Canadian International School Tokyo

CIS Tokyo operates across three campuses in Tokyo: Osaki Main Office & Kindergarten at 5-8-20 Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, and the Senior/Junior High Campus at 5-7-13 Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa-ku; Nakameguro Elementary School Campus at 1-6-1 Nakameguro, Meguro-ku. The Osaki campuses are in Shinagawa ward, while the Nakameguro campus is in Meguro ward. The campuses are well connected by Tokyo's rail network, with the Osaki campus a short walk from JR Osaki Station and the Nakameguro campus a short walk from Nakameguro Station.

CIS Tokyo provides four levels: Kindergarten, Elementary School, Junior High School, and High School. The school blends a Canadian curriculum with International Baccalaureate elements in the younger years (PYP) and offers Advanced Placement options in the upper grades.

Co-educational. It operates as a day school with no boarding facilities.

CIS Tokyo represents more than 30 nationalities. Japanese students comprise just under 35% of the student body, about 30% come from Korea, and the remaining students come from Canada, the United States, and other countries.

The school offers an English Language Support Program for students needing English language development, including a program for April intake and small-group support for Grades 1-2. Counseling and student support are available, with educational assessments and liaison with external providers as needed.

Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada.

CIS Tokyo has no direct affiliation with a church or religion.

The school day typically starts around 8:45 am. School hours are 8:45 am–3:05 pm for Kindergarten–Grade 6 and until about 3:35 pm for Grades 7–12, with five instructional blocks for K–6 and six blocks for 7–12.

There is no school bus service. CIS is within walking distance of Osaki Station and Nakameguro Station, and students commonly use public transit or walk to campus.

Canadian International School Tokyo (CIS Tokyo) delivers a Prince Edward Island (PEI)–based Canadian curriculum for Kindergarten through Grade 12 and is PEI-accredited and WASC-accredited; the Primary Years Programme (PYP) is offered for Kindergarten to Grade 5. In the Primary Years, CIS Tokyo uses the IB PYP framework with six transdisciplinary units per year (Pre-K has four Units of Inquiry) and a Grade 5 Exhibition, with instruction aligned to PEI curriculum guides. In Junior High and High School, the program includes a Canadian secondary program plus Advanced Placement (AP); current AP courses include Calculus AB, English, World History, Chemistry and Physics B, with additional AP options and AP Diploma pathways. English is the language of instruction for all Canadian-curriculum courses; Japanese language study begins in Grade 1 with two hours per week and increases to four hours per week for Grades 10–12; there is no language support for students in Grades 9–12. The school operates across three campuses—Osaki Campus (Headquarters and Kindergarten), Osaki Campus (Junior High and High School), and Nakameguro Campus (Elementary School)—with a September–June school year.

The Guidance Counselor provides confidential counseling to students, parents/guardians, and teachers, and liaises with external qualified mental health professionals when required. The Guidance and Student Support program includes university guidance for high school and educational support, including assessment of learning challenges and coordination with external providers for targeted interventions. Social-emotional wellbeing is addressed through Health and Wellness Programs, with a social-emotional counsellor available on campus. Counseling is described as short-term and solution-focused, with additional or ongoing supports arranged through external providers when needed. The school's counseling services are accessible to students and involve families as appropriate.

The CIS Tokyo Student Handbook states that the school offers a limited range of support services, including counselling and language support in early elementary grades, but services for students with special educational needs are not provided on site. External assessments and diagnostic evaluations may be required to identify and address SEN needs. Social and emotional counselling is provided in a short-term, solution-focused manner, with additional or ongoing supports potentially arranged by the family through external providers. Therefore, CIS Tokyo is not a specialist SEN institution and does not provide in-house SEN services. Families may need to pursue external assessment and support as needed.

CIS Tokyo offers an English Language Support Program (ELSP) to support students with English as an Additional Language. For new students, the April intake may require extensive language support, which is embedded in age-appropriate grade-level classes (K–6 participate in IB PYP units; 7–12 attend regular classes with language support). Language support is delivered through a variety of models depending on student needs. The program runs September–June, with specific language support for Grades 1–2 in small groups (one to two class periods per week) and progress reporting each semester. Summer sessions focus on English reading, listening, writing, and viewing for CIS students and some April intake participants.

