Edited by Aziza Francienne · B2C Marketing Manager
Japan has a growing selection of international schools, concentrated in Tokyo but with strong options in Kobe, Nagoya, Osaka, and Kyoto. The IB is the dominant framework, though American and British pathways are well represented. Fees are lower than Hong Kong or Singapore on average, and Japan's record-breaking expat workforce of 2.3 million means the international school market is expanding. Families find a safe, well-organised society with excellent public transport, though the language barrier can be challenging outside school hours.
Compare 24 international schools in Japan. Filter by curriculum, fees (average JPY 1,576,483), location, and more to find the right international school now.
Sunnyside International School is located in Gifu City, about a 20-minute train ride from Nagoya, in an area known for the Nagara River and surrounding mountains. The school’s programmes span early childcare (from 6 months) through elementary Grade 6, with kindergarten and a primary department. Sunnyside became Japan’s first PYP authorized “Article one” school in 2016, and its primary programme is underpinned by the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP). The school’s language policy places Japanese as the first language of schooling while increasing English use step-by-step, supported by English specialist teachers. A distinctive feature highlighted on the site is its collaboration with educator James Nottingham’s “Challenging Learning,” including use of the “Learning Pit” model to help students understand what learning feels like.
Hiroshima Global Academy (HiGA) is a public boarding junior and senior high school in Osakikamijima, an island in the Seto Inland Sea, about 1.5 hours from Hiroshima. The school offers the International Baccalaureate: the Middle Years Programme (Grades 7–10) and the Diploma Programme (Grades 11–12). HiGA supports learning in both English and Japanese, and notes that some DP subjects can be studied in either language depending on a student’s ability; it also provides individualized Japanese language courses. Student life includes dormitory living across grades and nationalities. After-school, students can join A4LC clubs such as science, sports, instrumental ensemble (big band jazz), and an art-and-technology group; a student A4LC team has competed in FIRST LEGO League and qualified for a national competition.
Okinawa AMICUS International is a private combined school in Uruma City, Okinawa, serving students from kindergarten through junior high school. The school opened in 2011 and is officially approved by Japan’s Ministry of Education (MEXT) as a “Special Zone for Education,” which allows it to design and deliver its own original curriculum. AMICUS provides English immersion education from kindergarten onward, teaching most subjects in English with Japanese language and parts of social studies taught separately. The campus is located in the central part of Okinawa’s main island, surrounded by natural scenery and approximately five minutes by car from the Okinawa Expressway’s Okinawa-Kita exit. Since 2020, the elementary and junior high school divisions have been members of Round Square, a global network of schools focused on experiential learning and international understanding.
YES International School Tokyo is a learning community in Shibuya, opened in May 2018, for children who are homeschooling or who find standard school life difficult. The daily program is built around project-based learning, where mornings can start with “morning projects” exploring themes such as science, language, art and programming, alongside creative learning in music and art. Students also take part in practical routines such as a cooking class and shared lunch time. Weekly movement sessions that include capoeira and soccer. The school describes individual support tailored to each child’s pace. A distinctive feature is its official Discord server, “YES Elegant,” designed with parent visibility and student-led rule-making.
Makuhari International School (MIS) is a private international school in Wakaba, Chiba City, serving Pre-School (two-year-olds), Kindergarten 1–3 (ages 3–6) and Grades 1–6 (ages 6–12). The curriculum follows the objectives of the Japanese Curriculum and, as a MEXT-designated exceptional school, supplements them with elements from other curricula; English literacy draws on a UK-style literacy framework, and maths uses White Rose Maths. Most lessons are taught in English, with Japanese or Japanese Studies (and some Social Studies in Grades 5–6) taught in Japanese. The campus is a 13‑minute walk from Kaihin Makuhari Station and about 30 minutes from Narita Airport and central Tokyo. MIS runs school buses to areas including Chiba, Funabashi, Tsudanuma, Baytown and Urayasu. After-school clubs include art, athletics, language, culture, drama and music, and the Global Citizenship Award Program includes projects such as growing rice in the school rice paddy.
