admit students who are aged from 3 to 18 years.

The American School in Japan has two campuses, one in Chofu which has facilities providing for up to 1650 students from diverse countries, and an Early Learning Center in Tokyo’s Roppongi district for only children that are aged between 3 and 5 years.

The Chofu campus has best rated facilities which includes a 25m indoor pool, a 570-seat theater, and Creative Arts Design Center that is equipped with a robotics lab and fabrication labs.

Location: Japan, 〒182-0031 Tokyo, Chofu, Nomizu, 1 Chome−1−1

Website: www.asij.ac.jp

Summary

Japan has tons of schools in all of its states. By a rule of thumb, schools in popular and advanced locations tend to be highly rated and provide better quality education. Some schools provide some sort of financial aid that attracts students and makes education cheaper for both domestic and international students to access.

Most internationally recognised Japanese schools accept diverse students and do not relegate them to a category. Students undergo a selection processes without being discriminated against for their sexual orientation, gender, ethnic origin, marital status, gender identity, race, social background, caste, color, disability, or religion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Some of the top schools in Japan include the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Tohoku University, Osaka University, and Nagoya University, among others.

The best university for international studies is the University of Tokyo.

Japan is good for international studies because it is inversely advance in technology. They also have a rich culture and language to explore.

References

  • usnews.com – Best Global Universities in Japan
  • apts.jp – Top 10 Tokyo International Schools Recommended By Expats
  • edarabia.com – List of 115 Best Schools in Japan (2022 Fees)

Recommendations

You May Also Like