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UWC ISAK Japan is located in Karuizawa, a mountain resort town in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. The campus sits in a wooded area near Karuizawa town center and is accessible from Tokyo by Shinkansen, about 70 minutes away. The postal address is 5827-136 Nagakura, Karuizawa, Nagano 389-0111.
UWC ISAK Japan offers a three-year high school program: Grade 10 is a standalone year focused on our MEXT-approved curriculum, followed by the IB Diploma Programme in Grades 11 and 12. The program is designed for students aged approximately 15 to 19.
UWC ISAK Japan is a co-educational, full-boarding international high school for Grades 10–12. Boarding is provided on campus in houses.
The student body represents more than 80 countries. Approximately 30% of Grade 10 students are Japanese citizens or residents, while about 70% are international students.
The school provides on-site wellbeing and academic support: two full-time school counsellors, a pastoral care team led by a Deputy Head of Pastoral, and House Mentors. The Academic Support Team help students with study techniques both in and out of class. The Health & Wellness Center includes a health centre, spaces for fitness and meditation, counselling rooms, and isolation facilities; two full-time nurses and weekly visits by a local doctor support medical needs.
Part of the United World College (UWC) network of 18 schools and colleges around the world.
There is no official religious affiliation; the community is diverse and supports multiple faiths with voluntary religious activities.
The school day typically runs from 8:00 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.
As a full boarding school there is no dedicated school bus service.
Residences offer shared bedrooms and living areas. Rooms are two-person or four-person and housed in facilities for 18 to 28 students, with a spacious living room, kitchen, and laundry facilities. Each house is supervised by House Mentors and assisted by Residential Advisors. Blended housing with gender-neutral facilities is available with parental consent.
UWC ISAK Japan does not have uniforms.
UWC ISAK Japan offers a vegetarian option at all meals and works with families to accommodate religious or health-related dietary restrictions.
UWC ISAK Japan uses a house system within the boarding program. Each house runs its own student-led management system, helping students develop leadership and problem-solving skills.
The school is governed by a Board of Directors. It is accredited by the Japanese Ministry of Education (MEXT) and is an Official IB World School.
UWC ISAK Japan delivers transformative education with dual MEXT and IB certification. Grade 10 provides a MEXT-certified foundation with a leadership program and project-based learning. Grades 11–12 offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). The curriculum integrates leadership development and design thinking into academic work, and learning emphasizes global citizenship and intercultural understanding.
We host 200 students and about 70 faculty and staff, giving an approximate student-to-staff ratio of 2.9 to 1.
At UWC ISAK Japan, we believe that academic success goes beyond traditional measures of achievement. It is rooted in fostering global citizenship, where students are empowered to take initiative, serve their communities meaningfully, and engage with the world in responsible, empathetic, and inclusive ways. Success is also defined by high-quality learning and teaching that inspires curiosity, critical thinking, and intercultural understanding.
Academic grades reflect one important indicator of success. This academic success is personalized for each student, where for some this looks like a score in the 40s, where for others, a score in the 20s is reason to celebrate.. In all cases, our students have the opportunity to pursue impactful higher education. We view learning as a personalised, continuous process of growth and improvement.
At UWC ISAK Japan, experienced university advisors work alongside every student to understand their strengths, goals, and circumstances and help them find the right path forward. Advisors are based on campus full-time, building genuine relationships with students from Grade 10 through graduation. Each semester, admissions representatives from universities around the world visit campus to meet students directly, and we arrange access to college fairs in Tokyo and beyond.
UWC ISAK Japan centres social and emotional development through our leadership focus. Students exercise leadership daily through Leadership Projects, Outdoor Education, and Student-Led Clubs & Activities. Community service is integrated to build empathy, social responsibility, and connections with local communities. Dedicated faculty coaches provide guidance as students identify issues, take action, and communicate their vision. The program emphasises using diverse perspectives and student autonomy to cultivate Changemakers.
All classes are conducted in English, with exceptions for Japanese and foreign language studies. English-language tests are not required for admission, though a functional level of English is expected; recommended levels include EIKEN Level 2 or higher, TOEFL 65+, TOEIC 600, and IELTS 6+.
UWC ISAK Japan follows a holistic approach to health and wellbeing, addressing mind, body, and spirit. The Health & Wellness Center houses the counseling Office for mental health services and a clinic for physical health, along with a meditation room and an exercise room. Outdoor Education supports leadership and resilience, and small class sizes plus a supportive environment promote mental and emotional well-being, empathy, and self-awareness. Boarding life is designed to be nurturing, with house mentors and a residential team who support student well-being daily. Safeguarding is a core component of well-being across all aspects of school life.
Safeguarding is a priority at UWC ISAK Japan. The Safeguarding Team includes the Head of Pastoral (Designated Safeguarding Lead) and Deputy Safeguarding Leads. Concerns can be raised by emailing safeguarding@uwcisak.jp. The Safeguarding Policy aligns with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the UWC Common Standards for Safeguarding, with a zero-tolerance approach to inappropriate behavior. The policy covers training, safe recruitment, and clear reporting and response mechanisms.
