The Montessori School of Tokyo

The Montessori School of Tokyo operates across three campuses in Minato Ward, Tokyo: Forest Campus at 3-5-13 Minami Azabu, Orchard Campus at 2-1-18 Minami Azabu, and Grove Campus in the Azabu Juban area. Forest and Orchard are within easy reach of Hiroo Station on the Hibiya Line and Azabu Juban Station on the Nanboku/Oedo Lines; Grove is a short walk from Azabu Juban Station. All campuses are situated in central Tokyo's Minami-Azabu/Azabu Juban corridor.

The school serves children from 18 months (Little People) through 15 years old, with programmes for Sunshine (ages 3–5), Lower Elementary (ages 6–8), Upper Elementary (ages 9–11), and Middle School (ages 12–14). An Adolescent Program for ages 15–18 is part of the school's long‑term planning and offerings. Adolescents up to 18 are addressed under the MST framework as the next stage after Middle School.

The Montessori School of Tokyo is a co‑educational international Montessori program. It does not offer a boarding facility; families reside at home with a parent or guardian as the school does not sponsor student visas. The school emphasizes gender balance in classes and strives for inclusive access across the community.

The school has an international community representing around 30 countries; there is no published local-to-international student ratio. The school emphasizes English-language communications and a diverse mix of nationalities among families.

SEN (Special Educational Needs) support is limited: classrooms can accommodate a limited number of children with mild SEN, but the school is not currently accepting new students with SEN. The school employs a Learning Support Specialist to support eligible students.

There is no formal country affiliation for MST. The school describes an international community representing around 30 countries, rather than alignment with a single nation.

There is no religious affiliation. MST admits students of any religion and supports an inclusive, faith-free framework for the student body.

Exact daily start and end times are not published, but the MST Bus Service operates in the morning with stops that may depart around 7:30 a.m. and target arrival at Grove around 8:20 a.m. to Forest around 8:25 a.m.; there is no return bus after the school day, and students are dismissed by the regular dismissal system. Lunch arrangements include Upper Elementary and Eucalyptus students eating in the Grove Rooftop Garden.

The MST Bus Service runs on regular school days and is available to 2025–2026 Elementary and Middle School students; Sunshine students may be eligible after teacher approval. The bus is supervised by an MST adult in addition to the driver. Routes include Akasaka Park Building, Lions Mansion Takanawa, and Park Tower Shibaura; if all stops are in use, departures occur between 7:30 a.m. and 8:25 a.m., and there is no return trip at the end of the day. Registration is via the school's contact channels.

The Montessori School of Tokyo offers five age-based programs: Little People (18 months–3 years), Sunshine (3–6), Elementary (6–12, with Lower Elementary 6–9 and Upper Elementary 9–12), Middle School (12–15), and an emerging Upper Adolescent/High School program for ages 15–18. The Elementary curriculum centers on Cosmic Education and the Great Lessons, with an individually paced, interdisciplinary approach and a three-hour morning work cycle. The Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary stages cover language, history, geography, biology, and mathematics through hands-on Montessori materials, as detailed in the MST Elementary Curriculum (6–12) document. The environment is multi-age and the prepared environment is designed to foster independence, with freedom within limits and teacher guidance. The school uses English as the language of instruction, with Japanese language materials available in classrooms across the programs. The Middle School program emphasizes adolescent development through seminars, debates, and real-world projects, with ongoing plans for a 15–18 Upper Adolescent/High School program.

The Montessori School of Tokyo supports social and emotional learning (SEL) through the Sunshine program for ages 3-6, which fosters concentration and self-regulation; a freedom-within-limits approach provides ongoing support when students struggle, and a Learning Support Specialist is dedicated to student wellness.

MST classrooms can accommodate a limited number of children with relatively mild Special Educational Needs (developmental, behavioural, and academic); currently MST is not accepting new students with SEN, and a Learning Support Specialist supports eligible students.

The school does not publicly disclose English as an Additional Language (EAL) provision; however, MST states that a majority of children in each class are native speakers or fluent in English.

MST supports mental wellbeing through the Learning Support Specialist focusing on student wellness; the MST Gardens and library/Multipurpose Room provide spaces for study, relaxation, and socializing.

