| 1882 | Koten Kokyusho (an educational institute for research in Japanese Shinto), the predecessor of Kokugakuin University, was founded (at Iidabashi, Chiyoda-ku). |
| 1889 | The Constitution of the Empire of Japan was promulgated. |
| 1890 | Kokugakuin was established in Koten Kokyusho. In 1904, it was raised to vocational college status pursuant to the Vocational Colleges Act. |
| 1906 | The college name was changed to Kokugakuin Private University. In 1919, the name changed to Kokugakuin University. |
| 1912 | The imperial era changed to Taisho. |
| 1920 | Raised to university status pursuant to the Universities Act. |
| 1923 | The campus moved to Shibuya. |
| 1926 | The Imperial era changed to Showa. |
| 1946 | Koten Kokyusho was closed down. Kokugakuin University Foundation was established. |
| The Constitution of Japan was proclaimed. | |
| 1947 | Faculty II was established. |
| 1948 | Faculty of Letters was established under the new system. |
| 1949 | Faculty of Letters II was established under the new system. Faculty of Political Science was set up. |
| 1950 | Faculty of Politics was expanded to Faculty of Political Science and Economics. |
| Changed to School Juridicial Person, Kokugakuin University. Faculties of Political Science and Economics II were established. Master’s Course in Graduate School of Letters was established. | |
| 1953 | Doctorate Course in Graduate School of Letters was established. |
| 1954 | Institute for Japanese Culture and Classics was set up. |
| 1958 | Special Shinto Course was changed to Special Shinto Study Course. |
| 1963 | Faculty of Law I was established. |
| 1964 | The Tokyo Olympic Games were held. |
| 1965 | Faculty of Law II was established. |
| 1966 | Faculties of Economics I and II were established. |
| 1967 | Master’s Course in Graduate School of Law and Department of Shinto Studies in Faculty of Letters II were established respectively. |
| 1968 | Master’s Course in Graduate School of Economics was established. |
| 1969 | Doctorate Course in Graduate School of Law was established. |
| 1982 | The university commemorated its 100th anniversary. Kokugakuin Women’s Junior College was established. (Takikawa City, Hokkaido) |
| 1985 | Lessons started in the New Ishikawa school building (the current Yokohama Tama-Plaza campus). |
| 1989 | The Heisei era began. |
| 1990 | The 100th anniversary commemorated by the Kokugakuin Declaration. |
| 1991 | Kokugakuin Women’s Junior College was renamed as Kokugakuin Junior College to introduce co-education. |
| 1992 | Lessons for freshmen and sophomores of Faculty I started at Tama-Plaza campus. |
| 1995 | Approval was given for establishment of Department of Japanese Literature, Department of Chinese Literature and Department of Foreign Languages and Culture Studies in Faculty of Letters I; Department of Socio-Economic Networking in Faculty of Economics I; Department of Industry and Consumer Information Studies in Faculty of Economics II. |
| 1997 | The university commemorated its 115th anniversary. |
| 2001 | Faculty of Law II and Faculty of Economics II were abolished, and day and night courses were introduced. |
| 2002 | Department of Shinto Studies in Faculty of Letters (I and II) was reorganized into Faculty of Shinto Studies. The 120th anniversary was celebrated on November 4. |
| 2003 | Building No.1 commemorating the 120th anniversary was completed (in February). |
| 2004 | Law School was established. Building No.2 commemorating the 120th anniversary was completed (in July). |
| 2005 | Department of Business Management in Faculty of Economics was established. In the Department of Japanese Literature and Department of History in Faculty of Letters, day and night courses were introduced. |
| 2006 | Construction of Wakagi Tower was completed (in May). |
| 2007 | The Organization for the Advancement of Research and Development was launched (in April). |
| 2008 | Academic Media Center was completed (in March). |
| 2009 | Faculty of Human Development was established. Institute for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning was launched. Kokugakuin Junior College was renamed as Kokugakuin University Hokkaidou Junior College. Building No.3 was completed (August). |
