Tokyo University of Agriculture (Tokyo NODAI): Admissions, Programs, Scholarships, Campus Life & Careers for International Students

Thinking about studying agriculture, food systems, or sustainability in Japan? Tokyo University of Agriculture—better known as “Tokyo NODAI”—is a specialized private university with three distinct campuses spanning metropolitan Tokyo, suburban Kanagawa, and Hokkaidō’s wild Okhotsk region. You’ll find hands-on labs, field stations, and research centers that plug directly into Japan’s agri-food industry, plus exchange programs and English-taught options that make it easier to get started. Below is a practical, evidence-based overview to help overseas applicants compare programs, understand costs, and picture daily life—without the marketing fluff.

Quick-Facts Table

Type (National/Public/Private)	Private university (THE profile)
Total Students	13,080 (latest figure reported to THE) Source
Campuses	Setagaya (Tokyo; main), Atsugi (Kanagawa), Okhotsk (Abashiri, Hokkaidō) Setagaya / Atsugi / Okhotsk
Faculties/Schools	Faculty of Agriculture / Applied Biosciences / Life Sciences / Regional Environment Science / International Agriculture & Food Studies / Bioindustry Official list
수업료	Varies by faculty and program (check latest tables). Example for internationals: Tokyo NODAI Scholarship reduces tuition by ¥495,000/year for eligible privately financed undergraduates; graduate schemes available. Scholarship details
Gender Ratio	41% Female : 59% Male (THE) Source
Intl-Student %	~2% (THE) Source
Students per Staff	33.1 (THE) Source

Tip: Exchange students from partner universities often receive tuition waivers under reciprocal agreements, while non-partner visiting students follow separate fee rules. Always confirm the newest terms with Tokyo NODAI’s Center for Global Initiatives. Details here.

Campus Maps

Setagaya Campus (Tokyo)

Address: 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan

Atsugi Campus (Kanagawa)

Address: 1737 Funako, Atsugi-shi, Kanagawa 243-0034, Japan

Hokkaido–Okhotsk Campus (Abashiri)

Address: 196 Yasaka, Abashiri-shi, Hokkaido 099-2493, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

Tokyo University of Agriculture (Tokyo NODAI) began in 1891, when statesman and educator Enomoto Takeaki helped establish the forerunner to the university. His vision—rooted in practical agricultural science and service to society—still shapes the institution’s mission today. The university summarizes this spirit in two guiding phrases: “Return Students to the Farm” and, more recently, “Return Students to the World,” signaling both deep local engagement and outward-looking global ambitions. History / Mission / Top page

Over the 20th century, Tokyo NODAI evolved from a training school into a comprehensive private university dedicated to agriculture and allied life sciences. According to historical notes, the institution adopted its current name in 1925 and gradually added specialized faculties and graduate schools spanning applied biosciences, life sciences, environmental fields, international agriculture and food studies, and bioindustry. THE overview / University history

One distinctive feature is the university’s multi-campus footprint: Setagaya (central Tokyo’s western side) hosts several faculties and global-facing programs; Atsugi (Kanagawa) offers large green plots, botanical collections, and field facilities; and Okhotsk (Abashiri, Hokkaidō) anchors cold-region and resource-rich bioindustry studies. The history pages also highlight early tie-ups and international collaborations, setting the stage for today’s exchange programs and global research partnerships. Setagaya access / Atsugi access / Okhotsk access

Today’s NODAI balances field-based learning with lab-driven science across the food–agri–environment value chain—soil and water, crops and livestock, fermentation and food safety, supply chains and regional revitalization, and biodiversity and ecosystem services. Its mission statement emphasizes solving real-world problems and sharing knowledge with farmers, industry, and policymakers in Japan and abroad. Mission

Key Strengths & Unique Features

A Three-Campus Living Laboratory

Few universities offer such contrasting learning environments in one system. Setagaya puts you in Tokyo’s innovation corridor with easy access to companies and NGOs; Atsugi’s greener setting supports field exercises and botanical collections; and Okhotsk places you in northern Hokkaidō for cold-region agriculture, fisheries, and resource studies. For example, the Faculty of Bioindustry at Okhotsk includes an Aqua Bioscience & Industry department and programs that utilize forests, pastures, and fields as extended classrooms. Setagaya / Atsugi / Faculty of Bioindustry / Okhotsk campus

Flagship Faculties at a Glance

Faculty of Agriculture (Atsugi)

Located on the tree-lined Atsugi campus, the Faculty of Agriculture integrates Agriculture, Animal Science, and allied fields to link production, environment, and human–animal relationships. The program structure is designed to train professionals who can bridge on-farm realities with science-based solutions. Faculty page

Faculty of International Agriculture & Food Studies (Setagaya)

Focused on global development and agri-food economics, this faculty explores international agricultural development, food systems, and sustainability policy. Its graduate counterpart also frames interdisciplinary research across natural and social sciences to support sustainable rural livelihoods in the tropics and beyond. Graduate department example

Faculty of Bioindustry (Okhotsk)

