Tamagawa Academy (K12) and University vs Tokyo West International School

	T Tamagawa Academy (K12) and University Tokyo, Japan	T Tokyo West International School Tokyo, Japan
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year ¥1,756,500 - 2,085,630	Fees / year ¥1,109,000 - 1,892,000
Age range	Age range 5 - 18 years	Age range 2 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), Japanese Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), American Curriculum, Japanese Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 219	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size 10
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Japanese	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1929	Opened 2010
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location The Tamagawa Academy (K-12) and Tamagawa University are on a single campus in Machida, western Tokyo, Japan. The campus spans about 59 hectares of landscaped grounds and is about an hour from central Tokyo. The official address is 6-1-1 Tamagawa Gakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194-8610. The campus is accessible by the Odakyu Odawara Line, with Tamagawagakuen-Mae Station a three-minute walk from the main gate.	Location Tokyo West International School is located at 185 Umetsubo-machi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0013, Japan. The campus sits in a green, suburban area of western Tokyo with access via JR Hachioji Station and local buses. The environment emphasizes nature and garden-based learning as part of daily life on a spacious campus.
Stages	Stages Education runs from kindergarten through graduate school on a single campus, with the middle and upper divisions offering International Baccalaureate programmes. The Tamagawa campus therefore provides a continuous K–12 and university pathway on-site.	Stages TWIS offers a continuous program from PreK through High School. The school is organized into PreK & Kindergarten, Elementary School (Grades 1–6), Middle School (Grades 7–9), and High School (Grades 10–12). The High School provides both Japanese and American diplomas.
School type	School type The school is co-educational and operates as a day school. This is reflected in external school profiles describing Tamagawa as a co-educational day program on one campus.	School type Tokyo West International School operates as an international day school on a single campus in Hachioji, Japan.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix Publicly available data on the exact nationality mix is not published. The admissions materials indicate support for overseas returnees and international students, and the IB offerings include English-language instruction and options such as Chinese in DP, reflecting an international student presence.	Pupil nationality mix The school community includes students and staff from more than 15 countries; about half of the student body is Japanese, with the remainder international.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support SEN guidance in the Middle and Upper Divisions is not described as a formal, blanket policy; learning needs are addressed on a case-by-case basis, and families may need to arrange long-term specialist support if higher-level needs are present.	Additional learning support The school uses an Educational Support Questionnaire in admissions to identify learning needs and maintains a strong learning support system with small class sizes. A full-time school nurse provides daily health care, and a visiting school counselor supports students' emotional well-being.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation There is no formal country affiliation; Tamagawa Academy and Tamagawa University are private institutions located on the Tamagawa Gakuen campus in Japan.	Country affiliation No formal country affiliation is listed; the school operates as an international school in Japan.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation There is no formal religious affiliation. Zenjin Education is the guiding philosophy, and religion is incorporated as one of the six aspects of human culture taught within the school, not as a denominational affiliation.	Religious affiliation No religious affiliation is indicated.
School day structure	School day structure A typical school day starts at 8:20 with a homeroom, followed by a sequence of periods through the day, with a lunch break from 12:30 to 13:10. The schedule includes a second half of periods, a short afternoon break, and club activities after school ending around 18:00.	School day structure Kindergarten ends at 3:00 p.m. and Elementary and above are dismissed at 3:30 p.m. The day runs a 7-period schedule of 40-minute periods for Elementary and above. Kindergarten offers after-school clubs from 3:00–3:30 p.m.; Elementary and above can join 8th-period programs, extending the day to 4:30 p.m.
