The best selling album in 1971 in Japan was THAT'S THE WAY IT IS by ELVIS PRESLEY.
| Rank | Artist | Album | Released |
| 1 | ELVIS PRESLEY | THAT'S THE WAY IT IS | 1970 |
| 2 | SIMON & GARFUNKEL | BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER | 1970 |
| 3 | SIMON & GARFUNKEL | GREATEST HITS II [JAPAN ONLY] | 1971 |
| 4 | HIROSHI UCHIYAMADA AND COOL FIVE (内山田洋とクール・ファイブ) & KEIKO FUJI (藤圭子) | 演歌の共演／清と圭子 | 1970 |
| 5 | THE VENTURES | BEST 20 | 1970 |
| 6 | SHINICHI MORI (森進一) | 旅路 | 1971 |
| 7 | SHINICHI MORI (森進一) | 影を慕いて | 1968 |
| 8 | KIYOHIKO OZAKI (尾崎紀世彦) | セカンド･アルバム | 1971 |
| 9 | FRANCIS LAI | LOVE STORY (SOUNDTRACK) | 1970 |
| 10 | KIYOHIKO OZAKI (尾崎紀世彦) | ファースト･アルバム | 1971 |
Source: Oricon Charts