These are the Oricon number one albums of 2001, per the Oricon Albums Chart.
| † | Indicates best-selling album of 2001 |
| Issue Date | Album | Sales | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Period -the Best Selection- | 166,400 | Luna Sea |
| January 15 | Very Best | 261,400 | V6 |
| January 22 | The Greatest Hits | 351,260 | Love Psychedelico |
| January 29 | 274,320 | ||
| February 5 | Arashi No.1: Arashi wa Arashi o Yobu! | 267,220 | Arashi |
| February 12 | Best! Morning Musume 1 | 1,218,990 | Morning Musume. |
| February 19 | Warp | 502,470 | Judy and Mary |
| February 26 | Toki no Tsubasa | 231,850 | Zard |
| March 5 | New World | 201,310 | Do As Infinity |
| March 12 | Da Best of Da Pump | 688,390 | Da Pump |
| March 19 | Insomnia | 441,470 | Chihiro Onitsuka |
| March 26 | Clicked Singles Best 13 | 802,530 | L'Arc-en-Ciel |
| April 2 | Smap Vest | 1,005,080 | SMAP |
| April 9 | Distance † | 3,002,720 | Hikaru Utada |
| April 16 | A Best | 510,160 | Ayumi Hamasaki |
| April 23 | Distance † | 294,340 | Hikaru Utada |
| April 30 | Together! -Tanpopo, Petit, Mini, Yuko- | 314,420 | Various Artists |
| May 7 | Marvelous | 881,150 | Misia |
| May 14 | 340,590 | ||
| May 21 | Colorless | 201,160 | Shela |
| May 28 | Looking Back 2 | 120,490 | Kazumasa Oda |
| June 4 | The Great Escape: Complete Best | 374,620 | Judy and Mary |
| June 11 | Fun for Fan | 242,330 | Ami Suzuki |
| June 18 | Love Notes | 502,040 | The Gospellers |
| June 25 | 261,720 | ||
| July 2 | Natsufuku | 380,370 | Aiko |
| July 9 | 252,540 | ||
| July 16 | Perfect Crime | 800,210 | Mai Kuraki |
| July 23 | Mr. Children 1992–1995 | 1,201,730 | Mr. Children |
| July 30 | 234,600 | ||
| August 6 | E Album | 400,480 | KinKi Kids |
| August 13 | Volume 6 | 120,140 | V6 |
| August 20 | qamS | 230,230 | SMAP |
| August 27 | Glitter | 70,260 | Mariah Carey |
| September 3 | Bon Appetit! | 501,530 | Mariya Takeuchi |
| September 10 | 348,730 | ||
| September 17 | Best + Ura Best + Mihappyōkyokushū | 264,870 | Cocco |
| September 24 | 87,890 | ||
| October 1 | Deep Forest | 301,580 | Do As Infinity |
| October 8 | Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix 2 | 201,030 | Ayumi Hamasaki |
| October 15 | Sugarless | 101,950 | Shikao Suga |
| October 22 | Woman 2 | 59,030 | Various Artists |
| October 29 | 64,870 | ||
| November 5 | Greatest Hits: Chapter One | 311,320 | Backstreet Boys |
| November 12 | Candlize | 401,090 | Hitomi Yaida |
| November 19 | The Way We Are | 1,143,310 | Chemistry |
| November 26 | Sweet, Bitter Sweet Yuming Ballad Best | 411,030 | Yumi Matsutoya |
| December 3 | 210,170 | ||
| December 10 | One Love | 451,050 | Glay |
| December 17 | Monkey Girl Odyssey | 200,210 | Dreams Come True |
| December 24 | Singles | 190,210 | My Little Lover |
| December 31 | 1st Message | 191,810 | W-inds |