International schools
School Guide
For most relocating executives, the school shortlist decides the neighborhood shortlist — not the other way around. Below are the schools most often named by TokyoExpat clients, grouped loosely by ward. Fees, curricula and admissions requirements change; always confirm current details directly with the school.
Nishimachi International School
西町インターナショナルスクール · Moto-Azabu, Minato-ku
Ages
5–15
K–9 · Non-Sectarian
Annual Tuition≈¥2.3M–3.0M/yr
AdmissionWell-established, steady demand — apply 6–12 months ahead
Founded in 1949, Nishimachi is one of Tokyo's oldest and most established international schools — a compact, neighborhood-feel K–9 day school in the heart of Moto-Azabu, a short walk from the U.S. Embassy. Instruction is in English with daily Japanese language study for every student.
International School of the Sacred Heart
聖心インターナショナルスクール（ISSH） · Hiroo, Shibuya-ku
Ages
3–18
K–12 · Girls (Coed K)
Annual Tuition≈¥2.6M–2.9M/yr
AdmissionHighly competitive, girls-only from Gr.1 — apply 12+ months ahead
A Catholic, English-medium K–12 school for girls in Hiroo (coeducational Kindergarten only), founded in 1908 and long favored by Tokyo's international diplomatic and business community. Note: this is a distinct institution from 聖心女子学院 in Shirokane, which is a Japanese-medium school for Japanese nationals — the two are frequently confused.
Tokyo International School
東京インターナショナルスクール（TIS） · Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku
Ages
5–17
K–11 · IB Continuum
Annual Tuition≈¥2.8M–4.0M/yr
AdmissionRising demand as TIS expands to full K–12 — apply early
A fully authorized IB World School offering the complete PYP–MYP–DP continuum, currently based in Minami-Azabu. TIS is expanding to a full K–12 offering with Grade 12 added for the 2026/27 academic year, alongside a planned campus relocation to the Takanawa Gateway City development near Shinagawa — worth confirming directly with the school for families planning multi-year enrollment.
The British School in Tokyo
ブリティッシュスクール・イン・東京（BST） · Azabudai Hills (Early Years) · Showa Campus, Setagaya (Secondary)
Ages
3–18
N–Y13 · British Curriculum
Annual Tuition≈¥2.2M–3.5M/yr
AdmissionLarge, scaled campus — more capacity than legacy schools, but popular years fill early
Tokyo's largest British-curriculum school, teaching the English National Curriculum through IGCSE and A-Levels. Nursery through Year 6 are taught at the Azabudai Hills campus, which opened in 2023; Year 7 through Year 13 attend the Showa Campus inside Showa Women's University in Setagaya-ku.
Oakwood Tokyo International School
オークウッド東京インターナショナルスクール · Nakamachi, Setagaya-ku
Ages
0.8–10
Nursery–Elementary · IB PYP Candidate
Annual TuitionContact school directly
AdmissionNew elementary program (opened 2025) — capacity still expanding
An English-medium nursery, preschool and early-elementary school in Nakamachi, near Kaminoge Station in Setagaya-ku. Oakwood is an IB PYP Candidate School, offers onsite care from 10 months old, and runs a school bus service for families across Setagaya-ku.
St. Mary's International School
セントメリーズ・インターナショナルスクール · Seta, Setagaya-ku
Ages
5–18
K–12 · Boys
Annual Tuition≈¥2.7M–3.05M/yr
AdmissionHighly competitive, boys-only — apply 12+ months ahead
A Catholic Marianist K–12 school for boys on a spacious 9-acre campus in Setagaya, founded in 1954 and one of Tokyo's longest-established international schools. Offers an American-model curriculum through Advanced Placement.
Seisen International School
清泉インターナショナルスクール · Yoga, Setagaya-ku
Ages
2–18
K–12 · Girls (Coed K) · IB
Annual TuitionContact school directly
AdmissionOne of Tokyo's four legacy schools (with ASIJ, Sacred Heart, St Mary's) — highly competitive
An all-girls Catholic school (coeducational Montessori Kindergarten) in the Yoga district of Setagaya, offering the full IB continuum since 1986 — one of the first girls' schools in Asia to do so. Frequently ranked alongside ASIJ, Sacred Heart and St. Mary's as one of Tokyo's four longest-established international schools.
