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1. Learn about ISN admissions and attend information sessions. ISN offers Elementary School Information Sessions and Middle School Information Sessions to inform families about ISN's approach to learning and campus options. Regular information events provide details on ISN's programs and admissions processes. These sessions help families understand how ISN blends an international curriculum with the Japanese national curriculum and how classes are structured.
2. Review admission windows and prepare to apply. For the 2026 school year, the application period runs from September 1 to October 30, 2025, with applications for Nakano Campus Elementary Division or for families currently attending ISN Nagano Preschool submitted to the Nakano Campus Office. The Nakano Campus can supply the application form. ISN's education roadmap also indicates separate windows for Elementary admissions (April–November) and Middle School admissions (April–September).
3. Submit the application and provide required information. Applications are submitted to the appropriate ISN campus (Nakano Campus Elementary Division or Nagano Campus Office). ISN operates an English-language international program complemented by Japanese-language and mathematics instruction led by certified Japanese teachers. The program combines an international curriculum with the Japanese national curriculum to prepare students for future academic and life opportunities.
4. Attend Open Campus or School Information Sessions to learn more and plan next steps. ISN Nakano Campus hosts Open Campus events and School Information Sessions with campus tours and Q&A opportunities to discuss the school, its learning environment, and tuition. Attending provides a firsthand view of ISN's learning approach and helps families understand the admissions process and what comes next.
ISN offers two scholarships: scholarships for English speakers and scholarships for children of ISN staff. The scholarship program provides partial tuition exemption during enrollment in Preschool, Elementary and Middle School, and does not cover the admission registration fee, facility maintenance costs, evening after-school program snack fees, event fees, shuttle bus fees, ISN T-shirt costs, or other charges.
Eligibility for English-speaker scholarships includes at least one parent from a country where English is a native language and/or English is the primary home language; availability is two students per class; eligible grades run from Preschool (3-year-old class) through Middle School Grade 9. The application period opens with the acceptance of admission forms and closes once capacity is reached, with final eligibility determined through an interview. To apply, families should contact the campus with the subject line “Application for the 2025-2026 ISN Scholarship Program”; sibling discounts are not applicable if multiple siblings apply.
Eligibility for Scholarships for ISN staff children requires at least one parent to be a full-time ISN employee; availability is two students per class; eligible grades run from Preschool through Middle School Grade 9. The application period opens with the acceptance of admission forms and closes once capacity is reached, and final decisions are made by the school on a 1-by-1 basis.
International School of Nagano (ISN) is a private international school with campuses in Matsumoto, Nagano, Nakano, and Shimauchi. It serves preschool through middle school and follows an IB continuum with the Japanese National Curriculum. Preschools and Elementary participate in the IB Primary Years Programme, while Middle School aligns with the Japanese Junior High Curriculum with IGCSE options. Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme are delivered in English, French, or Spanish, providing a pathway to university overseas or in Japan. Distinctive feature is the PIC Program, a four-year middle school pathway beginning in Grade 6 that blends project-, inquiry-, and concept-based learning in English and Japanese. Sustainable Library at Gojo Campus and National Geographic Lift Curriculum support research literacy. Outdoor education is central through Activities in the Nature of Shinshu and seasonal trips, including Sports Day and Hakuba excursions. ISN emphasizes bilingual staff and community engagement to connect students with Shinshu's environment.
