Thinking about studying in Japan but want a campus that blends community warmth with big-city access? Bunkyo University (文教大学) could be the sweet spot. With three campuses across Greater Tokyo—Koshigaya (Saitama), Tokyo Adachi, and Shonan (Kanagawa)—Bunkyo offers practical academics, strong teacher-training outcomes, supportive services for international students, and a philosophy of “Ningen-ai,” or “Empathy for All Humanity.” This guide pulls together quick facts, strengths, admissions pointers, climate and lifestyle notes, and career outcomes—so you can decide whether Bunkyo fits your goals.







Quick Facts
Type | Private University |
Total Students | Approx. 8,517 (as of May 1, 2024); International Students: 177 (≈2.1%) — At a Glance (PDF) |
Campuses (Main) | Koshigaya (Saitama), Tokyo Adachi (Tokyo), Shonan (Chigasaki, Kanagawa) — Official English Site |
Faculties / Schools | Education; Human Sciences; Language & Literature; Information & Communications; Health & Nutrition; International Studies; Business Administration — Sample faculty page (International Studies) |
Tuition Fees (Undergraduate, 2025 entrants) | Tuition ¥772,000–¥847,000 (varies by faculty) + Admission Fee ¥280,000 + Register & Facility Fee ¥270,000 — At a Glance (PDF) |
Gender Ratio | Not publicly listed in English summary; see Facts & Figures |
Intl‑Student % | ≈2.1% (177 / 8,517) — At a Glance (PDF) |
Students per Teaching Staff | ~35.5 students per faculty member (8,517 ÷ 240; calc. from official counts) — At a Glance (PDF) |
Campus Maps
Koshigaya Campus (Saitama)
Address: 3337 Minami-Ogishima, Koshigaya, Saitama 343-8511, Japan
Tokyo Adachi Campus (Tokyo)
Address: 5-6-1 Hanahata, Adachi-ku, Tokyo 121-8577, Japan
Shonan Campus (Chigasaki, Kanagawa)
Address: 1100 Namegaya, Chigasaki, Kanagawa 253-8550, Japan
Mission, History & Founding Story
Bunkyo University’s guiding spirit is Ningen-ai—“Empathy for All Humanity.” That ethos runs through courses, student support, and the culture you’ll feel on campus. The institution traces its roots to 1927, and today operates as a multi-campus university serving Greater Tokyo. The official English overview is a great place to start for prospective international students: University English site. For a compact snapshot of data—student numbers, programs, fees—see the English “At a Glance” PDF: At a Glance (PDF).
Historically, Bunkyo’s development has followed a steady expansion from teacher education into a broader portfolio of faculties. A milestone in recent years was the opening of the Tokyo Adachi campus in 2021, creating a three-campus network spanning Saitama, Tokyo, and Kanagawa. The university’s English “History” page confirms the 2021 transition of departments to Tokyo Adachi: History (English). For third-party coverage of the new campus decision, see the education-industry outlet University Journal Online: Bunkyo to open Tokyo Adachi Campus (JP).
Facilities and libraries have scaled with that growth. The official site outlines study environments and resources across campuses: Facilities (English). For overall student composition and staffing snapshots, the English data pages are helpful: Facts & Figures.
Key Strengths & Unique Features
Teacher Education Track Record
Bunkyo is widely recognized for teacher preparation. University announcements note that the university ranks highly for the number of successful primary-school teacher recruits among private universities, as reported by University Rankings (Asahi Shimbun Publishing). See this representative news item (JP): “Top among private universities for 16 consecutive years”. A broader editorial look at education initiatives is also available at University Journal Online: Feature on Bunkyo’s Education Faculty (JP).
Global‑Ready Liberal Arts with an Urban Campus
The Tokyo Adachi campus places you inside metropolitan Tokyo’s learning and internship ecosystem, while Koshigaya and Shonan offer quieter environments for focused study. The English gateway introduces programs and cross-campus study options: University English site. If you’re considering International Studies specifically, start here: Faculty of International Studies (English).