Shinagawa International School (SIS), founded in 2007, offers the full International Baccalaureate continuum: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP). The Seaside Campus serves Grades 1–3 and forms part of the school’s PYP pathway across SIS campuses in Tokyo. Located in the Shinagawa Seaside area, the campus is supported by practical student services, including an organised school bus system with multiple routes and on-site daycare for younger children. Student life includes a structured afterschool programme with activities spanning arts, sports, academic clubs and service initiatives, as well as residential trips and swimming classes that are part of the school programme. SIS also operates a four-week Summer School, which features hands-on projects across science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, along with weekly field trips. These programmes reflect the school’s emphasis on inquiry-based learning and real-world experiences within the IB framework.
Tamagawa Academy is a private Japanese school on a single campus in Machida, Tokyo. The school offers education from kindergarten through Grade 12. The campus is described as a 610,000 m² green area known as “Tamagawa no Oka (Tamagawa Hill).” For international pathways, the school introduced the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) in April 2007 and the IB Diploma Programme (DP) in July 2010. DP subject options include English, Japanese and Mandarin languages, alongside sciences, mathematics, humanities and arts. Students also participate in a wide range of clubs, including robotics and coral research, as well as orchestra and English drama.
New International School of Japan (NewIS) is a dual-language school in Minami-Ikebukuro, Tokyo, welcoming students from Pre-K (age 3) through Grade 12. Learning is delivered in English and Japanese, and the school describes its program as a dual-language implementation inspired by Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence, taught in multiage classes. Typical classrooms are staffed by two full-time teachers for about twenty children. From the year children turn six, students learn to play the violin by ear, and Mandarin Chinese is offered as an elective. The school also notes physical education includes International Tae Kwon Do. For access, NewIS is a short walk from major stations including Ikebukuro, and it offers a routed school bus service.
Ascot International School Japan is a Cambridge International School in Kita-ku, Kobe City (Hyogo), serving students from Early Years through Upper Secondary. The school opened its Early Years section in January 2018 and joined the Cambridge International network in May 2022. Students follow Cambridge pathways leading to IGCSE and A-levels, with the curriculum noted as aligned to the English National Curriculum, and Japanese learning offered alongside the English-language program. The campus includes a gymnasium and a full artificial turf soccer pitch, and the school highlights woodland areas used for nature-based learning. After school, students can join activities such as AFA Soccer, basketball, badminton, gaming and homework club.
Kobe Bilingual School (KOBILS) is a bilingual international school in Momoyamadai, Tarumi Ward (west Kobe), offering full-time programs for Kindergarten (ages 3–6) and Elementary (ages 6–12). The school describes its approach as English immersion with Japanese also taught, including Kokugo, and support for Japanese as a Second Language (JSL) for some students. KOBILS states that its curriculum blends Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence with elements of Japan’s education guidelines as a KOBILS original curriculum. Class sizes are about 13 students, up to a maximum of 20. Distinctive features include a life skills curriculum that teaches practical finance (including budgeting and banking) and an annual Careers Week with visiting professionals.
Kunimoto Alberta International School is a six-year all-girls program in Tokyo offering Grades 7 through 12. The school delivers both the Alberta (Canada) curriculum and the Japanese national curriculum, allowing students to study within an international academic framework while remaining in Japan. The campus is located in Setagaya Ward, a residential area in western Tokyo and is within walking distance of Kitami Station on the Odakyu Line. This makes the school accessible from central parts of the city. Facilities include a library, computer room, science rooms, gymnasium, tea ceremony room, kitchen facilities and outdoor sports areas such as a lacrosse field and tennis court. A distinctive feature noted by the school is that it operates an Alberta-accredited program in Japan, with instruction aligned to Alberta Education standards. Students can also participate in a wide range of clubs, including arts, sports, language and service activities.
Linden Hall School in Fukuoka operates two campuses to serve students from 6 to 18: Elementary at Gojo, Dazaifu City, and Junior and Senior High at Futsukaichi-kita, Chikushino City. It is a day school with on-campus dormitory facilities. The Elementary program provides six years of English-immersion education, with most classes taught in English; Japanese language and moral education are taught in Japanese. The programme follows the MEXT Ichijou-Kou curriculum and is designated a Specially Exempt School. The High School offers an IB Diploma Programme and TI Course; Linden Hall was recognised as an IB World School on 4 October 2013. College counselling, overseas study opportunities, and international exchanges are provided. Facilities include glass-walled Elementary building, on-campus athletic fields and rice paddies, a dormitory, and a High School with a computer room and library. Extracurriculars span music, sport, and programming, with Round Square membership supporting leadership and service through international exchanges.
