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Japan, Nagoya
Let the school know you're thinking of applying — they can share their prerequisites and help you through the process.
It's best to ask — circumstances can change at any time.
1. Determine the target program and verify capacity. Sunnyside International School offers a Kindergarten program (including a 3-year-old class and a 4–5-year-old class) and a Primary program. The 3-year-old Kindergarten class has a published capacity of 72 students, while the 4–5-year-old class capacity is not published and requires direct confirmation. The Primary section lists a 1st Grade capacity of 24 students, with other grades to be confirmed.
2. Prepare and submit the application, and note initial fees. For Kindergarten, the application fee is ¥5,000 at submission and the registration fee is ¥50,000; uniforms and learning resources are roughly ¥35,000. The monthly Kindergarten tuition is ¥34,300, with optional bus service at ¥5,000 round trip or ¥3,000 one-way, and an annual learning material fee of ¥15,000. For Primary, the application fee is ¥5,000 and the registration fee is ¥50,000 for Sunnyside Kindergarten graduates or ¥100,000 for others; uniforms are around ¥10,000; monthly tuition is ¥50,000, bus fees are the same as Kindergarten, and the annual learning material fee is ¥30,000 (in two installments).
3. Review ongoing costs and plan payment, including subsidies and discounts. Kindergarten monthly tuition is ¥34,300, with bus costs as above; an annual learning material fee is ¥15,000. Primary monthly tuition is ¥50,000, with a bus cost of ¥5,000 round trip or ¥3,000 one-way, and an annual learning material fee of ¥30,000 (two installments). A government subsidy is applied to all 3–5-year-old children, and Sunnyside offers a 20% sibling discount when two siblings attend together.
4. Consider transportation and logistics. The school offers a bus service where applicable; the bus fee applies to users only. Bus service areas can change each school year, and you may need to bring your child to the nearest bus stop if you reside outside the service area. The Primary bus departs from JR Gifu Station, which may influence planning for morning drop-off and pickup.
5. Engage with the Open Campus program for an on-site experience. The Admissions section includes an Open Campus option, described as a way to visit the campus and learn about the program; details and sign-up information are communicated via the site and inquiry channels. To arrange visits or obtain the latest dates, contact Sunnyside International School by phone at 058-241-1000 or use the inquiry form.
6. Enrollment and starting procedures after acceptance. Enrollment requires completing the applicable registration and paying the associated fees, along with ongoing tuition, bus, and learning-material charges as outlined above. A 20% sibling discount applies when two siblings attend together. For any questions about timelines, timelines, or specific enrollment steps, reach the school at 058-241-1000 or via the inquiry form.
There is no published waitlist or pool policy described in the admissions pages. Capacity information is published for each program (e.g., Kindergarten 3-year-old class capacity 72; 1st Grade Primary capacity 24), but no formal waitlist process is outlined. Parents may need to contact the school directly for guidance on spot availability and timing.
No scholarship program is described on the admissions or tuition-related pages. The published information covers application and registration fees, uniform and learning-resource costs, monthly tuition, bus charges, and material fees, plus a 20% sibling discount and a government-subsidy note for 3–5-year-olds. There is no separate scholarship section listed.
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.