MST has a Student Protection Policy with a designated Child Protection Officer and clear reporting obligations; staff must report suspected abuse and there are procedures for escalation and safeguarding, including incident reporting and coordination with authorities.

1. Admissions Process (Tokyo/on-site path) The process begins when you submit the Enquiry and the online Application Form, including an application fee of 30,000 yen. You must also provide Progress Reports and Recommendation Letters if you have previously attended other schools; translations are required if any reports are not in English. This initial step starts the formal review, and your materials will be screened as part of the admissions decision.

2. Document Screening The Admissions team reviews your application together with the Progress Reports and Recommendations to assess fit and completeness. This step ensures that all required materials are in order and that the family and student meet the basic criteria for admission. You should expect a determination based on the documentation before moving to the next stage.

3. Notification of Document Screening Status After the document review, families are informed of the screening outcome. If the documents pass screening, you will be invited to the next stages of the process. If additional information is needed, you may be asked to supply it at this point.

4. Student Visit and Parent Interview The next step involves a Student Visit in a classroom with MST faculty and a Parent Interview with a member of the Admissions team. For the Little People programme, the Student Visit may be postponed if the child is not yet old enough to participate informatively. This stage provides firsthand observation of the child in a Montessori setting and a chance for families to ask questions.

5. Notification of Admissions Status Families receive a formal admissions decision after the interview and visit. This notification confirms whether the family has been offered a place in the school. In all cases, the decision is communicated to the family with any next steps and timelines.

6. Additional Notes (Tokyo residents) If you are visiting Tokyo and progressing through Steps 1–4, the parent interview is conducted in person, and the School News and Updates page notes that even families passing document screening may not be invited to a Student Visit or Parent Interview immediately due to capacity constraints. Admission timelines can thus vary.

Non-Tokyo Residents (alternate path) 7) Non-Tokyo process start The process for families not able to visit Tokyo begins with Steps 1–4 as described above, but the Parent Interview is held by video conference. This accommodates applicants who are outside Tokyo during the initial stages.

8. Provisional Admissions Status (non-Tokyo path) If you are not immediately able to relocate, you may receive a Provisional Admissions Status after the document screening and video interview. This provisional status allows for continued consideration while arranging relocation. The family will be notified of provisional status, and further steps follow once relocation is completed.

9. Student Visit after Relocation (non-Tokyo path) After the family relocates to Tokyo, the Student Visit is held in a MST classroom. This visit occurs once the family is in the country and reachable for enrollment within the current academic year.

10. Notification of Final Admissions Status (non-Tokyo path) Final admissions status is issued after the Student Visit, completing the formal decision process for those admitted via the non-Tokyo path.

Notes: The school reports that spaces open irregularly and that capacity constraints may affect invitation timing for Student Visits or Parent Interviews. This means that even applicants who pass documentation may experience delays in in-person visits. Current siblings and other admissions priorities are described in the eligibility criteria.

3) Scholarships The Montessori School of Tokyo offers need-based scholarships to support a diverse student body. Scholarships are intended to cover a portion of annual tuition and are not awarded for the total cost of tuition. Awards are granted for up to three years from initial admission, with annual reviews of financial circumstances and participation in the MST community. The scholarship program is currently funded for an initial three-year period (academic years 2026-2027 through 2029-2030), with priority given to students entering the Middle and High School programmes, though students of any age may apply.

How to apply and deadlines
- To apply, families should email scholarship@montessorijapan.com to indicate which child is applying and why, then complete the online scholarship application form. Supporting financial documentation in English or Japanese must be provided. Examples of acceptable documents include tax statements and employer income letters. The Scholarship Committee will determine award amounts based on funds available, family financial needs, enrollment patterns, and other factors; there is no appeal process for the decision. Current-year deadlines included: for current MST students, applications were due by Friday, December 5, 2025; for new applicants, deadlines are described in the program materials and are issued by the committee. Awards are applied to tuition in equal installments according to the payment frequency.

2) Waitlist/Pool The Montessori School of Tokyo does not publish a formal waitlist. Spaces open up on occasion at most age levels, reflecting the school's capacity and student distribution. Current students' siblings may receive priority, and the school aims to balance age, gender, language, and Montessori experience when admitting new students. If openings are not available, families may remain in the admissions database while updates occur. Please note that even after documentation screening, some families may not be invited to a Student Visit in the short term due to capacity constraints.