Edited by Aziza Francienne · B2C Marketing Manager
A number of Japanese international schools offer bespoke or blended curricula rather than following a single national system. These include schools with bilingual Japanese-English programmes, IPC at primary level, and hybrid approaches that draw from multiple traditions. They suit families who want their children to develop genuine bilingual ability while maintaining international academic standards.
Compare 7 International Curriculum international schools in Japan. Filter by curriculum, fees (average JPY 2,034,163), location, and more to find the right international school now.
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International School of the Sacred Heart (ISSH) in Tokyo was founded in 1908 and is located at Shibuya-ku, about three minutes from Hiroo Station. The school enrolls approximately 585 students and is co-educational in Kindergarten (ages 3–5), then girls-only from Grade 1 through Grade 12. ISSH describes its programme as an in-house curriculum and uses the International Primary Curriculum in Junior School. In Grades 11–12, students can take Advanced Placement courses. ISSH lists 22 AP subjects including sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), Computer Science A and languages (French and Japanese). Outside class, the school runs activities such as Artscape (an annual exhibition event) as well as ensembles like Choir and Orchestra.
Marie International School Shukugawa is an English-medium international school located in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, in Japan’s Kansai region. The school offers nursery, kindergarten and primary education for children from approximately one year old through the primary years. Instruction is delivered in English and the school emphasizes small class sizes, maintaining a low teacher-to-student ratio to support close interaction between teachers and students. Marie International School operates as an “All in One School,” providing full-day care from morning to early evening, as well as seasonal programs such as summer, winter and spring schools. The campus is situated in the residential Shukugawa area, known for its local parks and convenient access to public transportation.
St. Michael’s International School in Kobe was established on 10 March 1946 and serves children aged 3–11. It is located on the edge of Kitano, close to Sannomiya, in an area described as family-friendly and multicultural. In Early Years, SMIS draws on the British EYFS alongside the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC). In Primary, it uses the National Curriculum for England and Wales for English and Mathematics and embeds learning through the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). The school describes itself as the first in Japan accredited with the IPC and the only fully accredited British international school in Kansai offering specialist Early Years and Primary education. Students can join after-school clubs that run 5–8 weeks each term, and Year 5–6 have residential experiences planned at a YMCA facility.
KA International School (KAIS) is an English-based international school in Tokyo serving children from Pre-K through Grade 12. Students study an American standards-aligned program (including references to American Common Core Standards) and KAIS offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses in high school. The school emphasizes English as its first priority and teaches Japanese as a subject. Facilities highlighted by the school include science labs, libraries, a gym, a music room and an art room. A distinctive feature is KAIS’s “Visible Learning” focus. This is possible as the school has earned Visible Learning Certification through Corwin. High school life also includes an annual “Experience Japan Trip”.
Hokkaido International School Niseko is a private, not-for-profit, coeducational day school in Niseko Town, offering an English-language international education from Early Years through Grade 8. Learning in Kindergarten to Grade 5 is delivered through the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), and Grades 6–8 use the International Middle Years Curriculum (IMYC). Early Years is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach. The campus integrates place-based learning by using Hokkaido’s history, geography and natural environment as an extension of the curriculum. Students also use Singapore Math (Math in Focus) from Kindergarten through Grade 6. A distinctive feature is the school’s outdoor programming, including a Niseko summer program with nature hikes and forestry, plus additional activities such as choir, botanical artmaking, cooking and gardening.
Saint Maur International School is a co-educational day school in Yamate, a historical, cultural and residential area of central Yokohama, on the same site where it was founded in 1872. The school accepts children from age 2½ through Grade 12. In Grades 9–10, Saint Maur uses the IGCSE framework and in Grades 11–12 most courses are IB courses. Students may take the IB Diploma or take individual IB courses. The school also offers students the opportunity to take Advanced Placement exams. Facilities highlighted by the school include Fine Arts spaces, science facilities, a Sports & Activities Center and Robotics Labs.
Hokkaido International School (HIS) in Sapporo opened in 1958 and is located in Toyohira-ku at 1-55, 5 jo 19 chome Hiragishi. The campus is accessible by subway, with directions provided from Odori Station to Sumikawa Station, followed by a 5–7 minute walk to the school. HIS offers education from the Early Years (ages 3–4) through Grade 12. In the Early Years, classrooms are described as Reggio Emilia inspired. At the elementary level, the school follows the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), while the middle school uses the International Middle Years Curriculum (IMYC). In high school, students can take Advanced Placement courses, including the AP Capstone program with Seminar and Research, alongside a range of other AP subjects. Outdoor Education is identified by the school as an important part of the middle and high school curriculum, making use of Hokkaido’s natural environment as part of students’ learning experiences.
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