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Japanische Schule in Hamburg

Germany, Hamburg

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The school at a glance
Instructs in Japanese
Fees €7,200
Ages Not listed
Pupil numbers 64
Type Co-educational
Opened 1981
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages English, German
Strengths Languages, Outdoor Education, Sport
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Kindergarten, Primary School, Middle School
Introduction

Japanische Schule in Hamburg is a co-educational day school located in Halstenbek, Hamburg, that follows Japan's national curriculum for kindergarten through junior high, using Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology approved textbooks to ensure continuity for students transferring in or out during the year. In the German setting, it provides English and German language instruction in every grade and incorporates exchanges with local schools and field trips to develop language skills and intercultural understanding. Language classes are taught by native teachers to foster practical communication across languages. The school participates in the Ministry of Education's International Understanding Education program as a partner school, pursuing cross-cultural themes and global problem solving. The kindergarten, primary, and middle school share a single campus and engage in joint events and cross-grade activities, such as sports day, the Moine Festival, and Fasching, strengthening community. Facilities include a red-brick campus, a 13,000-book library, science, music, home economics, and art rooms, a gym, and outdoor grounds with cherry blossoms and a field.

Dockenhudener Chaussee 77-79, 25469 Halstenbek, Schleswig‑Holstein, Federal Republic of Germany

The Essentials

Japanische Schule in Hamburg has 64 pupils, instruction in Japanese.

Location
Hamburg, Germany; located in the outskirts of Hamburg in a red-brick building surrounded by greenery, in a quiet environment.

Stages
Kindergarten; Elementary School; Junior High School.

Type
Co-educational day school.

Country affiliation
Japan

School day structure
Students arrive by foot, bicycle, parent drop-off, or bus. In the morning, German language and English conversation are taught by native-speaking teachers, with other subjects taught in small classes and supported by local exchanges and off-campus activities. Lunch is shared across multiple grades, and the afternoon offers diverse learning including English experiences and writing; taiko drumming clubs are offered. The day ends with pickup by guardians or teachers.

Bus service
Bus is available as an arrival option.
Diving Deeper

Governance and Ownership
The school is operated by Japanische Schule in Hamburg e.V., a registered association. It is recognized as an overseas educational facility by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). It is a public-interest corporation (公益法人) school and receives support from the City of Hamburg and the Pinneberg district.
Fees

Annual tuition at Japanische Schule in Hamburg ranges from EUR 7,200 for 2026/27.

Application / Admission fee

- Admission fee: EUR 600 per student, payable at the time of enrollment.

Tuition fees (by division and period)

- All divisions (kindergarten/幼稚部, elementary/小学部, and junior high/中学部): tuition is EUR 600 per month (same rate across all year groups).
- Per term (the school year is divided into two terms: Apr–Sep and Oct–Mar, each covering six months): EUR 3,600 per term (calculated as EUR 600 × 6 months). (Calculation based on the monthly tuition above.)
- Annual total (12 months): EUR 7,200 per year (calculated as EUR 600 × 12 months). (Calculation based on the monthly tuition above.)

Materials, extracurricular and event costs

- Kindergarten (幼稚部) materials and off‑campus activity fee: EUR 77 per year.
- Elementary and junior high (小・中学部): textbooks, materials and off‑campus activity costs are charged at actual cost as incurred and billed when required.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Tuition is billed and collected monthly.
- Payment is collected by direct debit from a parent/guardian's bank account; a collection consent form (徴収承諾書) is required at enrollment. Charges for specific events or materials may be collected after the event or when costs are incurred.
- For transfers/withdrawals: tuition and commuting pass fees are charged from the month of enrollment for transfer students, and are collected through the month of withdrawal for students leaving the school.

Boarding fees

- Boarding is not applicable; the school operates as a day school and does not provide boarding facilities.

Other costs and requirements

- No uniform is required; there is no specific clothing regulation. Parents should provide indoor shoes for the gym.
- Certain items (e.g., watercolor set, calligraphy set, sewing kit, clay tools, harmonica, recorder, specific notebooks, skipping rope, dictionaries) are recommended or required; parents are advised to prepare some items in advance. Textbooks for the school are handled through the Overseas Children's Education Foundation in Japan.
- There is no school lunch service; students bring packed lunches.

Refund and withdrawal information

- Tuition handling on enrollment/withdrawal: for transfer (編入学) tuition is collected starting from the month of enrollment; for withdrawal (退学) tuition is collected up to and including the month of withdrawal. No separate refund schedule for the admission fee is specified.

