While a transfer to Tokyo often represents a critical opportunity for an expat to gain valuable overseas experience, especially for families with school-age children, relocating to a new school on the other side of the world can be a daunting prospect and the source of much anxiety.
To ease this fear, remember that Tokyo has 47 international schools. Thus, by doing your homework up front, you and your children should be able to find just the right choice for either a short or long-term assignment in Japan.
Key Considerations for Choosing an International School in Tokyo
Choosing the right school for your child is one of the most important decisions a parent can make. The options for international schools in Tokyo can be overwhelming, and knowing where to start cannot be easy.
In this section, we will guide you through key considerations that will help you make an informed decision and ensure that your child receives a high-quality education tailored to their needs.
From academic programs to facilities and extracurricular activities, we will provide a comprehensive overview of what to look for when selecting the best international school in Tokyo for your child.
Range of Ages
Not all international schools in Tokyo provide instruction for pre-Kindergarten through 12th-grade students. Most, in fact, only provide instruction for younger students—usually pre-K through elementary school and sometimes middle school.
Only a handful of international schools provide instruction at the high school level. Thus, if your kids are very young and you plan to be in Japan for a long-time, for consistency, you may want to consider enrolling them at an international school where they could remain through the end of high school.
That said, international schools tend to be very receptive environments, and it is common for kids to come and go all the time. Thus, new students generally find it easier to fit into a new school and quickly make new friends—even when moving in the middle of the school year.
Some international families send their children to the local Japanese elementary school near their home while “home-schooling” them in their native language until middle school.
Similarly, for those who can afford it, a popular choice for many international families who live in the center of Tokyo is the exclusive Nishimachi International School for elementary and middle school.
Many students from Nishimachi subsequently transfer to the American School in Japan (ASIJ) or another international school for middle and high school.
Curriculum
Given how young children tend to be flexible learners and are generally able to adapt to most situations with ease, the case can be made that most of the international schools in Tokyo can provide a good learning environment for most students—at least through elementary school.
However, the curriculum becomes more critical when your child reaches middle school, and it can make a major difference in the ease of getting into college when choosing a high school.
For most English speakers, the major options include schools that use the International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme (DP), an American High School Diploma curriculum, or a British curriculum.
While it is possible to gain acceptance at a university or college in the U.S. having graduated from a high school that uses an IB program, it can sometimes be a little easier for American undergraduate institutions to judge academic high school performance based upon a traditional American high school curriculum. The curriculum can also factor in gaining college credit for advanced placement (AP) test results.
Similarly, suppose the intention is to have your children enter a university in the U.K. In that case, it may be more advantageous to have them attend an international high school in Japan based on either a British curriculum or an IB program.
The bottom line is that virtually any combination is possible when gaining entrance to a university. To assess your situation, it is recommended to consult the college placement team at each international high school under consideration.
Location
International schools are scattered all around the Tokyo Metropolitan Area.
The British School in Tokyo (BST) has multiple campuses close to the city center. It will soon be opening a brand-new campus for younger children in the new Toranomon-Azabudai development from September 2023.
St. Mary’s International School for boys is located in the popular, upscale residential area of Setagaya-ku.
In January 2022, Yokohama International School (YIS) opened a brand-new campus in Yokohama, Japan’s second-largest city and also home to many expats who commute to work in Tokyo but want a bit of space at home than is typically available in a residential property in Tokyo.
Do not worry if you cannot find housing within walking distance of the school. It is common for relatively young children to commute to school by train or bus.
One of the largest and most popular international schools, The American School in Japan (ASIJ), has an expansive campus located on the outskirts of Tokyo but runs an extensive school bus service with multiple routes that crisscross the middle of the city.
Facilities
The campuses of the international schools highlighted in this article are all top-notch (or about to move into a brand-new facility). However, they may be more compact than what your child has experienced outside Japan.
As you can imagine, space is at a premium in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. Thus, a general rule of thumb is that the closer to the city center you go, the less space is available for the grounds, which can, naturally, be a limiting factor for some sports.
Be prepared to make a trade-off between convenience and the size of the school’s physical layout.
Other Considerations
Some international schools like St. Mary’s, which is only for boys, or its neighboring counterpart for girls, Seisen International School, are gender-segregated and faith-based.
The Tokyo International Progressive School (TIPS) curriculum has been designed for “students who benefit from an alternative, tailored education…with mild learning differences with academic, emotional, and social challenges.”
