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Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Early Years, Kindergarten, Primary School, Middle School
Introduction
Located in Hikarigaoka, Tokyo, Aoba-Japan International School offers an IB continuum for ages 3 to 18. The Hikarigaoka Campus serves Kindergarten through Grade 9, with Early Years grouped multi‑age, Primary Years Programme for K3–Grade 6, and Middle Years Programme for Grade 7–9; the Diploma Programme is available across the network, and a Global Leadership Diploma provides a dedicated pathway. The school emphasizes transdisciplinary inquiry, collaborative learning, and the use of technology, complemented by after‑school extension programs. Facilities include open‑plan classrooms, a sports pitch, a pool, and a gymnasium, plus a halal‑certified lunch program prepared by Cezars Kitchen. Accredited by NEASC and CIS, the campus sits about 30 minutes from downtown Tokyo and hosts over 570 students. Notable features include IB World School status, a full IB pathway, and a 50th anniversary celebrated in 2025. The school also offers bus transport and a range of language, arts, and leadership activities today.
Aoba-Japan International School - Hikarigaoka Campus has 790 pupils, typical class sizes of 15, instruction in English.
Location
Located in Nerima City, northwest of Tokyo's 23 wards. It is about 30 minutes from downtown Tokyo and a 15-minute walk from Hikarigaoka Station on the Oedo Line. Address: 7-5-1 Hikarigaoka, Nerima-ku, Tokyo 179-0072. The campus features open-plan classrooms, a sports pitch, a pool, and a gymnasium.
Bus service for Early Years students throughout Tokyo with multiple pickup locations.
Fees
Annual tuition at Aoba-Japan International School - Hikarigaoka Campus ranges from JPY 1,862,500 to JPY 3,074,500 for 2026/27.
Application & Entrance Fees - Application fee: JPY 25,000, payable at the time of application. - Registration (enrolment) fee: JPY 320,000, payable at the time of registration/acceptance. - Building development (capital) fee (one-time at registration): JPY 320,000, payable at the time of registration/acceptance.
Other annual / recurring school fees (charged with the first tuition invoice unless otherwise stated) - Building maintenance fee (annual): JPY 200,000. - Family Community membership fee (annual, per family): JPY 12,500. - Graduation fees: K5 only JPY 54,000; Grade 12 only JPY 152,000. - School lunch (optional, billed per year): Kindergarten (K2–K5) JPY 159,000; Grades 1–9 JPY 182,000. - Bus service (optional, billed per year): one-way JPY 234,000; round-trip JPY 380,000. The bus fee for the full school year is billed with the first tuition invoice. - DP (IB Diploma) external examination fees (where applicable): charged to relevant students at actual cost; example amount shown previously ~ JPY 120,000 (subject to change depending on IB registration fees and exchange rates). - Pamoja / GLD / other specialist programme fees (where applicable): charged at actual cost to participating students and billed when applicable.
Discounts - Sibling discounts on tuition for families with more than one child enrolled: second child 10% off that child's annual tuition; third child and subsequent children 15% off each subsequent child's annual tuition (applies to full-year students; adjustments made on final tuition payment).
Billing schedule and payment terms - Payment frequency: families may choose one payment or two installments. One-payment due date / or first payment due date: 20 June (new students pay at registration). Two-payment schedule: payments due 20 June and 20 November (new students pay at registration for their first installment). - Bus fees, building maintenance fee and Family Community membership fee are billed in full with the first tuition invoice and are not divided for mid‑year entry. - Mid-year entry: tuition is calculated according to the school's quarter system; attendance for any portion of a quarter requires payment of the entire quarter. - Late payment: arrears are subject to an interest/late charge of 1.20% per month, compounded monthly, on overdue accounts. Continued serious delinquency may result in suspension of attendance or withholding of transcripts/certificates.
Boarding - Boarding is not applicable to the Hikarigaoka campus (campus offers day school only).
One-off and other optional costs - Re-entry fees if a withdrawn student returns: JPY 100,000 (same school year); JPY 150,000 (next school year); JPY 200,000 (second school year after withdrawal); full charge thereafter. Building Development fee is charged in full on re-entry as applicable. - After-school extensions, extracurricular trips, summer school and some activity fees: charged separately and often non‑refundable; specific amounts depend on the programme and are invoiced when applicable.
Refund information (key points) - Application fee, Registration fee and Building Development fee are non‑refundable. - Building Maintenance Fee and Family Community Membership Fee are refundable only if the cancellation/withdrawal notice is received by 31 July; no refund if notice is submitted after that date. - First-semester tuition (and certain support fees) may be refundable only when written cancellation/withdrawal is received by 31 July; after that date refunds are generally not provided. Specific refund calculations and administrative deductions may apply. - Leave of absence: if approved by the Principal and taken by semester, 50% of tuition for the leave period will be waived; other fees are not billed for the leave term but Building Maintenance and Family Community fees are not refunded for leave taken in the second semester.