Fee payment options

- Payment method: bank account direct debit from a parent/guardian's account (withdrawal authorization required). No other payment methods (e.g., credit card) are listed in the school's stated payment terms.
Academics

Japanische Schule in Hamburg teaches Bespoke Curriculum.

Curriculum
Education follows Japan's national curriculum for the kindergarten, elementary, and junior high divisions, using Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology approved textbooks. The program ensures continuity for students transferring in or out during the year with the same lessons and materials as in Japan. In Germany, the school leverages its international setting by providing English and German language instruction in every grade, and by incorporating exchanges with local schools and field trips to develop language skills and intercultural understanding. Language classes are taught by native teachers to foster practical communication and confidence across languages. The school emphasizes international awareness and identity as Japanese students in a global context, and participates in the Ministry of Education's International Understanding Education program as a partner school, pursuing learning themes about cross-cultural understanding and global problem solving. The kindergarten, primary, and middle school share a single campus and engage in joint events and cross-grade activities, such as sports day, the Moine Festival, and Fasching, to foster community.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school bases its education on Japan's curriculum guidelines and, as an overseas facility in Germany, aims to cultivate global human resources and strengthen international understanding education. The school integrates language learning into the curriculum to develop language skills and intercultural competence through English and German studies and local exchanges. The school teaches English and German across all grades with native teachers guiding instruction to enhance communicative ability. The school emphasizes experiences beyond the classroom, including exchanges with local schools and field trips, to expose students to diverse cultures and values. The school supports cross‑grade interactions among preschool, elementary, and middle school to foster social development and collaborative learning.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school teaches English and German across all grades to build foundational language skills. The school provides English instruction including English conversation classes taught by native teachers. The school offers German language study with some proficiency-based classes to accommodate beginners. The school uses active, communicative teaching to strengthen practical language use. The school uses native-speaking teachers to guide instruction and foster multilingual interest.

Safeguarding
The school has anti-bullying measures to protect children's smiles. Details are provided in a PDF.
Parent Experience

History
Hamburg Japanese School was founded in 1963 as Hamburg Japanese Language School. In April 1981, Hamburg Japanese School, a nonprofit corporation, opened in the Hamburg area. In February 1982, it was designated as an overseas educational facility by Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. In April 1994, the school moved to a new campus in Halstenbek, and in January 1995 it was recognized as an overseas educational facility offering elementary and junior high curricula. Milestones include the 20th anniversary in 2001, the 30th anniversary in 2011, and the 40th anniversary in 2022, the addition of younger kindergarten classes in 2014, and an interim presentation in October 2024 under the Overseas Education Facility Key Support Plan.

Community
Students follow the Japanese curriculum and spend the school year with seasonal events and exchanges with the local Hamburg community, enriching their Hamburg experience. Hamburg-specific learning experiences and interactions with the local community are valued as part of school life. Through these activities, students develop cross-cultural understanding and an appreciation for both Japanese and German contexts.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The school has a parent association that holds regular general meetings, including the 45th Regular General Meeting on September 2, 2026. Parents volunteer to support major events and activities throughout the year. Mochi pounding is an annual event run with parental cooperation, giving families a hands-on opportunity to learn about Japanese culture. The annual events calendar includes the chestnut gathering in September, Moinfestival in October, Lantern events in November, and Mochitsuki in December, all with parental involvement and sometimes collaboration with local schools. Inter-school exchanges and ongoing parent-school communication are encouraged through these activities.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Located in a quiet Hamburg suburb, the school provides a learning environment comparable to Japanese schools. A red-brick building surrounded by greenery and cherry blossoms creates a Japanese atmosphere. Regular classrooms are bright and spacious, with desks and chairs sized for each child for learning and free play. Outdoor facilities include the gate area with cherry blossoms in early April, apple and cherry trees around the grounds, a field for activities, and opportunities to encounter small animals. Special classrooms include a hall, gym, library, science room, music room, home economics room, and art room. A library with about 13,000 books supports reading and study.

Sports Facilities
The gym is a large space with a full basketball court, used during breaks, lunch, and for assemblies. The outdoor field is green and spacious, with equipment for a variety of games and activities. The schoolyard has slides, monkey bars, swings, rocking equipment, a sandbox, a table tennis table, and basketball hoops. Near the entrance, there are tricycles and stilts, with seasonal popularity of different activities. The grounds offer opportunities to enjoy nature and even encounter animals.