While thus far we have focused on international schools that provide instruction in English, there are also international schools that cater to students that speak languages other than English, such as The Lycée Français International de Tokyo (LFI), which provides instruction in French, Deutsche Schule Tokyo Yokohama (DYST), which is the oldest German school in East Asia, and India International School in Japan (IISJ), which is moving to a brand-new campus in the Koto area of Tokyo in April 2023.
Cost
All of the international schools listed here are private teaching institutions, and the tuition is, in general, not inexpensive.
Annual tuition varies, but some schools at the high end of the range can cost more than 3 million yen (approximately US $25,000) per year.
There will be additional fees for school supplies, athletic uniforms, etc. High school fees are generally slightly more expensive than the tuition for the lower grades.
Also, remember that the cost of local transportation by bus is usually a separate charge and can be substantial (e.g., 367,500 yen ($2,850) per year for ASIJ students).
Making Friends and Fitting-in
Before any big move—especially one across oceans—it is natural for both you and your children to be concerned about the ability to make new friends in Japan.
While each child is different, in most cases —even when the transfer is done during the middle of an academic year—most students experience no problems fitting in right away.
This is because their peers are used to having friends come and go, and international schools take pride in their ability to be welcoming places that encourage new kids to become comfortable almost immediately.
Thanks to SNS, after spending only a few years at an international school, it would not be surprising if your son or daughter ends up with a network of friends worldwide.
11 Best International Schools in Tokyo
1. Deutsche Schule Tokyo Yokohama (DYST)
Founded in 1904, DYST is the oldest German school in East Asia. It is located in Yokohama.
The closest station is Nakamachidai on the Blue Line subway, but DYST also has a school bus service.
The primary language of instruction is German, and the school teaches according to the German curricula.
DYST has approximately 400 students ranging in age from 3 to 18. Most students come from Central Europe (primarily Germany, Switzerland, and Austria) or have one parent from Central Europe and another from Japan.
Annual fees range from 1,550,000 to 1,700,000 yen ($12,000 ~ $13,200), depending upon the grade.
2. Harrow International School Appi Japan
Founded in 2022, “Harrow Appi” is the newest member of the international network of Harrow School boarding schools worldwide that are modeled upon the Harrow School in the UK, which was established in 1572.
Its expansive grounds are located in Appi, Iwate Prefecture, in the northern part of Japan’s main Honshu Island, adjacent to the Appi Kogen Golf Club and Ski Resort. Morioka is the closest major city, approximately 50 minutes away by car or bus.
Morioka has a bullet train (shinkansen) stop, which is approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes from Tokyo Station. The primary language of instruction is English, and the school teaches according to the British international curriculum.
While Harrow Appi is just getting started and enrolled approximately 180 students in its first year, the school can accommodate more than 900 borders ranging in age from 11 to 18.
Most students come from Japan and other East Asian countries. Annual, all-inclusive fees range from 8,490,000 to 9,270,000 yen ($65,500 ~ $71,500), depending upon the grade.
3. India International School in Japan (IISJ)
Founded in 2004, IISJ is the oldest Indian school in Japan. It is located in Ojima, Koto-ku, Tokyo, and has a satellite branch in Yokohama.
As detailed above, the construction of a new Tokyo campus is underway. The closest station is Nishi-Ojima on the Shinjuku Line subway, but IISJ also has a school bus service.
The primary language of instruction is English, and the school teaches according to the IB and Indian Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curricula.
IISJ has approximately 800 students in Tokyo and another 200 in Yokohama, ranging in age from 3 to 18. Most students come from India or have one parent from India and another from Japan. Annual fees range from 610,000 to 1,220,000 yen ($4,700 ~ $9,400), depending upon the grade.
4. Nishimachi International School
Founded in 1949, Nishimachi is located in the upscale neighborhood of Moto-Azabu in central Tokyo.
The compact campus is equidistant from Hiroo (Hibiya line subway) and Azabu-Juban (Oedo-Line subway) stations. The primary language of instruction is English.
Nishimachi has approximately 460 students ranging in age from 5 to 15. Most students come from the U.S., Japan, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and South Korea or have one parent from an English-speaking country and another from Japan.
Annual fees are approximately 2,910,000 yen ($22,500).
5. Seisen International School
Founded in 1962, Seisen is a Catholic school for girls. It is located in an upscale residential neighborhood in Setagaya-ku Ward.
The closest station is Yoga on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line train, but Seisen also has a school bus service.
The primary language of instruction is English, and the school teaches according to the IB curriculum.
Seisen has approximately 650 students ranging in age from 3 to 18. Most students come from Japan, but the student body has representation from more than 50 nationalities. Also, many students have one parent from an English-speaking country and another from Japan.