Situated in Abashiri, this faculty leverages Hokkaidō’s ecosystems to tackle bioresource utilization, food and cosmetic science, aquaculture, and regional business. Field learning is baked in—the “campus” explicitly includes surrounding forests, fields, and water. Faculty overview / Northern Biosphere Agriculture

Sustainability, Extension & Social Impact

Tokyo NODAI hosts centers that connect research with community outcomes. The Recycle Research Center runs a campus-to-farm organic waste loop (“Midori-kun” fertilizer) and wood-waste recycling with the Setagaya ward and industry partners. The Rural Districts Support Center (RSC) pilots smart-village concepts, biomass utilization, and industry-government-academia projects to revitalize rural economies. These units complement teaching in environmental engineering, landscape, and regional planning. Recycle Research Center / RSC / Academic Frontier Research Center

Global Learning Tracks & English-Medium Options

The Center for Global Initiatives coordinates inbound visiting (exchange) students and an English-conducted undergraduate “food, agriculture, and environment” program that mixes lectures with lab affiliation. NODAI reports 45+ partner universities worldwide; exchange students from partner schools typically receive tuition waivers under reciprocity. The university also runs the long-standing International Students Summit, a student-led global forum on food and agriculture. Opportunities to Study / Center for Global Initiatives / International Students Summit (program example)

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Campus Culture

Across three campuses, you’ll encounter the usual Japanese “circles” (clubs) around sports, culture, and volunteer activities, plus agriculture-specific groups tied to labs and fields. International exchange events pop up throughout the year, often coordinated through the Center for Global Initiatives and faculty societies. (Ask your lab or CGI office during orientation.) CGI contact

Support Offices: Visa, Housing, Health & Counseling

The International Students’ Handbook (English) explains procedures for residence status, tuition payment, and certificates; lists student support windows; and notes that counseling in English is available. The handbook also outlines scholarship options (including JASSO and university schemes) and points you to housing support channels used by NODAI. 2025 International Students’ Handbook

Language Support & Exchange

Japanese language courses are available (auditing options vary by status). Exchange students participating in the English-conducted program also interact in mixed classes with Japanese peers, which naturally becomes a language-exchange environment. Handbook (course notes) / English-conducted program overview

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options (Outbound Emphasis)

For degree-seeking students at NODAI, the university promotes both short- and long-term study abroad with agriculture-focused partners worldwide (language study plus field- or lab-based courses). The Center for Global Initiatives curates programs and handles selection/briefings. Re-Inventing Japan Project (globalization) / CGI

Inbound exchange is also well structured: NODAI lists 45+ partner universities and runs a Visiting (Exchange) Students Program. Fees are typically waived if your home university has a reciprocal agreement. One-semester or one-year options include affiliation with a lab and the chance to take specialized courses in English. Exchange overview / 2025 Info Sheet

Local Climate & Lifestyle (Tokyo Setagaya Focus)

Weather Patterns (Recent 5 Years)

Tokyo has humid summers and mild winters. Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) data for the Tokyo station show notably hot recent summers. For example, the monthly mean daily maximum in August reached 34.1 °C (2020), 31.6 °C (2021), 32.0 °C (2022), 34.3 °C (2023), and 33.6 °C (2024). Winter daytime highs are moderate—January monthly mean daily maxima were around 11.1 °C (2020) and 11.8 °C (2024). Nighttime lows in mid-winter are typically in the low single digits (°C). JMA monthly stats (Tokyo)

August (Monthly Mean Daily Max, °C)	2020: 34.1  |  2021: 31.6  |  2022: 32.0  |  2023: 34.3  |  2024: 33.6
January (Monthly Mean Daily Max, °C)	2020: 11.1  |  2024: 11.8 (illustrative reference years)

Cost of Living & Practicalities

For visiting/exchange students, the official information sheet estimates personal living expenses in Tokyo at roughly ¥70,000–¥100,000 per month (meals, books, transit, etc.), plus Japan’s National Health Insurance ~¥2,500/month. Setagaya on-campus dorms are listed at around ¥36,000/month when available. (Degree-seeking students should budget more, including deposits for private apartments.) 2025 Info Sheet

International Student Statistics

According to data reported to Times Higher Education, international students make up about 2% of the student body at Tokyo NODAI, with a total enrollment of roughly 13,000. A public regional breakdown isn’t posted in English, but the university’s partner network spans Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas through the Center for Global Initiatives. THE stats / CGI

Career & Graduate Prospects

NODAI’s Career Center provides counseling, workshops, and job-hunting guidance, and the International Students’ Handbook includes a section on job hunting in Japan (resume help, timelines, and rules). Program content naturally pipelines graduates into food manufacturers, fermentation and biotech, agri-tech, trading houses, environmental consultancies, and public agencies. Handbook (career & offices)

To frame the broader market: Japan’s labor market remains tight, with national unemployment around the mid-2% range in recent government releases, and job-offer rates for new graduates historically high (mid-90% range in recent surveys). While your outcome depends on Japanese proficiency and internship/lab experience, agriculture-linked industries in Japan continue to hire across quality assurance, R&D, sustainability, logistics, and regional revitalization projects. Kyodo News on unemployment / Mainichi on job-offer rates