Japanese Studies: Top Study Programs (2026/27)

Germany offers international students a unique and valuable perspective for pursuing Japanese Studies, combining rigorous academic excellence with strategic positioning as Japan's most important European partner, where bilateral trade exceeds €45 billion annually and over 1,800 Japanese companies operate on German soil. Choosing to study Japanese Studies in Germany means accessing renowned programs at institutions like the University of Heidelberg's Centre for East Asian Studies, Freie Universität Berlin's Graduate School of East Asian Studies, and the University of Hamburg's Asia-Africa Institute, where comprehensive Japanese language training combines with interdisciplinary expertise in history, politics, economics, and culture. German universities deliver exceptional Japanese Studies curricula that integrate intensive language instruction with area studies approaches, examining Japan through multiple lenses while benefiting from Germany's long tradition of Japanology dating back to the 19th century, with extensive library collections, including rare historical documents and contemporary resources.