Bus service details	Bus service details A dedicated school bus service is not described in the access information. The campus is primarily accessed by train, with Tamagawagakuen-Mae Station (Odakyu Odawara Line) located a short walk from the campus.	Bus service details A school bus operates in the Tama area. Bus stops include around JR Hachioji Station and other local stops, with travel times such as about 10 minutes to Hachioji Station, 30 minutes to Tachikawa Station, 40 minutes to Tamagawa Josui Station, 20 minutes to Akishima, 40 minutes to Tama Center, and 60 minutes to Machida Station.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application / examination fees - K–12 (Tamagawa Academy): entrance examination / application fee for K–12 entrance tests (幼稚部・小学部・中学部・高等部の入園・入学検定料) is JPY 30,000 per test. - Tamagawa University (undergraduate general admissions): standard examination (受験料) for general selection is JPY 35,000 (different schemes such as certain English-external-score options and common-test routes have different amounts). Tamagawa Academy (K–12) — tuition and mandatory fees by school division and year (2025 academic-year figures shown as published for the current school year) - Kindergarten (幼稚部) — per year (2025): - Entrance fee (入園金): JPY 200,000. - Tuition (授業料): JPY 801,000 (Year: 年少), JPY 808,000 (年中), JPY 815,000 (年長). - Education-related fees (教育諸料): JPY 135,300 per year. - Facility/equipment fee (施設設備金): JPY 130,000. - Total (tuition + other fees, excluding entrance fee): JPY 1,066,300 (年少) / JPY 1,073,300 (年中) / JPY 1,080,300 (年長). - Elementary School (小学部, JP class typical figures) — per year (2025): - Entrance fee (入学金) for entering grade 1 (where applicable): JPY 220,000. - Tuition (授業料) by grade: JPY 821,000 (1st) → JPY 828,000 (2nd) → JPY 835,000 (3rd) → JPY 842,000 (4th) → JPY 849,000 (5th) → JPY 856,000 (6th). - Education-related fees (教育諸料): JPY 147,300 per year. - Education information fee (教育情報料): JPY 24,000 per year. - Facility/equipment fee (施設設備金): JPY 160,000. - Annual subtotal (tuition + fees, excluding entrance fee): ranges by year; examples: JPY 1,152,300 (1st grade, JP class) and rising each grade per the published schedule. - EP / special program classes have higher tuition and an entrance/procedure deposit (EP-class initial payment differs; see EP-class notices). - Middle School / High School — General class (2025 figures): - Middle-school (中学部) typical year items: Entrance fee (入学金): JPY 150,000 (for new entrants where listed). Annual tuition (授業料) examples for middle grades: amounts published show annual tuition in the mid–eight-hundred-thousands range (for 10年生/11年生/12年生 notation used on site for grades), with accompanying education fees and facility fees. - High-school (高等部) general class (2025): Entrance fee JPY 150,000; annual tuition examples: JPY 876,000 (10年生/高校1年相当), JPY 883,000 (11年生), JPY 890,000 (12年生); education-related fees and facility fees are added (education-related fees JPY 147,300; education information fee JPY 44,000; facility fee JPY 220,000), producing a typical annual total (tuition + fees, excluding entrance fee) in the JPY 1,287,300–1,301,300 range depending on year. - IB class (International Baccalaureate stream within the Academy) — per year (2025): - Entrance fee (入学金) where applicable: JPY 150,000 (for entry years listed). - Annual tuition (授業料): JPY 1,361,000 for many IB-year levels (some later IB years slightly higher: JPY 1,363,000–1,370,000). - Education-related fees (教育諸料): JPY 157,300; education information fee: JPY 44,000; facility fee: JPY 220,000. - Annual subtotal (tuition + fees, excluding entrance fee): approximately JPY 1,782,300–1,791,300 depending on year. How K–12 fees are billed and payment terms (Academy) - K–12 fee components: many fees are itemised as entrance/enrolment fees (入園金 / 入学金), annual tuition (授業料), education-related fees (教育諸料), education information fees, facility/equipment fees (施設設備金), and parent association (父母会) or student association dues. Specific items (e.g., facility fees, PTA fees, student association fees) are typically due at the time of enrollment or in April for the academic year; some items are collected as monthly or termly instalments (examples:学年積立金 or monthly breakdowns noted as collected April–January). - Payment structure options (examples published for K–12 offerings): schools show an option to pay tuition in full or to use staged / instalment schedules (the admissions and fee guidance for entry years indicate all‑in or multi‑term payment choices for initial-year payments and periodic instalments thereafter). Specific divisions publish which items are payable at enrollment (入学手続時納付) and which are invoiced or collected monthly/termly. Tamagawa University — tuition and fee structure (2026-admission / 2025 figures published for the current cycle) - Basic structure shown for each faculty / department: an admission (入学金) component plus annual tuition (授業料), an education/research fee (教育研究諸料), and a facility/equipment fee (施設設備金), plus smaller “諸費” items; initial-year totals and the split (one‑time vs. half-year) are published per faculty. Examples (initial-year totals and standard annual tuition): - Education (全学科): Entrance fee JPY 250,000; annual tuition JPY 1,038,000; education/research fee JPY 245,900; facility equipment fee JPY 200,000; initial-year total (one‑time) approximately JPY 1,796,370; the