Edited by Aziza Francienne · B2C Marketing Manager
Japan's premium international schools, concentrated in Tokyo, offer exceptional facilities, small class sizes, and strong university placement records. Schools like ASIJ, BST, and International School of the Sacred Heart have campuses with performing arts centres, sports complexes, and extensive co-curricular programmes. These institutions attract senior corporate expat families and Japanese families seeking the highest standard of international education.
Compare 6 Premium international schools in Japan. Filter by curriculum, fees (average JPY 5,056,874), location, and more to find the right international school now.
Rugby School Japan (RSJ) is a premier British international day and boarding school situated in the Kashiwanoha Smart City of Chiba Prefecture, located 30 minutes from central Tokyo via the Tsukuba Express Line. Serving a co-educational student body aged 11–18 (Years 7–13), RSJ delivers a rigorous British curriculum. This academic pathway leads to IGCSEs for Years 10–11 and A Levels for Years 12–13. Pupils are further challenged and supported through the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), which facilitates independent, deep-dive research into specialised subjects of interest. The school is defined by its commitment to the development of "The Whole Person." Guided by the belief that social, recreational, and cultural engagement is essential to individual growth, RSJ provides a vast array of co-curricular enrichment. This includes professional-level programmes in music, drama, dance, coding, and debating, alongside elite sports clubs, outdoor education, and diverse academic and cultural societies. As it enters its third academic year with a thriving community of 300+ pupils, RSJ offers flexible residency options including Day, Weekly, and Full Boarding, fostering a global community within a state-of-the-art Japanese setting.
NUCB International College is a co-educational boarding high school in Nisshin City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The school opened in September 2022 as part of the Nagoya University of Commerce and Business education group. NUCB International College offers a dual-path academic structure in which students work toward both the Japanese high school graduation qualification and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Before entering the IBDP, students complete a Pre-IB programme designed to prepare them for the academic requirements of the diploma years. Instruction is conducted primarily in English, except for language subjects. The academic programme emphasizes inquiry-based learning and includes required IB components such as Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, and Creativity, Activity, Service. Students live on campus in a full boarding environment, which is integrated with daily school life. The school also organizes structured academic and enrichment programmes, including seasonal camps to support student readiness for upper secondary study.
Harrow International School Appi Japan is a full-boarding school in Appi Kogen, enrolling students aged 11–18 (Years 7–13). The school follows a bespoke Harrow International Curriculum that leads to IGCSE and A-Level examinations. All lessons and examinations are conducted in English (except Modern Foreign Languages). In Prep, students study core subjects including English, Mathematics, Science and a language choice of Japanese or Mandarin. Beyond timetabled lessons, the school offers “Super Curriculum” activities such as clubs and societies, guest speakers and debate/public speaking competitions. The campus is reachable via routes including Tokyo Station to Morioka Station and onward to Appi Kogen.
Hakuba International School is a small international boarding and day school in Japan’s Hakuba Valley (Nagano Prefecture), near the site of the 1998 Winter Olympics. For 2025–26 it serves Grades 7–11, with plans to reach Grades 7–12 by 2026-27. English is the language of instruction and all students study Japanese at an appropriate level. The school describes a university-preparatory program built around its “Human Flourishing Curriculum,” and it uses project-based learning alongside social-emotional learning. A distinctive feature is its calendar structure: six-week project “bursts” separated by weeks that include outdoor expeditions. Boarding life is supported by two dormitories (girls’ and boys’) that together house almost 50 students.
Tokyo International Progressive School (TIPS) is a small international school in Setagaya, Tokyo, serving students from Grades 4 to 12. Founded in 2000, the school is located near the Futako-Tamagawa area and provides guidance for access from Futako-Tamagawa Station. TIPS is designed to support students with mild learning differences and learning challenges, offering an individualized academic environment with very small class sizes, averaging six students and capped at ten. The school follows an American-based curriculum, using Common Core standards in the middle grades and University of Nebraska High School (UNHS) online courses and Advanced Placement (AP) options at the high school level. Instruction is delivered in English, with opportunities for students to engage in Japanese language and culture activities. Beyond academics, students can participate in clubs such as coding, band, board games and sports, as well as the ACE program, which focuses on student-led projects and entrepreneurship.
Founded in 1949, Nishimachi International School is a coeducational K–9 day school in central Tokyo. The school enrolls about 480 students, with approximately 20 students per class in Kindergarten through Grade 6 and middle school classes typically ranging from 10–20. Instruction is in English and all students study Japanese. The school describes its curriculum as based on American Common Core standards alongside its Japanese language and culture program taught daily through Grade 9. Beyond academics, students can join activities such as drama, band, ikebana, and sports including soccer, basketball, volleyball, track and field, cross country and badminton. The school also runs overnight trips to Kazuno (Grades 4–8) and winter ski trips (Grades 4–9).
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