K. International School Tokyo
ケイ・インターナショナルスクール東京（KIST） · Shirakawa, Koto-ku
Ages
3–18
K1–G12 · IB Continuum
Annual Tuition≈¥2.1M–2.6M/yr
AdmissionStrong IB results drive demand — apply 6–12 months ahead
A fully authorized IB World School (PYP, an original Lower Secondary Programme, IGCSE, and DP) near Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station, about 3km east of Tokyo Station. KIST has consistently posted some of the highest IB Diploma results of any school in Japan.
Aoba-Japan International School
青葉インターナショナルスクール · Meguro Campus (Early Years) · Hikarigaoka & Bunkyo (Elementary–G12)
Ages
1.5–18
Multi-campus · IB Continuum
Annual TuitionContact school directly
AdmissionMulti-campus capacity eases some pressure vs. single-campus legacy schools
The Meguro campus, in the quiet Aobadai neighborhood, serves children from 18 months through Kindergarten. Elementary through Grade 9 continues at the Hikarigaoka campus in Nerima-ku, with Grades 10–12 at the Bunkyo campus — worth mapping carefully against a family's long-term commute plans before committing to a neighborhood.
The American School in Japan (ASIJ)
アメリカンスクール・イン・ジャパン · Early Learning Center, Roppongi (N–K) · Main Campus, Chofu (K–12)
Ages
3–18
N–12 · American, AP
Annual Tuition≈¥2.7M–4.0M+/yr
AdmissionTokyo's largest, most established American school — long waitlists at popular grade levels
Tokyo's largest and best-known American-curriculum school, founded in 1902. The Early Learning Center in Roppongi serves nursery through kindergarten; the main K–12 campus is in Chofu, well outside central Tokyo, reached via ASIJ's own extensive school bus network from multiple points across the city. Families considering ASIJ for elementary school onward should confirm current bus routes and stop locations before finalizing a neighborhood.
Side-by-side comparison
Fees, Curriculum & Commute
Approximate figures compiled from published 2025–2026 fee schedules and third-party aggregators as of mid-2026 — schools revise tuition annually, and several don't publish fees at all. Always confirm the current schedule directly with the school before budgeting.
| School | Ages | Curriculum | Annual Tuition (approx.) | Nearest Station / Commute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minato — 港区 | ||||
| Nishimachi | 5–15 | Non-Sectarian, American Common Core | ≈¥2.3M–3.0M | Moto-Azabu — no bus; walk from Hiroo/Azabu Juban |
| Tokyo International School | 5–17 | IB Continuum (PYP/MYP/DP) | ≈¥2.8M–4.0M | Minami-Azabu — relocating to Takanawa Gateway City |
| The British School in Tokyo | 3–18 | British National Curriculum, IGCSE, A-Level | ≈¥2.2M–3.5M | Azabudai Hills (N–Y6) · Showa Campus, Setagaya (Y7–13) |
| ASIJ Early Learning Center | 3–6 | American, AP (main campus) | ≈¥2.7M–4.0M+ | Roppongi (ELC) — main K–12 campus is Chofu, bus network |
| Shibuya — 渋谷区 | ||||
| International School of the Sacred Heart | 3–18 | Catholic, US/UK/Canada/Australia | ≈¥2.6M–2.9M | Hiroo Station — 3 min walk |
| Setagaya — 世田谷区 | ||||
| St. Mary's International School | 5–18 | Catholic, American, AP | ≈¥2.7M–3.05M | Seta — school bus network across Setagaya & central Tokyo |
| Seisen International School | 2–18 | Catholic, IB Continuum | Contact school | Yoga Station — 12 min from Shibuya (Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line) |
| Oakwood Tokyo | 0.8–10 | IB PYP Candidate | Contact school | Kaminoge Station — school bus across Setagaya-ku |
| Koto — 江東区 | ||||
| K. International School Tokyo | 3–18 | IB Continuum, IGCSE | ≈¥2.1M–2.6M | Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station (Oedo/Hanzomon lines) |
| Meguro — 目黒区 | ||||
| Aoba-Japan (Meguro Campus) | 1.5–6 | IB Continuum (early years) | Contact school | Aobadai — elementary onward moves to Hikarigaoka, Nerima-ku |
Yasuhiro's take
Most families narrow their housing search by school first, then work backward to buildings within a realistic commute or bus-stop radius. If you already have a school in mind — or are still comparing two or three — I'm happy to map out which TokyoExpat listings actually make sense once you've settled on a shortlist.