Fee payment instructions and options - Fees are invoiced through the school's billing process and due by the dates shown on the invoice; the school uses a parent portal for registration and administration. Invoices specify the payment instructions and required payment method(s). - The published fee and payment documents do not list a single mandatory public credit‑card or third‑party payment channel; parents should follow the payment instructions on each invoice (payment method and bank details are provided on the invoice or via the parent portal).
Notes on incidental/variable charges - Where fees are expressed as “actual cost” (for example, IB DP exam fees, Pamoja fees or certain trip costs), the exact amount is charged to participating students and may vary year to year depending on external provider charges and exchange rates.
If any specific line item needs to be displayed in a different currency or formatted differently for your database, the numeric values above are provided in Japanese Yen (JPY).
Academics
Aoba-Japan International School - Hikarigaoka Campus teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP) for students aged 3 to 18.
Curriculum
Hikarigaoka Campus serves Kindergarten to Grade 9. The Early Years (K3–K5) are multi‑age; Primary Years Programme (K3–Grade 6) and Middle Years Programme (Grade 7–9) are implemented within the IB framework, and a Diploma Programme is offered across the network. The Global Leadership Diploma (GLD) provides a specialized high school pathway. The curriculum emphasizes transdisciplinary inquiry, collaborative learning, and the use of technology; after‑school extension programs support broader learning. The campus has open‑plan classrooms, a sports pitch, a pool, and a gymnasium, and serves a student body of over 570.
Higher Education Progression
Graduates are prepared for admission to top universities worldwide. The school offers university counseling and visits, with alumni gaining admission to leading institutions such as the University of Toronto, University of British Columbia (UBC), UCLA, UC Berkeley, King's College London, University of Warwick, Monash University, Waseda University, and Keio University.
Gifted and Talented
Global Leadership Diploma (GLD) provides a flexible, highly customized senior school pathway with leadership coaching and a portfolio-based approach; GLD graduates earn the Aoba High School Diploma, accredited by CIS and NEASC, and are prepared for admission to universities worldwide.
Admissions
Admissions
1. Annual Admissions Cycle. 2026-2027 applications are being accepted for August 2026 entry across all grades and campuses. To be considered in the first round of interviews, the online application should be completed in December 2025, with reviews taking place in January 2026. For 2025-2026, families newly entering or returning to Japan may apply for Semester 2 entry; some grades are already full, and waitlists might be considered. 2. Application Flow. Apply online by completing the form. You will receive an email from Veracross with the link to Aoba's Admissions Portal. If you do not receive the email, contact admissions. Access the Admissions Portal and complete the application checklist, which includes Applicant and Parent Information; Questionnaire; Upload of School Reports (kinder/G1 applicants should also provide if available); Teacher Recommendations (Aoba format); Medical and Childhood Immunization Records; and the Application Fee. 3. Interview and Assessment. Candidates will be invited to an online or on-campus interview. There are sometimes observation sessions or English assessments depending on the grade. The Admissions team reviews all completed applications and contacts families in January. 4. Result. Results are announced in early March. For applications outside of the key application cycle, results usually take about one week after the interview. Upon acceptance, families will be asked to complete Online Enrollment and to pay one-time Registration and Building and Development fees to secure their seat. 5. Eligibility. English is the language of instruction in all grades. Applicants who are proficient in English and who are familiar with international education systems, in particular the International Baccalaureate, stand to gain most from being admitted. Applicants who are not yet fluent in English may benefit from the elementary and middle school education with enrollment in the inclusive in-class support program. Communication with families is in English, so at least one parent/guardian should be able to communicate comfortably with school personnel in English. Visa Support: Aoba does not provide assistance with student visas. Housing Options: Aoba does not offer boarding facilities. 6. Grade Placement. The cutoff date for age placements is September 1. The applicant's birthdate is considered in placements for kindergarten to grade 1. Applicants for G2 and above are placed according to their completed or current grade level and upon consideration of individual circumstances. K2 students (Meguro campus only) may join from 18 months old; K3 students must be three years old and out of diapers before admission.
Waitlist
Some grades are already full, and waitlists might be considered. When openings arise, waitlisted families may be contacted as part of the admissions process.
FAQs
What ages does the Hikarigaoka Campus serve?
The Hikarigaoka Campus serves students from age 3 to 18, with multigrade Early Years (K3–K5) and Primary (K3–Grade 6) under the IB Primary Years Programme, followed by the IB Middle Years Programme (Grade 7–9). Across the network, the Diploma Programme is available, and the Global Leadership Diploma (GLD) provides a specialized high school pathway. The campus emphasizes inquiry-based learning, collaboration, and the use of technology.
What curricula are implemented at Hikarigaoka Campus?
