Considering a degree in Japan with a strong focus on medicine, pharmaceutical sciences, and the life sciences? Toho University—rooted in Tokyo and neighboring Chiba—offers tightly connected teaching hospitals, lab-driven programs, and an approachable, community feel. This guide introduces Toho University for international applicants: what the university stands for, how its programs are structured, what it costs, what daily life is like, and where graduates go. You’ll also find verified links to official pages for admissions, visas, scholarships, climate data, and research highlights.




Quick Facts: Toho University at a Glance
Type | Private University Official “About Toho” |
Total Students | 5,217 Facts & Figures |
Campuses | Omori (Tokyo), Narashino (Chiba); 2 campuses total Facts & Figures |
Faculties / Schools | Medicine; Pharmaceutical Sciences; Science; Nursing; Health Science Academics |
Tuition Fees (typical graduate) | Science: Tuition ¥500,000 + Facility ¥100,000 + Enrollment ¥100,000 Graduate Admissions – Science Medicine: Tuition ¥500,000 + Facility ¥100,000 + Enrollment ¥100,000 Graduate Admissions – Medicine Pharmaceutical Sciences (MS): Tuition ¥450,000 + Facility (Y1) ¥150,000 + Enrollment ¥200,000 Graduate Admissions – Pharmaceutical Sciences |
Gender Ratio | ~54% Female : 46% Male THE Profile |
International Student % | ~0% (THE key stat) THE Profile |
Students per Staff | ≈3.7 (5,217 ÷ 1,424 full-time academic staff, official) Facts & Figures | 13.6 (THE methodology) THE Profile |
Note: Fee tables and staff/student metrics vary by program and source; always confirm the latest details on Toho University’s official pages linked above.
Campus Maps
Omori Campus (Tokyo)
Address: 5-21-16 Omorinishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo 143-8540, Japan
Reviews: Open reviews on Google Maps (EN) | Source (Official): Toho University
Narashino Campus (Chiba)
Address: 2-2-1 Miyama, Funabashi-shi, Chiba 274-8510, Japan
Reviews: Open reviews on Google Maps (EN)
Mission, History & Founding Story
Toho University traces its origin to 1925, when brothers Yutaka and Susumu Nukada founded the Imperial Women’s Medical College in Omori, Tokyo. The university’s ethos is distilled in the phrase “Nature, Life, Man”—a guiding spirit shaped by Susumu Nukada’s book of the same title. Post‑war educational reforms transformed the institution into a coeducational university and reorganized its faculties. Today, Toho focuses on natural and health sciences and consists of five faculties—Medicine, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Science, Nursing, and Health Science—plus four graduate schools. The university also maintains five affiliated hospitals and clinics that anchor clinical education and research across metropolitan Tokyo and Chiba. Official “About Toho”
Toho emphasizes the cultivation of professionals who blend technical mastery with humanistic sensibility—people who “cherish nature and humanity” and respect the dignity of life. That educational vision shows up in how the curriculum is structured (a strong liberal‑arts and ethics base alongside technical training), in the clinical immersion students receive at teaching hospitals, and in research that ranges from molecular pharmacology to environmental and evolutionary biology. The university reports 1,424 full-time academic staff supporting 5,217 students across two campuses—an unusually intimate environment for a medical‑centered institution—while more than 32,000 alumni contribute to society in Japan and worldwide, especially in healthcare fields. Facts & Figures
Internationalization is a stated priority. From accredited programs to an expanding partner network, Toho seeks to keep its curricula aligned with international standards (for example, JACME/JABPE/JABEE accreditations referenced on the official site) and to expand both inbound and outbound mobility. The “Global Partners” section lists collaborations across Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania—a network that also supports non‑degree opportunities such as clinical electives and physician observerships. About & Global Partners
Key Strengths & Unique Features
Flagship Faculty: Pharmaceutical Sciences
Toho’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences is a signature strength. The six‑year B.S. program enrolls 1,437 students taught by 71 faculty members and integrates robust clinical training through affiliated hospitals and community pharmacies. Students build wide‑ranging competencies—from communication and ethics to problem‑solving in specialized pharmaceutical sciences—designed for frontline healthcare and drug‑discovery roles. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Clinical Training & Teaching Hospitals
Toho runs five affiliated hospitals & clinics and offers structured non‑degree experiences for overseas visitors. Medical students can apply for 2–12 week clinical electives (observation‑style) at Omori Hospital, with a clear admissions calendar and program fee structure; as of 2025, Toho accepts only students from institutions with agreements (MOUs) for this elective program. Clinical Electives (Official)
Toho also hosts the International Physician Observership Program (IPOP) for foreign physicians. Applicants must submit standard documents and proof of language proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/CEFR); the program clarifies visa responsibilities and required personal insurance. International Physician Observership Program
Science & Research That Touch Daily Life