In 2008, Lin Kobayashi and Mamoru Taniya set out to create a new kind of school, one that would equip young people to become catalysts for positive change. With the support of 100 founding donors, they began building the International School of Asia, Karuizawa (ISAK), grounded in a vision of education that uses diversity as a strength and encourages students to take action in the face of discomfort. After six years of preparation and a few successful summer schools, ISAK opened its doors in 2014, welcoming students from around the world to our campus in Nagano, Japan. Recognising shared values and purpose, ISAK and UWC worked together toward a common goal, and on 1 August 2017, UWC ISAK Japan officially joined the UWC movement as the only UWC school in Japan.
The school has about 200 students representing more than 80 countries. As Japan's first full-boarding international high school (grades 10-12), it offers a boarding school experience. The campus features the Accord Center, Creative Center, and Health and Wellness Center and is located in Karuizawa, Nagano. Boarding life fosters growth within a supportive campus community.
The school is located in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, and is Japan's first full-boarding international high school (grades 10-12). The campus blends modern facilities with traditional Japanese design in a forest setting that experiences four distinct seasons. Kamiyama Academic Center (KAC) is the main administrative building, housing classrooms, a library, study areas and meeting rooms; Asama houses the cafeteria and science labs. The Accord Center (TAC) is a multi-purpose venue for assemblies, performances and humanities classes. The Creative Center and Health & Wellness Center host arts programs and provide counseling, fitness and lifestyle services.
On-campus facilities include a full-sized gymnasium and a sports field. Off-campus facilities at nearby Kazakoshi Park offer curling, skating, swimming, tennis, fitness and martial arts. The campus location and facilities support a variety of sports and outdoor activities throughout the year.
Kamiyama Academic Center is the main administrative building with classrooms, a library, study spaces and meeting rooms. Asama houses the cafeteria and state-of-the-art science labs. The Accord Center serves as a multi-purpose venue for assemblies, performances and humanities classes. The Creative Center hosts our theatre, art and computer sciences classrooms, and includes several private study rooms.
UWC ISAK Japan's academics combine leadership development, design thinking, and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP). Our university advising program provides personalized support for college admissions, gap years, and entrepreneurship pathways.
The Arts program includes Visual Arts with mediums such as photography, painting, 3D, printing, and screen-based art, with access to iPad Pros and Adobe Creative Cloud. Theatre is offered as IB Theatre, covering Theatre in Context, Theatre Processes, and Performing Theatre. IB Film provides hands-on film experiences, balancing theory and creation; Music is a campus-life feature supported by student-led clubs and performances at Ohga Hall.
Japanese Culture integrates traditions and philosophy, including concepts such as wabi-sabi and omotenashi, with activities like tea ceremonies and other workshops. Cultural excursions include hiking, camping, and skiing, with the Discover Shinshu Fund enabling hands-on experiences that connect students with Nagano's history and communities. Traditional handicrafts and Japanese culture in practice involve crafts such as pottery and calligraphy, and a school-wide practice of Stop & Clean reflects our commitment to respecting Japanese culture and practices.
At UWC ISAK Japan, boarding is central to the experience, not an add-on to it. Students from over 80 countries live, eat, and spend their evenings together in residential houses, building cross-cultural understanding that only comes from sustained daily contact. Students are able and encouraged to engage with the local community and travel in the region to make the most of the opportunities available to them in Nagano and beyond.
Community Service is a core element of our leadership focus, with students leading projects and engaging with local communities throughout their time at the school. We emphasise community impact and real-world engagement as part of its leadership framework.
Our Grade 10 leadership program provides a year-long foundation for leadership that carries into the IB years, with personalized and project-based learning. Leadership in Action centers on opportunities such as Leadership Projects (CAS), Outdoor Education, and Student-Led Clubs & Activities. The program also includes university advising and an emphasis on entrepreneurship as part of student development.
A Health & Wellness Center, including a counselling office and on-campus clinic, mindfulness spaces, and fitness facilities, supports student well-being. Outdoor Education is a core wellbeing program offering seasonal trips and skill-building activities that foster resilience and teamwork. The school has a comprehensive safeguarding program with access to on-site counselling and a supportive community focused on safety and well-being.
All classes, with the exception of language classes, are delivered in English. First and second language classes are offered in English, Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin), and Spanish. The school provides mother tongue language support through School-Supported Self-Taught Language Courses through the IB Diploma program, and English Language Support (EAL) is available.
doris recommends that you start by speaking to admissions. This connects you directly to the school's admissions team who can respond with answers, more information, and next steps. Grade 10 entry: Applications open between September 1st and December 1st each year for students aged 14 or 15 and in Grade 9 or equivalent at the point of application.
Grade 11 entry: Applicants to Grade 11 cannot apply to UWC ISAK Japan for direct entry. All applicants must do so through one of two admissions pathways below:
-- Option 1: You can apply through the UWC National Committee (NC) of your country of citizenship or residence. Please see the NC's website for more information about the application process and timeline.
-- Option 2: If you are able to pay full school fees, you also have the option of applying through the Global Selection Programme (GSP).
You can learn more about the UWC movement and both of the admissions pathways through our website.
For Grade 10 entrants, financial assistance ranges from partial to full awards. For Grade 11 applicants, financial assistance is only available to students applying through the National Committee pathway. The financial assistance process requires submitting a Financial Assistance Request Form as part of the online application. Flights and incidental costs are generally not covered.
The school offers a late application pathway for Grade 10 applicants, subject to availability. Late applicants who do not require financial assistance may be considered if spaces are available; it is not guaranteed and runs only if spaces exist.