Hikarigaoka implements the International Baccalaureate program at the campus level: PYP for K3–Grade 6 and MYP for Grade 7–9. The Diploma Programme is available across the network, and the GLD offers a leadership-focused senior pathway. The curriculum emphasizes transdisciplinary inquiry, collaborative learning, and technology-enabled education.
Where is the Hikarigaoka Campus located and how do I get there?
The campus is in Nerima City, northwest of central Tokyo. It is about a 15-minute walk from Hikarigaoka Station on the Oedo Line and roughly 30 minutes from downtown Tokyo. The address is 7-5-1 Hikarigaoka, Nerima-ku, Tokyo 179-0072.
What are the tuition fees by grade at Hikarigaoka Campus?
Tuition is charged annually and varies by grade. K2 fees are 2,098,000 JPY per year (1,049,000 JPY per semester); K3–K5 fees are 2,332,000 JPY per year (1,166,000 JPY per semester); Grades 1–5 are 2,518,000 JPY per year (1,259,000 JPY per semester); Grades 6–12 are 2,862,000 JPY per year (1,431,000 JPY per semester). The Online IB Diploma Programme (Grades 11–12) is 1,650,000 JPY per year (825,000 JPY per semester).
What other recurring or optional fees should I budget for?
In addition to tuition, there are several mandatory and optional charges: Application fee 25,000 JPY, Registration fee 320,000 JPY, Building Development fee 320,000 JPY, Building Maintenance fee 200,000 JPY per year, and Family Community membership 12,500 JPY per year. There are also graduation fees (K5 54,000 JPY; Grade 12 152,000 JPY), lunch (optional), and bus service (optional). Fees for external IB DP exams and other specialist programs are charged at actual cost.
How does the admissions process work from application to offer?
Applications follow an annual cycle with multiple steps. For the 2026–2027 entry, apply for August 2026; to be considered in the first round, complete the online application by December 2025, with interviews in online or on-campus formats and sometimes English assessments. Results are released in early March; accepted families complete Online Enrollment and pay the Registration and Building & Development fees to secure a seat. English is the language of instruction, and non-native English speakers may benefit from in-class support.
Is there a waitlist for admissions?
Yes. Some grades are already full, and waitlists may be considered. When openings arise, waitlisted families may be contacted as part of the admissions process.
Are there scholarships or financial aid options?
No scholarships information is provided in the available data. Families should check with admissions for any current financial-aid options.
Does the school provide visa support for international students?
Aoba does not provide assistance with student visas. Prospective families should plan visa arrangements independently.
What are the payment terms and how are fees invoiced?
Fees are invoiced through the school's billing system, and families may choose either one payment or two installments. The due date is typically 20 June (with the first payment due at registration for new students). Some fees, such as bus, maintenance, and Family Community membership, are billed with the first invoice. Late payments incur interest, and mid-year entries are billed by quarter.
Which IB programs are offered at Hikarigaoka Campus?
The campus delivers IB Primary Years Programme (K3–Grade 6) and IB Middle Years Programme (Grade 7–9). The Diploma Programme is available across the network, and the Global Leadership Diploma provides a leadership-focused senior pathway.
What is the Global Leadership Diploma (GLD) and how does it fit into the school?
GLD is a flexible, customized senior-school pathway with leadership coaching and a portfolio-based approach. GLD graduates earn the Aoba High School Diploma and are prepared for admission to universities worldwide, with CIS and NEASC accreditation as part of the program.
Which universities have graduates from Aoba's programs attended?
Graduates have gained admission to top institutions worldwide, including the University of Toronto, University of British Columbia (UBC), UCLA, UC Berkeley, King's College London, University of Warwick, Monash University, Waseda University, and Keio University.
How is technology integrated into learning at Hikarigaoka Campus?
The curriculum emphasizes transdisciplinary inquiry and collaborative learning, with technology playing a central role to support inquiry-based teaching and learning.
What facilities does the Hikarigaoka Campus offer?
The campus features open-plan classrooms, a sports pitch, a pool, and a gymnasium. There is also a halal-certified on-site lunch program and after-school extension options to extend learning beyond the classroom.
Is there on-site lunch, and what are the options?
Yes, lunch is prepared on-site by Cezars Kitchen in halal-certified facilities and offers vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.
What transport options help families get to school?
A bus service supports Early Years students with multiple pickup locations across Tokyo, making it easier for families to commute to and from campus.
What after-school programs are available and when do they run?
The After School Program runs on weekdays from 15:45 to 18:15 and offers academic support, language learning, performing arts, creative activities, and competitive sports. It is open to both internal and external students and aims to develop leadership, teamwork, and collaboration.
What events showcase student learning and involve the community?
The school hosts events such as the Winter Concert, the MYP Showcase, Family Day, and Sports Day, which highlight student projects and performances and involve families and the broader community.
Is there a language-focused extra-curricular option for students?
Yes, the Language Community School offers English or Japanese language lessons developed by Aoba for students ranging from elementary level to adults, supporting language practice and proficiency.
