Aoba-Japan International School

Aoba-Japan International School operates across three Tokyo campuses: Meguro Campus (K2-K5) in Meguro-ku; Hikarigaoka Campus (K3-G9) in Nerima-ku; and Bunkyo Campus (G10-G12) in Bunkyo-ku. The Hikarigaoka campus sits in a residential area about 30 minutes from central Tokyo and is within a short walk of Hikarigaoka Station on the Toei Oedo Line; Meguro and Bunkyo campuses are similarly situated near major rail access in their neighbourhoods.

Meguro Campus serves kindergarten through Grade 5 (K2–K5). Hikarigaoka Campus serves Kindergarten through Grade 9 (K3–G9). Bunkyo Campus serves Grades 10–12 (G10–G12). An online option, Aoba Global Campus, offers G11–G12 via Online IBDP.

Private, international, co-educational day school. It offers the IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP) and the GLD pathway; there are no on-site boarding facilities.

There are representations of over 40 nationalities in the community. Approximately half of students hold Japanese passports, including many returnees or dual nationals. Official statistics list 46 nationalities represented among students, reflecting a diverse international body.

The school provides an inclusive support program with a co-teaching model across PYP, MYP, DP, and GLD. Support includes language and literacy assistance, curriculum adaptations, wellbeing and behavior support, and environmental/sensory accommodations, delivered through collaboration among teachers, counselors, and families.

The school is based in Japan and operates as a private international school with no formal country affiliation beyond its Japanese location and accreditation.

No religious affiliation; the school describes itself as secular and welcomes students from all faiths and backgrounds.

School days run 8:30 to 15:30 for Kinder to Grade 9, and 9:30 to 15:30 for Grades 10 to 12.

The school bus service is outsourced to Tosho bus company and operates eight routes across central Tokyo. Buses have seat belts, GPS tracking, and emergency supplies, with bus attendants on each vehicle. A shuttle is available from Hikarigaoka Station to the campus, and some routes are available to Secondary students depending on capacity.

Aoba-Japan International School offers an IB continuum from early years to senior secondary: K2; K3–G6 in the Primary Years Programme (PYP); G7–G10 in the Middle Years Programme (MYP); and G11–G12 with either the IB Diploma Programme (DP) or the Global Leadership Diploma (GLD). The PYP (ages 3–12) emphasizes inquiry-based, transdisciplinary learning and develops core values such as global leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation, effective communication, and wise risk-taking. The MYP (Grades 7–10) provides subject-linked inquiry across languages, humanities, sciences, mathematics, and arts, with assessment via internal tasks and external moderation where appropriate. The DP requires six subjects across languages, humanities, science, mathematics, and arts, plus Theory of Knowledge, a 4,000-word Extended Essay, and a service component, with external examinations; an Online DP is also offered as a pilot. The GLD is a flexible, two-year senior pathway with a Leadership Coach, awarding the Aoba High School Diploma and enabling online or on-campus study. English is the language of instruction, with integrated Japanese language studies and language support where needed; the school's IB credential is complemented by CIS and NEASC accreditation.

Social and emotional learning is supported through a dedicated wellbeing team that provides social and emotional guidance to students. The school employs Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Differentiated Instruction (DI) to remove barriers and provide inclusive lessons from the Primary Years Programme through the Diploma Programme and Global Leadership Diploma. Classrooms are designed for universal access with inclusive strategies that benefit all students. Targeted support includes small-group instruction and personalised guidance in literacy, numeracy, and communication. Wellbeing initiatives include advisory sessions and testing accommodations to support academic and personal development. Inclusion remains central to the school culture across all programs.

An inclusive approach is described within the Learning Support framework. The program uses Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Differentiated Instruction (DI) to design flexible and inclusive lessons from PYP through DP. Targeted support includes small-group instruction and personalised guidance in literacy, numeracy, and communication. The dedicated wellbeing team offers social and emotional guidance in addition to academic support. Inclusion remains central to the school culture, and capacity is described within the resources available; no dedicated SEN specialist institution designation is stated.

English as an Additional Language (EAL) support is provided within Learning Support, including a Communication Support program. Communication Support reduces barriers for students when reading, writing, listening and speaking in English. Literacy classes are co-planned, co-taught and co-assessed with the subject teacher and a support teacher. The program uses Differentiated Instruction (DI) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to help language learners access the curriculum. Inclusion is a guiding principle across the learning program.

The wellbeing team provides social and emotional guidance to students as part of the Support Program. Wellbeing initiatives include advisory sessions and testing accommodations to support students academically and personally. The program aims to build confidence, resilience, and positive relationships across the school. Inclusion remains central to wellbeing across programs.

Safeguarding and student well-being are guided by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (Articles 19 and 34) and ITFC-informed policy. The school is a member of JCIS and EARCOS, reinforcing safeguarding commitments. Policies include safeguarding guidelines and a safeguarding agreement with employees, with site emergency procedures. Safety measures include fences and steel gates, regular drills for fire, earthquake, and lockdown, and an on-site school nurse. Medical insurance covers injuries for curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities on campus and off campus.

Step 1. Plan entry timing and grade placement. Aoba-Japan International School follows an August–June academic year, with a September 1 cutoff date used for age placements. K2 students may join the Meguro campus from 18 months old, while K3 (3 years old) must be toilet trained; placement for K4–G12 is based on the student's completed or current grade level, with the principal's discretion in some cases. English is the language of instruction in all grades, and students not yet fluent may participate in an inclusive in-class support program; at least one parent/guardian must be able to communicate in English with school staff. Visa assistance is not provided, and housing is not offered; families should plan accordingly. (These placement rules and language expectations are part of the admissions framework.)

Step 3. Current status of financial aid and scholarships. The school states that there is no financial aid available for newly enrolled students at present. Historically, a Global Leaders Scholarship was announced in 2022, funded by the Ohmae Endowment, offering up to to JPY 4,000,000 per year toward tuition and living expenses; it was described as supporting talented students for paths to leading universities, but there is no indication that this program is active today. Families should not expect ongoing scholarships for new entrants, beyond any non-scholarship supports such as in-class English language assistance.

Step 2. Review the admissions cycle and waitlist expectations. For 2026–2027 entry, applications are being accepted for August 2026 across all grades and campuses, with the first-round interviews typically conducted after a December 2025 online submission and January 2026 review. For the 2025–2026 cycle, some grades may already be full and waitlists may be considered for Semester 2 entry; applications are accepted year-round depending on grade vacancy. Some grades may fill quickly, so families on waitlists should expect possible contact if spaces reopen.