Annual fees range from 2,130,000 to 2,270,000 yen ($16,500 ~ $17,500), depending upon the grade.
6. St. Mary’s International School
Founded in 1954, St. Mary’s is a Catholic school for boys. It is located in an upscale residential neighborhood Setagaya-ku Ward.
The closest station is Futako-Tamagawa, at the intersection of the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line train and Tōkyū Oimachi Line train. St. Mary’s also has a school bus service.
The primary language of instruction is English, and the school teaches according to the IB curriculum. St. Mary’s has approximately 900 students aged 5 to 18.
The student body has representation from over 50 countries, and many carry two or more passports. St. Mary’s is known for its rigorous academics, sports, and music programs and recently celebrated the DODEA Far East Championship titles in tennis, basketball, and wrestling.
Annual fees range from 2,480,000 to 2,550,000 yen ($19,200 ~ $19,700), depending upon the grade.
7. The American School in Japan (ASIJ)
Founded in 1902, ASIJ is the largest international school in Japan. It is located on an expansive campus in Chofu City on the outskirts of Tokyo.
The closest station is Tama on the Tamagawa Line train, but ASIJ also has a bus service that most students use.
The primary language of instruction is English, and the school teaches according to the American curriculum.
ASIJ has approximately 1,650 students ranging in age from 3 to 18. Most students come from the U.S., but the student body has representation from more than 50 nationalities. Also, many students have one parent from an English-speaking country (mainly the U.S.) and another from Japan.
Annual fees range from 2,815,000 to 2,970,000 yen ($21,750 ~ $22,950), depending upon the grade.
8. The British School in Tokyo (BST)
Founded in 1989, BST is one of the largest international schools in Japan. It is located in Shibuya, Tokyo, near one of the busiest train stations in the country.
The closest station is Shibuya, which has numerous connections on multiple train and subway lines. BST also has a school bus service.
Also, as noted previously, BST will soon open a new campus for younger students in the new Toranomon-Azabudai development. The primary language of instruction is English, and the school teaches according to the British curriculum.
BST has approximately 1,100 students ranging in age from 3 to 18. Most students come from the U.K., U.S., Australia, and Canada or have one parent from an English-speaking country and another from Japan.
Annual fees range from 2,625,000 to 2,760,000 yen ($20,300 ~ $21,300), depending upon the grade.
9. The Lycée Français International de Tokyo (LFI)
Founded in 1975, LFI is part of the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE), administered by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is located in Takinogawa, Kita-ku, Tokyo.
The closest station is Shin-Itabashi on the Mita Line subway, but LFI also has a school bus service.
The primary language of instruction is French, and the school teaches according to the French National Curriculum. LFI has approximately 1,450 students ranging in age from 3 to 18. Most students come from France or have one parent from a French-speaking country and another from Japan.
Annual fees range from 1,095,000 to 1,272,000 yen ($8,500 ~ $9,800), depending upon the grade.
10. Tokyo International Progressive School (TIPS)
Founded in 2000, TIPS “provides alternative education for students with mild learning differences with academic, emotional, and/or social challenges.”
It is located in an upscale residential neighborhood Setagaya-ku Ward adjacent to Tamagawa Futako Bridge Park. The closest station is Futako-Tamagawa, which is at the intersection of the TokyuDen-en-toshi Line train and the Tokyu Oimachi Line train. TIPS also has a school bus service.
The primary language of instruction is English, and the school teaches according to the American curriculum. TIPS has approximately 40 students ranging in age from 9 to 18. Most students come from English-speaking countries or have one parent from an English-speaking country and another from Japan.
Annual fees are 3,121,000 yen ($24,100).
11. Yokohama International School (YIS)
Founded in 1924, YIS just moved to a brand-new campus, as noted above. It is located in Yokohama.
The closest station is Motomachi/Chukagai on the Minato-Mirai Line subway.
The primary language of instruction is English, and the school teaches according to the IB curriculum.
YIS has approximately 680 students ranging in age from 3 to 18. Most students come from English-speaking countries or have one parent from an English-speaking country and another from Japan.
Annual fees range from 2,520,000 to 3,230,000 yen ($19,500 ~ $25,000), depending upon the grade.
Besides the physical campus, international schools in Japan will expose your children to other students who often come from various cultures but share the everyday experience of attending school in Japan.
Many of these schools have active alumni associations–some of which have chapters worldwide–which help their graduates stay in touch indefinitely into the future.