Recent highlights from Toho’s news feed illustrate the breadth of inquiry. A 2025 report details an automated program to rapidly identify anti‑glycation compounds in natural resources—work published in Analytical Chemistry. Other releases cover discoveries from deep‑sea biology (e.g., the world’s deepest recorded trematode lineage) to population genetics of ancient remains. Graduate School of Science programs span master’s and doctoral pathways with clear admissions and tuition outlines. Anti‑glycation discovery | Deep‑sea trematode | Ancient DNA study | Graduate School of Science
An Intimate Learning Environment
By the university’s own count, 1,424 full‑time academic staff support 5,217 students—about 3.7 students per staff member. External aggregators using different definitions report higher figures (e.g., 13.6 on Times Higher Education). Either way, Toho’s health‑sciences profile means lab and clinical training are emphasized and class sizes are not oversized. Facts & Figures | THE Profile
Student Life for Internationals
Clubs & Circles
Toho highlights a busy campus culture across Omori and Narashino—more than 5,000 students study at the two campuses, engaging in academics, clubs, and extracurriculars. Campus Life
Dedicated Support Offices (Visas, Housing, Counseling)
Visa guidance is centralized on Toho’s official “Visas” page, with a downloadable COE (Certificate of Eligibility) & Student Visa procedure sheet. Toho’s International Communication Center assists with the COE application process and clarifies required financial documentation. Visa support (official) | COE & Student Visa PDF
Language‑Exchange & International Class Projects
Examples of international engagement include online exchange classes with Khon Kaen University (Thailand) and with the National University of Mongolia. These are for-credit or co‑curricular activities that build friendships and help students practice English and Japanese with peers. Khon Kaen exchange | Mongolia exchange
Partner Institutions & Exchange Options
Toho lists partners across Asia (e.g., National Taiwan University; Chiang Mai University; Mahidol University), Europe (e.g., Medical University of Warsaw; Medical University of Gdańsk; Queen Mary University of London Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry), North America (e.g., University of Kansas Medical Center; University of Alberta), and Oceania (RMIT). These partnerships underpin elective exchanges and collaborative research. Global Partners (official list) | Clinical Electives
Local Climate & Lifestyle
Tokyo’s climate features cool, crisp winters and hot, humid summers. Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) station 47662 (Tokyo) provides monthly statistics and normals. Over the last few years, monthly mean daily highs commonly range from around the high single‑digits (°C) in January to the low/mid‑30s (°C) in August, with minimums from near freezing in winter to the mid‑20s (°C) at night in late summer. JMA monthly stats (Tokyo 47662) | JMA ClimatView
Heat has intensified in recent summers; 2025 saw notable heat records in Japan and South Korea, underscoring the value of good summer planning (hydration, cooling, and housing with air conditioning). Weather‑tracker report
International Student Statistics
External profiles indicate a relatively small international cohort to date. Times Higher Education (WUR 2025) lists Toho’s international student share at ~0%, student gender ratio at roughly 54% female to 46% male, and students per staff at 13.6 (per THE’s methodology). THE Profile
Career & Graduate Prospects
Given Toho’s health‑science focus, many graduates move into medical centers, clinics, research institutes, pharma, and related public‑health roles. Clinical immersion (for medicine, nursing, and pharmacy) and science programs (chemistry, biology, environmental science, etc.) equip students with evidence‑based skills and a collaborative ethos, strengthening placement outcomes. Toho notes more than 32,000 alumni active domestically and abroad. About & Alumni overview
How to Apply & What It Costs
Start with the international admissions hub for degree‑seeking applicants. Master’s/PhD fees vary by graduate school; typical annual tuition is ¥500,000 in Science and Medicine, and ¥450,000 for the M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, with additional facility and enrollment fees detailed on each graduate school’s page. Applicants should review visa procedures and financial documents for the COE. Admissions (official) | Graduate Admissions – Science | Graduate Admissions – Medicine | Graduate Admissions – Pharmaceutical Sciences | Visas | JASSO: Academic Fees (context)
References (For Further Reading)
- Toho University – About / Facts & Figures / Global Partners: Official site
- Admissions (International) Hub: Admissions
- Graduate Admissions – Science: Science Graduate Admissions
- Graduate Admissions – Medicine: Medicine Graduate Admissions
- Graduate Admissions – Pharmaceutical Sciences: Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Admissions
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences (B.S.): Program overview
- Clinical Electives (visiting medical students): Elective program
- International Physician Observership Program (IPOP): IPOP
- Visa Support (COE guidance) & COE PDF: Visas | COE PDF
- Times Higher Education – Toho University profile (key stats): THE
- Study in Japan (JASSO) – Academic Fees overview: JASSO Academic Fees
- JMA – Tokyo station 47662 monthly climate statistics and 2024 view: JMA monthly stats | JMA ClimatView
- Guardian Weather Tracker (Aug 2025 record heat): Report
- International Exchange class examples: Khon Kaen | National University of Mongolia
- Research highlights: Anti‑glycation program | Deep‑sea trematode | Ancient DNA analysis