Move To Learn Global School, established in August 2021 in Takatsuki City, Osaka Prefecture, is an international day school offering education and support for children aged 3 to 12 with diverse learning needs. The school provides a bespoke curriculum designed from the best elements of British, IB, American and other global curricula, delivered in English and Japanese to build foundational skills in English literacy, math, science and STEAM. Because of its small class sizes (around 7–8 students), instructors tailor instruction to individual learners, especially for students with special educational needs such as ASD, ADHD and learning difficulties. The campus supports inclusive education and individualized development, rather than fixed grade-level expectations, helping students progress at their own pace while strengthening communication, cognitive and social skills.
NUCB International Junior and Senior High School (NIHS) is an MEXT-accredited junior and senior high school in Showa Ward, Nagoya, about a 7-minute walk from Gokiso Station. Students study in a bilingual environment and the school states it has recruited ten native English instructors, teaching small classes with an emphasis on oral communication. NIHS is an IB World School authorized for the Diploma Programme and has also obtained IB Middle Years Programme authorization. Beyond timetabled classes, the school describes after-school TOEIC preparation and a United Nations General Assembly debate simulation in English. Facilities highlighted by the school include a large central atrium used as a multi-purpose space, a “World Online Classroom” designed for interactive video-linked learning, an Active Learning Lab for discussion and presentations, as well as an on-site electronic library.
EIFJ (École Internationale Franco-Japonaise) is an international school located in Nishigaoka, Kita-ku, in the northern part of Tokyo. The school welcomes students from 18 months to 15 years of age, covering early years, primary and middle school levels. EIFJ offers several academic pathways, including a program aligned with the French Ministry of Education and an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme stream, alongside multilingual options using French, English and Japanese as languages of instruction. The campus includes dedicated spaces such as a science laboratory, art and music rooms and sports facilities. EIFJ is particularly known for its extensive after-school program, which includes language and culture classes, coding and programming, science activities, musical theatre, ballet. Team sports includes its Hexagon FC and multisport programs. A distinctive school tradition highlighted by EIFJ is the weekly Monday morning assembly, during which students sing the French and Japanese national anthems, with an additional anthem introduced each month to reflect international awareness.
KIU Academy in Kyotanabe, Kyoto, is a bilingual international school serving Grades 1–12. The Academy combines an American-based curriculum with Japanese curriculum awareness and delivers instruction in both English and Japanese across elementary, middle and high school programs. KIU Academy is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), offering students a pathway that meets international and Japanese educational standards. The school’s admissions pages list a structured fee package for tuition, entrance, and other costs for annual enrollment. KIU Academy emphasizes bilingual fluency, cross-cultural communication and preparation for university study. While specific clubs and class sizes are not detailed on the official site, the Academy positions itself as a place where students gain practical bilingual skills and global perspectives designed to support further education in Japan and abroad.
Shinagawa International School was founded in 2007 and operates as an English-medium international school in Tokyo. The Samezu Campus serves students from Grade 4 to Grade 12 and is part of the school’s International Baccalaureate continuum, offering the Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme. Teaching and learning are conducted in English, with Japanese offered as part of the language programme. The campus is located in Shinagawa Ward, with access from nearby train stations such as Aomono-Yokochō and Shinagawa Seaside. The school provides a range of co-curricular and after-school activities, including robotics, sports and creative arts. SIS also offers a school bus service and runs regular whole-school events such as Sports Day, STEAM Day and cultural celebrations, which are highlighted as part of the school’s annual calendar.
Linden Hall School in Fukuoka operates two campuses to serve students from 6 to 18: Elementary at Gojo, Dazaifu City, and Junior and Senior High at Futsukaichi-kita, Chikushino City. It is a day school with on-campus dormitory facilities. The Elementary program provides six years of English-immersion education, with most classes taught in English; Japanese language and moral education are taught in Japanese. The programme follows the MEXT Ichijou-Kou curriculum and is designated a Specially Exempt School. The High School offers an IB Diploma Programme and TI Course; Linden Hall was recognised as an IB World School on 4 October 2013. College counselling, overseas study opportunities, and international exchanges are provided. Facilities include glass-walled Elementary building, on-campus athletic fields and rice paddies, a dormitory, and a High School with a computer room and library. Extracurriculars span music, sport, and programming, with Round Square membership supporting leadership and service through international exchanges.