published “入学手続時納付額（分割）” (if choosing split payment) shows the portion to pay at the time of enrollment. - Arts (例: 音楽学科): Entrance fee JPY 250,000; annual tuition JPY 1,208,000; education/research fee JPY 275,900; facility fee JPY 280,000; initial-year total ≈ JPY 2,085,630. - Engineering / Computer / Management‑science type faculties: annual tuition commonly JPY 1,118,000 with education/research fees and facility fees that produce initial-year totals in the JPY 1.9M–2.0M range for first‑year aggregated amounts. - Year‑to‑year: the university publishes 2nd/3rd/4th year annual totals per faculty (授業料 and other annual recurring fees); these are listed as the standard year‑by‑year charges and vary slightly by year (increments shown in the official fee table). University billing schedule and payment terms - Payment options: Tamagawa University requires either a lump‑sum payment (一括納付) or an annual two‑installment option (年２回分納). The university instructs that the initial enrollment payment (一括 or first instalment when choosing split) be made by bank transfer at the time of completing enrollment procedures; the published “入学手続時納付額（分割）” shows the exact amount due on acceptance when the split option is chosen. - Refund on admission/withdrawal: the university publishes specific deadlines and conditions for refunding paid initial fees when an admitted applicant withdraws (入学辞退). The university's admission guidance sets concrete deadlines and states the refund is made by bank transfer after the applicant completes the designated online withdrawal procedure; deadlines determine whether the full paid amount or the paid amount excluding entrance fee will be returned. Boarding / dormitory fees - K–12 (Academy): Tamagawa Academy's K–12 programme is presented as a day school system with commuting access information and typical day‑school arrangements; no K–12 boarding fees are published for the Academy divisions. (K–12 pages detail commuting and daily schedules rather than boarding options.) - Tamagawa University (undergraduate): the university does not present a single, university‑run mandatory boarding fee schedule on the admission pages; instead, the university provides housing support and introduces partner student‑housing operators and student‑apartment options for new students. Dorm / student‑housing fees therefore vary by provider and room type; the university's campus‑life housing pages refer applicants to partner companies and student‑housing services. Other costs and mandatory incidental charges - School‑supplied items and uniforms / supplies: Tamagawa's campus purchasing department operates a campus store and web store that sells uniforms, gym wear, school bags, shoes, calculators, and other required items; these items and their costs are additional to published tuition and can be purchased through the campus purchasing department (payment methods for purchases include major credit cards, convenience-store payment, and cash‑on‑delivery per the purchasing site). - Year‑level / program‑specific charges: in K–12 many divisions list “学年積立金”, “旅行積立金”, or program‑specific levies (e.g., funds for iPad, class events, school trips, overseas programs) collected as monthly instalments or as one‑time levies; for high/middle school and IB classes these appear as explicitly itemised line items in the fee schedules. These are mandatory additional costs to budget for. - University: some faculties list program‑specific additional costs (e.g., study‑abroad / fieldwork fees for certain years, lab/experiential fees for agricultural/engineering programs, or 留学追加費用 for mandated study‑abroad terms) that are charged in the relevant year or semester; such special‑program additional charges are published on the faculty fee pages. Refunds / cancellation rules (summary) - K–12: published admission guidance for K–12 entry years shows a refund/return policy for initial payments in many divisions: if an admitted applicant formally notifies withdrawal by the published deadline, amounts other than the entrance fee are returned; conditions and exact deadlines are set in each division's admission instructions. - University: the university's admission notices include specific refund rules and deadlines for admitted applicants who decline enrollment; there are published cutoff dates determining whether the entire paid sum or the paid sum minus entrance fee is refunded, and the refund is made to a specified bank account after the online withdrawal procedure is completed. Accepted payment channels / practical payment notes - K–12 tuition: published materials and admission instructions show that initial enrollment payments and term payments are handled via bank transfer / specified school payment procedures and that multi‑term payment options are available; the admission pages and fee guidance list the amounts due at the enrollment procedure (入学手続時納付額) and the options to pay in full or in instalments. Exact available payment channels (bank transfer, in‑person payment options) are indicated in the admission instructions for the enrolling division. - University: the university instructs that initial payments be made by bank transfer at the time of enrollment and offers either lump‑sum or two‑installment payment schedules; some university notices also reference the university's online enrollment/payment system and the requirement to follow the bank‑transfer instructions provided at acceptance. - Campus purchasing (uniforms, supplies): accepts major credit cards (VISA, MasterCard, JCB, AMEX, Diners), convenience‑store payments, and cash‑on‑delivery for online purchases. Notes on currency and presentation - All amounts above are reported in Japanese yen and presented with the JPY currency code (e.g., JPY 1,208,000). Figures are drawn from the Academy's published K–12 fee pages and the University's published fee schedule and admission pages for the current admission cycle; exact per‑grade totals and the timing (which fees are payable at enrollment versus billed later) are listed in each division's admission documents and fee tables.	