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IB Curriculum International Schools in Japan

Compare 60 IB Curriculum international schools in Japan. Filter by curriculum, fees (average JPY 2,190,196), location, and more to find the right international school now.

Edited by · B2C Marketing Manager

Schools listed
60
Curricula
23
Average annual fee
JPY 2,190,196
Fee range
JPY 25,000 – 7,455,000
More school facts
Most common curriculum
IB (PYP) (50 schools)
Average school size
540 pupils
Largest by enrolment
NUCB International Junior and Senior High School
Oldest
Saint Maur International School (1872)
With boarding
7
About international schools in Japan

IB international schools in Japan are schools that deliver one or more International Baccalaureate programmes (Primary Years, Middle Years, Diploma and, increasingly, Career-related), and many aim to offer an IB continuum from early years through to university preparation. These schools are most commonly English-medium but frequently include structured Japanese language tuition or run bilingual/dual-language pathways alongside English instruction. Annual tuition in the Greater Tokyo area is commonly in the low-to-mid millions of yen, with markedly lower headline fees at smaller regional IB schools and additional one-off enrolment or development levies to budget for. Admissions are a mix of fixed annual intake dates and rolling entry; popular year groups can fill and use waiting lists, so families generally start enquiries and applications many months before their intended start date.

Read our parent's guide to the IB Curriculum →

30 international schools in Tokyo

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8 international schools in Nagoya

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5 international schools in Osaka

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4 international schools in Kobe

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2 international schools in Kyoto

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2 international schools in Nagano

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2 international schools in Sendai

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2 international schools in Hiroshima

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1 international school in Tsukuba

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1 international school in Okinawa

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1 international school in Fukuoka

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1 international school in Chikushino

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1 international school in Matsumoto

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FAQs for Japan

What IB programmes will my child encounter in Japan and at what ages do they run?
The IB offers four programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for early years and primary, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for roughly ages 11 - 16, the Diploma Programme (DP) for the 16 - 19 age band and the Career-related Programme (CP) for older secondary students pursuing vocational options. Many Japanese IB schools advertise one or more of these programmes and some schools work to provide a seamless PYP - MYP - DP continuum, but availability varies by school and campus.
Will lessons be taught in English or Japanese?
Most international IB schools in Japan teach primarily in English, but Japanese language and culture are commonly taught as dedicated subjects and many schools offer bilingual or dual-language models where parts of the curriculum are delivered in Japanese. If maintaining or gaining Japanese language fluency is important, look for schools that publish a clear language-allocation policy and examples of classroom practice rather than relying on general “bilingual” labels.
How much should we budget for fees at an IB international school in Japan?
Fees vary widely by city and school size, but as a practical benchmark many established international schools in Tokyo publish annual tuition in the roughly ¥2.0 - 3.8 million band, while regional IB schools (for example in Osaka, Yokohama or Kobe) often list lower headline tuition and smaller one-off charges. Always check the published fee schedule for division-specific tuition, one-time enrolment or development levies, and likely extras such as lunches, transport and examination charges.
When should we apply and what does the admissions process usually involve?
Begin school enquiries as early as 6 - 12 months before the desired start, because some schools use fixed intake rounds while others accept applications on a rolling basis and place children on waiting lists when groups are full. Expect to submit prior school reports and passports, pay an application fee, and for children to attend an age-appropriate assessment and an interview (or observation/play session for younger children); for older applicants there may be subject tests and a formal interview.
If we plan to return to the Japanese public system, will an IB international school satisfy compulsory-education requirements?
Not automatically. Many international schools in Japan are classified outside the School Education Act’s Article-1 ‘ichijo-ko’ category, so attendance at a non-Article-1 international school does not fulfil the legal compulsory-education requirement for Japanese nationals. Families who expect to return to the Japanese public system should check a school’s legal status and any accreditation it holds, and discuss transition and recognition with their local education board well before enrolment.