Mental wellbeing is supported through Mental Health Support, with the school providing access to counselling services for students who need emotional support. The Guidance Counselor offers confidential counseling to students, parents/guardians, and teachers, and can refer to external mental health professionals when required. Social-emotional counselling is part of Health and Wellness Programs and is described as a short-term, solution-focused service, with external supports arranged as needed. A social-emotional counsellor is available on campus to assist students with wellbeing concerns.

The CIS Tokyo Student Handbook includes a Child Protection Policy that outlines procedures for identifying and reporting suspected abuse or neglect, reflecting the school's safeguarding duty of care. Staff comply with safeguarding requirements, and cases may be disclosed to appropriate authorities as required by law. Students and families are advised to speak with a trusted adult or the social-emotional counsellor if they have concerns about safety. All CIS campuses are closed to general access during school hours, except for predesignated events, to ensure student safety and security. The handbook also notes that CIS's safeguarding measures are part of its commitment to a safe school community.

1. Determine eligibility and grade placement. CIS Tokyo uses age-based placements with a December 31 cutoff; the Age Appropriation for 2026–2027 shows the exact age bands and birth date ranges for Kindergarten through Grade 12. All applicants must apply for the grade that matches their age, and exceptions may be made at the Head of School's discretion, including offering a start in a lower grade if the screening indicates it is necessary. At least one parent must be a functional English speaker to communicate with CIS staff.

2. Prepare the grade-specific application package. For Kindergarten (K4 and K5), required documents include the Application for Admissions, a Confidential Teacher Recommendation, a Student Health Record, proof of birth, one photo, and 2 years of school transcripts if available; you must also provide proof of payment of the 35,000 yen application fee. The Kindergarten admission procedure also lists an assessment format and confirms these documents are part of the assessment package. For other grades, the process hinges on screening and testing (MAP Test for English and Math, plus a short English essay) and a family interview.

3. Download and submit the application package. The Admissions page provides links to the grade-specific forms and directs submission to the Admissions Office. Applications are accepted year-round, subject to seat availability.

4. Pay the application fee and attach payment proof. The standard application fee is 35,000 yen and must be paid by bank transfer; include the payment slip with the application submission. The 35,000-yen fee is non-refundable and is referenced on the Application Fee document.

5. Undergo grade-appropriate assessments. For KG, assessments include home-based worksheets (Part I) and a family interview with an English-speaking parent (Part II). For Elementary through High School, admission depends on performing the MAP Test (English and Mathematics) and completing a short essay in English, followed by a family interview with a CIS administrator. These assessments determine readiness for CIS's Canadian curriculum and language expectations.

6. Receive admission decisions. Admission decisions are communicated in writing by email and postal mail; accepted applicants receive an acceptance letter, registration information, and an invoice. The seat is guaranteed once the registration fee is paid, after which families receive further registration details.

7. Submit registration and secure the seat. After acceptance, the school issues an invoice for the registration fee and related enrollment charges; payment confirms the seat. The 2025–2026 fee structure shows the Registration Fee (300,000 yen) and Building Development Fee (600,000 yen) as one-time charges, with tuition and other annual fees payable on schedule.

8. Complete enrollment and begin at CIS. Enrollment completes once fees are settled and the student is registered; the annual tuition varies by grade (Kindergarten 2,350,000 yen; Grade 1–5 2,650,000 yen; Grade 6–8 2,750,000 yen; Grade 9–12 2,850,000 yen) with an annual Building Maintenance Fee of 250,000 yen. Returning students may pay in two installments with a 35,000 yen handling charge, and a sibling discount may apply. Fees for the 2025–2026 year are fixed for the period, and withdrawal policies require notice in advance.

9. Note about grade placement options. A student may be offered to start one grade lower than the expected level based on screening results and at the Principal's discretion; age eligibility and the official age appropriation table guide final placement. This reinforces that placement decisions can reflect both academic readiness and language proficiency.

Scholarships: CIS Tokyo does not publish a scholarships program on its admissions or fees pages. The fees page lists tuition and other charges and notes a sibling discount and payment options, but there is no mention of scholarship or financial-aid offerings. For families seeking financial assistance, scholarships do not appear to be publicly offered.

Waitlist/Pool: CIS Tokyo does not publish a formal waitlist or pool system in its admissions materials. Admissions are year-round and depend on current seat availability at each grade level. Applicants are notified of admission after screening, and seats are allocated based on space rather than a numbered waiting list. There is no publicly posted waitlist policy.