Fee details Application and Registration Fees - Registration / screening (application) fee: JPY 22,000 (tax included). Annual tuition (by division) - Kindergarten (annual): JPY 1,140,000. - Elementary School (annual): JPY 1,463,000. - Junior High School (annual): JPY 913,000. - High School (annual): JPY 913,000. Per-term breakdown - A per-term (term-by-term) fee schedule and explicit per-term amounts are not published on the school's publicly accessible admission pages or in the publicly available documents linked from those pages; only annual figures (as listed above) are available in public school listings. Billing schedule and payment terms - The school's admission materials note that successful applicants must pay required entrance fees by the published deadline to complete enrollment, but a full, detailed billing schedule and the school's standard payment deadlines for tuition instalments are not published on the publicly accessible pages. Boarding fees - The school does not operate or publish any boarding-program fees; no boarding facilities or boarding tariffs are listed in the publicly available school information. (School bus service is identified as available in external school listings.) Other costs and typical additional fees - No public, detailed breakdown for additional routine costs (uniforms, textbooks, activity fees, building/maintenance fees, bus fees, lunches, materials, extracurricular fees) is published on the school's publicly accessible admission pages. External school directories list varying additional charges or ranges for similar schools, but those directory figures are not a published fee schedule from the school itself. Refund information - A formal refund policy or explicit rules governing refunds/withdrawals and any prorated reimbursements are not published on the school's publicly accessible admission pages or on the password‑protected students document page. Fee payment options (methods) - The school's publicly accessible pages do not publish specific accepted payment methods (for example, bank transfer, credit card, or other). No public schedule of accepted payment channels is available on the admission pages or in the publicly accessible documents. Notes on sources and missing detail - The figures above reflect the only explicit fee amounts that are publicly accessible (application screening fee and annual tuition figures reported in public school listings). Detailed fee schedules, per-term invoices, payment methods, refund terms, and line-item additional fees are either contained in internal/student-only documents or not published publicly; the school's student documents area is password-protected and the detailed tuition/fee PDFs are not accessible without those credentials.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Tamagawa Academy operates a fully integrated K‑12 program since 2006, uniting kindergarten through grade 12 on a single campus with levels Kindergarten, First Division (grades 1–4), Middle Division (grades 5–8), and Upper Division (grades 9–12). The International Baccalaureate (IB) program began in 2007, with instruction in English for grades 7–12 and the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) in grades 6–10 and the Diploma Programme (DP) in grades 11–12, offered bilingually in English and Japanese. The primary division runs an English Predominant (EP) program for grades 1–5, with about 60% of lessons in English; each class has two homeroom teachers, and by grade 5 students are expected to reach CEFR level B1. In the IB curriculum, language offerings include Japanese A and B, English A and B, with science and humanities courses aligned to DP requirements, culminating in the IB Diploma. Tamagawa University comprises 17 undergraduate departments across 8 faculties, eight master's programs, a Teaching Profession professional degree, and three doctoral programs; since 2024, the College of Arts and Sciences uses a Double Field System spanning Human, Society, Culture, and STEAM.	Curriculum details Tokyo West International School offers a bilingual, inquiry-based curriculum from Early Childhood through High School, with an IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) framework for the elementary years and Cognia-aligned standards recognized by multiple international bodies. The Elementary division (Grades 1–6) provides English–Japanese bilingual instruction built around Units of Inquiry, includes Singapore Math, integrates ICT/AI education, and incorporates garden-based learning in small classes of about 18 students. The Middle School (Grades 7–9) follows Cognia-aligned international standards, uses inquiry-based learning through Units of Inquiry, and integrates ICT/AI and STEAM projects, supported by robust learning-support and ongoing family communication in small classes (up to 10 students). The High School program emphasizes English academic skills, offers dual diploma pathways—Japanese high school diploma and an American/International high school diploma—and includes AI literacy and opportunities for short overseas programs and service learning. Across all divisions, graduates pursue university study in Japan or abroad, supported by a nature-rich campus, specialist instructors, and a bilingual, globally oriented educational environment.