
Moving to Tokyo is challenging even without throwing the delicate, albeit arduous, task of finding childcare into the mix. Moving internationally (and to Tokyo no less!) with young children can be difficult for a whole host of reasons and we at Tokyo Portfolio want to help take some of that weight off of your shoulders by making a list of some of the best expat-friendly childcare services and international daycares in Tokyo. We’ve covered a couple different parts of the city and there’s something for every budget, so there’s something for everyone!
The factors we’ve taken into consideration in making our recommendations are language, location, flexibility, and cost. Language referring to the availability of multilingual staff, with particular emphasis on English-speaking staff. We’ve also considered the location of the schools, making sure to find those in areas that many of our clients prefer and close to expat community hubs in Tokyo. When working as an expat there’s usually more than one time-zone we need to consider so we’ve tried to include childcare services that are accommodating and flexible. The final factor that we’ve taken into consideration is the price, we’ve included the range (at time of writing) for each service below so you can make an informed decision for you and your family.
Note: many of the schools have multiple campuses, be sure to check if there are branches near you.
1. Tokyo YMCA Kids Garden – Koto

Location: Koto, Toyo
Key Features:
- Language: English-speaking environment, with a focus on providing a global perspective.
- Curriculum: Strong emphasis on educational play, child-led exploration, and social interaction. They also integrate basic Japanese language skills into the curriculum.
- Age Range: 2 years to 5 years.
- Price Range: ¥100,000 – ¥150,000 per month.
- Opening Hours: 9:45am~2:45pm
- TEL: 03-6666-1166
2. Tokyo Kids Club – Minato

Location: Minato, Minami Azabu
Key Features:
- Language: English-speaking staff with Japanese immersion options.
- Curriculum: Focuses on an internationally recognized, play-based curriculum that encourages curiosity and creativity.
- Age Range: 1 to 6 years.
- Price Range: Ticket system
- 8 tickets:¥75,000
- Opening Hours: 9am-2pm
- TEL: 03-3440-6816
3. Ohana International School – Minato

Location: Minato, Minami Azabu
Key Features:
- Language: English-only environment.
- Curriculum: Follows a play-based curriculum with an emphasis on developing social skills, creativity, and language acquisition. The center fosters a strong sense of community among children and parents alike.
- Age Range: 1 to 6 years.
- Opening Hours: 8:00am-6:00pm
- TEL: 03-3408-8888
- Email: of**********@sc***********.com
4. Tamagawa International Preschool – Setagaya

Location: Setagaya, Tsurumaki
Key Features:
- Language: Bilingual Japanese-English program.
- Curriculum: Offers a well-rounded, IB-based curriculum combining Japanese and Western educational philosophies, encouraging children to engage with both languages and cultures.
- Age Range: 1 to 5 years.
- Price Range: ¥158,400 per month.
- Opening Hours: 9:30am-3:00pm
- TEL: 03-3439-8685
5. Eton House – Minato

Location: Minato, Roppongi near Midtown
Key Features:
- Language: English-speaking and bilingual options available.
- Curriculum: A Mandarin and English bilingual environment focused on enquiry based learning. They attempt to develop each child and encourage their curiosity. They also provide extended daycare from 2pm~6pm.
- Age Range: 1 to 6 years.
- Price Range:
- one time registration: ¥220,000
- annually: ¥1,600,000~2,600,000
- Tel: 03-6804-3322
- Email: en*****@et*******.jp
6. Tokyo International School Kindergarten and Afterschool – Meguro

Location: Nakameugro
Key Features:
- Language: English-only environment.
- Curriculum: Focuses on international early childhood education with a holistic approach to developing social, cognitive, and emotional skills. The school encourages creativity and self-expression.
- Age Range: 3 to 12 years.
- Price Range:
- Application fee: ¥30,000
- Building fee: ¥150,000
- K to 2: ¥2,850,000
- TEL: 03-3791-4684
7. Kids on Air (Preschool)– Nihonbashi/Shibuya

Location: Nihonbashi/Tomigaya
Key Features:
- Language: English-speaking staff.
- Curriculum: Focuses on creative play, language development, and cultural awareness, with an emphasis on helping children develop confidence and independence. They have multiple locations for their international school classrooms.
- Age Range: 2 to 10 years
- Operating Hours: 9am-5pm (preschool) 2pm-7pm
- TEL: 03-3527-3928
- Email: in*****@ko**********.com
8. Montessori School of Tokyo (MST) – Minato

Location: Minato, near Azabu-Juban Station
Key Features:
- Language: English-speaking, with Japanese language immersion options.
- Curriculum: Follows the internationally recognized Montessori method, which emphasizes child-led learning, independence, and hands-on experiences. Children engage with a mix of individualized and group activities designed to develop critical thinking, motor skills, and social behavior.
- Age Range: 1 to 15 years.
- Price Range:
- Application fee: ¥30,000
- Registration fees: ¥165~385,000
- Building development fee: ¥330~605,000
- 5 days a week, annual: ¥2,824,800
9. The American Club Childcare Services – Minato

Location: Minato, near Roppongi
Key Features:
- Language: English-only environment, designed primarily for American and other English-speaking expatriates.
- Curriculum: Offers a play-based learning approach focused on developing emotional, social, and cognitive skills through structured and unstructured activities. The American Club’s childcare services are closely tied to the club’s wider mission of supporting expatriate families in Tokyo.
- Age Range: 3 months to 7 years.
- Price Range: Membership required (around ¥350,000 annually) plus daycare fees, which range from ¥80,000 to ¥120,000 per month depending on age and schedule.
- Opening Hours:
- 9am~5pm
- After-hours service (5pm~9pm): Members: ¥2,200 yen per hour; Guests: ¥2,800 per hour
- TEL: 03-4588-0701
- Email: ch*******@ta******.org“>ch*******@ta******.org
10. ASIJ Early Learning Center (ELC) – Roppongi

Location: Roppongi, near Roppongi Hills
Key Features:
- Language: English-only environment.
- Curriculum: ASIJ’s Early Learning Center follows an inquiry-based approach to learning, encouraging children to ask questions and explore their world in a structured yet flexible environment. The curriculum supports development in areas such as literacy, numeracy, and social skills, all tailored to meet the individual needs of each child.
- Age Range: 2 to 5 years.
- One-time Fees
- Application Fees: ¥50,000 (non-refundable)
- Registration Fee ¥300,000 (non-refundable)
- Building Maintenance Fee ¥1,525,000 (non-refundable)
- Annual Fees
- Capital Assessment ¥250,000 (non-refundable)
- Nursery–Pre-K: ¥2,845,000
11. Tokyo Children’s Garden – Minato

Location: Minato, near Arisugawa Park
Key Features:
- Language: English-only environment.
- Curriculum: Tokyo Children’s Garden offers a bilingual, play-based curriculum designed to nurture children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development. Informed by the Reggio Emilia model, they encourage learning through hands-on activities, including arts, music, and outdoor exploration, children engage in a well-rounded learning experience that emphasizes curiosity, cooperation, and respect for others
- Age Range: 18 months to 6 years
- Opening Hours:
- 8:30am~2:30pm
- After-hours service (5pm~9pm): Members: ¥2,200 yen per hour; Guests: ¥2,800 per hour
- TEL: 03-6721-9336
- Email: in**@to******************.com
As you can see there’s something for everyone, and of course there are plenty we haven’t mentioned (namely those specialising in other languages such as French for example). We hope we’ve provided some useful information and this list helps you find the childcare right for you and your family.