Student Support That Scales
International students benefit from admissions guidance, examination info, and exchange coordination centralized in English: Admissions for International Students (English) et International Exchange (English). The At a Glance (PDF) summarizes facilities and staffing, and Facts & Figures provide enrollment context.
Libraries & Learning Spaces
Across three campuses, Bunkyo’s libraries collectively hold hundreds of thousands of volumes, with study zones and services for both local and visiting scholars. Explore the overview here: Facilities (English).
Student Life for Internationals
Clubs & Circles that Welcome Overseas Students
Bunkyo hosts a range of student circles—from culture and sports to volunteering—that typically welcome international members. Check campus student-affairs notices after admission and ask the international office for English-friendly clubs via the English gateway.
Dedicated Offices (Visa, Housing, Counseling)
For residence status, document help, housing referrals, and counseling, contact the international admissions/affairs sections via: Admissions for International Students (English).
Language Exchange / Buddy Opportunities
Ask each campus’s international office about informal language-exchange or peer-support initiatives; offerings can vary by semester. The English hub is the best starting point for current options: University English site.
Partner Institutions & Exchange Options
Bunkyo’s outbound exchange network spans Asia, the U.S., and Europe. For the latest partner list, eligibility rules, and application windows, see the English exchange page: International Exchange (English).
Local Climate & Lifestyle
Weather patterns (last 5 years baseline). Greater Tokyo has humid subtropical seasons—hot, humid summers and cool, sunny winters. For a year‑round view of central Tokyo’s climate, see WeatherSpark’s profile: Tokyo climate (WeatherSpark), and consult Japan Meteorological Agency monthly tables for official data: JMA Tokyo monthly stats (EN). For campus‑area snapshots: Koshigaya (Saitama) WeatherSpark; Chigasaki (Shonan) WeatherSpark.
Safety & disaster readiness. Saitama Prefecture offers multilingual disaster and daily‑life guidance for residents; see the English guide (PDF): A Guide to Living in Saitama and Topic Chapter PDF: Emergencies/Disaster & Crime Prevention (Chapter 2). Tokyo also publishes a comprehensive Disaster Prevention Handbook (EN PDF): Tokyo Disaster Prevention Guide.
Cost of living. The Study in Japan (JASSO) official site estimates typical living costs and highlights higher rents in metropolitan areas (Tokyo): Living Costs & Expenses (JASSO). For planning your finances alongside tuition, also see JASSO’s fees page: Academic Fees (JASSO).
International Student Statistics
As of May 1, 2024, Bunkyo reports 8,517 students in total and 177 international students. Level‑by‑level details (e.g., undergraduate/graduate) appear in the English tables, while country/region breakdowns are not published on the English site. For the latest official counts, use: Facts & Figures (English) et At a Glance (PDF).
Career & Graduate Prospects
Teacher‑training outcomes are Bunkyo’s calling card, with consistent performance in national rankings for primary‑school teacher recruitment among private universities (see representative announcement, JP): Bunkyo teachers hired: private‑university #1 (16 years). For a broader editorial profile of education initiatives and career development efforts, refer to University Journal Online’s feature: Education Faculty initiatives (JP). Program‑specific career pathways are introduced through each faculty’s page via the English gateway: University English site.
References
- Bunkyo University – Official English site
- Bunkyo “At a Glance” (PDF, EN)
- Facts & Figures (EN)
- History (EN)
- Facilities (EN)
- Admissions for International Students (EN)
- International Exchange (EN)
- University Journal Online: Tokyo Adachi campus decision (JP)
- University Journal Online: Education Faculty feature (JP)
- Bunkyo news: teacher recruitment results (JP)
- WeatherSpark: Tokyo climate (EN)
- WeatherSpark: Koshigaya climate (EN)
- WeatherSpark: Chigasaki climate (EN)
- Japan Meteorological Agency: Tokyo monthly tables (EN)
- A Guide to Living in Saitama (EN PDF)
- Emergencies & Disaster Prevention in Saitama (EN PDF)
- Study in Japan (JASSO): Living Costs
- Study in Japan (JASSO): Academic Fees