Academic Facilities
Regular classrooms are bright and spacious, with age-appropriate desks and chairs. The library contains about 13,000 books, with new additions each year and donated volumes organized by parent volunteers. The science room supports elementary and middle school experiments with diverse equipment, and two aquariums house medaka and guppies. The music room provides a stage and instruments such as organ, xylophone, and Glockenspiel. The home economics room has large desks for sewing and cooking, safe electric stoves, a washing machine, sewing machines and irons, and two students share one machine; the art room has five tables for six and is used for art and technology classes.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Seasonally, Hinamatsuri dolls and May dolls are displayed in the hall to reflect Japan's festival culture. When exhibitions are held, the works of students from kindergarten through middle school are displayed. The hall is a space where seasonal displays and student exhibitions occur. Works by students across grades line the hall during exhibitions.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Moine Festival provides a learning showcase for social studies, language, and integrated studies. The festival features student presentations of learning outcomes across subjects. Older students lead activities across grades during events, guiding younger students. In July Kiel's Humboldt School students visit to participate in middle-school exchanges, including writing German names in calligraphy and sharing lunch to foster intercultural understanding.

Arts & Creative
Moine Festival includes stage performances and presentations by students. A New Year calligraphy exhibition and Hyakunin Isshu contest showcase handwriting and traditional poetry. The Summer Works Exhibition displays student creative projects. Kindergarten participates in Moine Festival with plays and songs, contributing to the school-wide celebration.

Cultural & Language
Ratelne is a German lantern festival; lanterns are lit and songs are shared at a local partner school, and Kindergarten also runs its own lantern activities and participates in the local kindergarten's parade. The school hosts an inter-grade exchange with Kiel's Humboldt School, including writing German names in calligraphy and sharing meals. Fasching carnival is celebrated in February with costumes and festive activities.

Social & Hobbies
Spring field trips and the Sports Day foster teamwork and active participation. Older students lead activities across grades, supporting peer relationships. Lantern and inter-school exchanges provide social experiences with peers from the local community. The Moine Festival also features drama and singing, offering opportunities for creative expression.

Community & Service
Parents cooperate in organizing the Mochi-pounding festival each year. The school collaborates with local German partner schools for exchange activities, inviting community involvement. Community connections are reinforced through annual cultural events that involve families and local organizations.

Leadership & Professional
Older students take leadership roles during events, guiding younger students. In cross-grade activities, older students coordinate tasks and help peers. The school emphasizes student-led participation as part of leadership development. Through ongoing exchanges with local and partner schools, students gain real-world collaboration and professional skills.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Sports Day divides students into red and white teams for athletic events involving Kindergarten, elementary, and middle school students. Spring excursions offer outdoor learning and physical activity, with family participation. Chestnut gathering provides outdoor time and hands-on nature experiences. A summer works exhibition and sunflower projects support creative and outdoor engagement.
Languages

Language Provision
Education is based on Japan's national curriculum. The school operates as an overseas educational facility in Germany and is a partner in the Ministry of Education's International Understanding Education program. For kindergarten, elementary, and junior high, the curriculum is equivalent to Japan's and uses textbooks approved by MEXT. English and German are taught in all grades; English instruction uses native teachers, and German instruction includes level-based classes to build practical communication and pronunciation.

Bilingual Teaching
The school uses Japanese as the main language of instruction, with English and German taught as language subjects across all grades.

Immersion Programs
Exchange programs with local schools and field trips to experience local life.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Contact the school with questions or to request materials via the inquiry page. When plans to move to Germany are decided, families should first contact the school. A school tour can be arranged before enrollment to provide a more detailed explanation. Families may reach out even before their child moves to Germany.

2. It is possible to participate in a school experience (trial enrollment) beforehand. Trial enrollment guidelines exist and a trial enrollment application should be submitted. Prior communication by email or phone is requested.

3. To enroll, submit the designated admission application forms for the elementary/junior high division and for the kindergarten after filling in the required fields. The forms can be submitted by email attachment, by mail, or in person.

4. An appointment is scheduled to conduct a parent interview. The school will arrange a consultation and interview with the guardians.

5. Enrollment enables the student to start school life on the requested start date. School life begins on the chosen enrollment date.

6. Fees: Entrance fee is 600 euros; tuition is 600 euros per month. Materials and field trip fees are 77 euros per year for kindergarten and are charged as actual costs for elementary/junior high.

7. Membership: The child attending Hamburg Japanese School requires becoming a member of the Public Benefit Corporation Hamburg Japanese School. Corporate membership is required if the parent's employer is not a corporate member; individual membership is also available. Details are handled by the administration.
School Events
The school has not added events
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