Okinawa International School (OIS) opened in April 2003 and provides education from preschool through high school across its programs. OIS is an IB Continuum School. It became authorized for IB PYP (2011), IB MYP (2016) and IB DP (2020), making it Okinawa’s first and only school offering the full IB pathway. In the elementary years, students learn through the IB PYP approach and complete a PYP Exhibition, presenting inquiry learning. OIS also highlights a local-language element in elementary school by offering “しまくとぅば” (Okinawan language) classes. At high school level, OIS offers an IB course and an additional International Liberal Arts (ILA) course option.
Aichi International School (AIS) is an integrated kindergarten and elementary school in Hoshigaoka, Nagoya, serving children aged 3–12. Kindergarten is taught in a 100% English immersion setting, and the elementary school (Grades 1–6) runs a bilingual program with approximately 70% of instruction in English and 30% in Japanese. AIS states its curriculum is tailored from guidelines set by Japan’s Ministry of Education and British Columbia, Canada. For assessment, AIS notes that Grades 3–6 take the International Schools’ Assessment (ISA) in English and Math, and students also sit EIKEN-based tests. After school, children can join language-learning and sports/culture options such as Japanese lessons, tea ceremony, drama club, soccer and computer club. The school is reachable by subway and bus, with Hoshigaoka Station within walking distance.
Laurus International School of Science in Tokyo provides a continuous pathway from preschool to upper secondary with a focus on STEM, innovation and entrepreneurship. The Cambridge International Curriculum guides learning from Primary through IGCSE and A Levels, complemented by the Laurus Innovator Program to deepen STEM and entrepreneurship. In Preschool and Kindergarten, English language foundations and science basics are established; from Primary onward, students engage with Cambridge courses while tackling hands-on projects. The school operates on multiple Tokyo campuses, including the Shiba Primary & Secondary site with modern labs and workshops supporting project-based science learning. Enrichment options, Afterschool, Saturday School and Seasonal Programs extend learning beyond the classroom, and ESL supports language development. Laurus was founded in 2001 by Mr Kiyomi Hioki and Mrs Mami Hioki. It joined the Council of International Schools in 2024 and opened Upper Secondary under Cambridge in 2025, with Round Square Candidate status achieved in 2026. The school is recognized for its focus on science education within Japan's international education landscape.
KIU Academy Niseko is a bilingual (English–Japanese) international school in Niseko, Hokkaido, located at 56-3 Motomachi and about a five-minute walk from Niseko View Plaza. The school opened in April 2025 and follows the Kyoto campus’s WASC/ACSI-accredited curriculum model, with subjects including English, Japanese, math, science, social studies and Bible, with additional electives such as computer, P.E., art and music. The campus is a two-story building, and the school describes planned outdoor facilities including a basketball court and futsal court, with views of Mt. Yotei. For transport, the school operates a shuttle bus with pick-up points such as Kutchan Station, Hirafu and Kabayama. High school students (Grade 10+) may apply for school-owned apartments near campus if available.
Horizon Academy Sendai Campus offers two stages: an Early Learning Centre for ages 3–5 and a Primary School for Grades 1–6. In the Early Learning Centre, the school describes its curriculum as based on the UK’s EYFS framework, with inquiry-based experiences in English. In Primary, the school states that it implements the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) and is a PYP authorized school, with 50–60% of instruction in English and both Japanese and English homeroom teachers. The campus is located in Takamori, Sendai and the school describes the setting as a peaceful residential area surrounded by nature. Practical supports listed on the site include a school bus service and daycare options.
Shinagawa International School’s Aoyoko Campus is its Early Learning Center for children aged 3 to 5 in Minamishinagawa, Shinagawa (Tokyo). Children begin with the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) Early Years curriculum, which was introduced at this facility in 2025 and is delivered through a play-based approach that encourages curiosity, inquiry and exploration. The campus includes a safe outdoor playground for physical development, creativity and social interaction. SIS teaches in English (with Japanese taught as a subject) and the school also offers a school bus service with features such as GPS tracking and bus attendants. Families can also access SIS after-school activities (school-wide) that include options like art, music, drama, coding and sports.
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