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions Tamagawa Academy (K-12) and Tamagawa University – detailed information on fees and admissions. All figures reflect the school's published materials for the 2026 admission cycle where shown. Where multiple tracks exist (K-12), procedures differ by grade and program; the notes below group by school level.	Admissions Step 1 — Determine grade level by birth date. Grade placement at Tokyo West International School is determined by the child's birthday, with specific birthdate guidelines for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 academic years. For Preschool & Kindergarten, the ranges are: Preschool 4.2.2022 or older; K3 4.2.2021–4.1.2022; K4 4.2.2020–4.1.2021; K5 4.2.2019–4.1.2020. For Elementary and higher grades, G1–G12 follow corresponding birthdate cutoffs (G1 4.2.2018–4.1.2019; G2 4.2.2017–4.1.2018; and so on). These guidelines affect new entrants for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 academic years. Step 2 — Open House and school tours. Open House (group) and Private School Tours are offered throughout the year. Prospective families should book via the reservation form or by calling for details. Group Open House events and private tours are scheduled to help families understand the program and environment. Step 3 — Submit the application form. Application materials are downloadable and can be submitted in person or by mail. Required documents include: Enrollment Application Form, Medical Certificate (issued within 3 months), Educational Support Questionnaire, Progress Report, and Graduation or Attendance Certificate from the previous school. Separate application forms exist for PreK & Kindergarten and for Elementary & Middle School. Step 4 — Screening test and parents interview. The school schedules a screening test and a parents' interview for each child, and the registration fee for the screening test is ¥22,000 (tax included). The screening and interview are designed to assess academic ability, motivation, and fit with the program. For admissions in Grade, Middle & High School, the timing is typically approximately one month before the desired admission date, with the result announced about one week after screening. Step 5 — Announcement of successful applicants and enrollment. The school communicates acceptance to applicants who meet the screening requirements via an official acceptance letter. Prospective students who pass the screening and have paid the entrance fee by the deadline are considered enrolled. Enrollment is completed within one week after acceptance. For inquiries about enrollment, contact information is provided on the admissions page. Step 6 — Fees and discounts. Tuition-related information notes that discounts and scholarships are available under certain circumstances; parents should inquire for details. This section also indicates that there is a screening test fee of ¥22,000 and mentions an entrance fee associated with admission.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships TWIS offers a scholarship program for elementary, middle, and high school grades. The 2026 TWIS School Scholarship provides exemption from the entrance fee and a 50% tuition subsidy for one year, with renewal contingent on an annual examination. Three scholarships are planned for the 2026 academic year. Eligibility requires new G1–G12 students for 2026 who have either passed the TWIS entrance examination or are currently enrolled. Selection is based on document screening. Application period runs from December 8, 2025 to January 9, 2026, with results announced by the end of January 2026. Required documents include a scholarship application form, an English essay by the student (50–80 words), proof of annual household income, and school records or letters of recommendation (not required for current TWIS students). Contact for scholarship questions is admission@tokyowest.jp.
Waitlist	Waitlist There is no separate waitlist system published for Tamagawa Academy (K-12). Admissions are handled via rolling entries for specific IB and non‑IB tracks when seats become available, rather than a formal waitlist. For IB, rolling admissions are offered “随時” (as needed). For non‑IB tracks, rolling admissions are also described for certain entry paths. This means seats are filled as they open, rather than via a fixed pool.	Waitlist Tokyo West International School does not publish a formal waitlist. When classes reach capacity, admissions occur only as vacancies become available. In the 2025 mid-term enrollment status, K4 and G2 classes have reached capacity, and there are typically 1–2 spots remaining in other classes such as K5, G1, G4, G7, and G9. This vacancy-based approach means families may be admitted if a space opens, rather than through a numbered waitlist.
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