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Deutsche Schule Tokyo Yokohama

Japan, Tokyo

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· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

Independently researched by doris.
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The school at a glance
Instructs in German
Fees ¥1,650,000 - 1,810,000
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 550
Type Co-educational
Opened 1904
Bus Service Yes
Academic offering
Curriculum German Curriculum
Taught languages English, French, Japanese, Latin
Typical class size 17
Strengths Sport, Visual and Creative Arts, STEM
Clubs Arts and Creative, Social and Hobbies, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School, High School
Introduction

Deutsche Schule Tokyo Yokohama (DSTY) is a German international school in Yokohama, founded in 1904. It teaches according to German curricula and awards German qualifications up to the Deutsches Internationales Abitur (Grade 12). The language of instruction is German, and the school offers Japanese learning for both native speakers and students learning Japanese as a foreign language. English and French are also part of the programme, and students can earn the Latinum. Beyond lessons, DSTY runs a coordinated cocurricular afternoon programme (open all-day school) with care options and activities, as well as sports teams in football, volleyball and basketball. A distinctive feature is the on-campus BVB Evonik Football Academy, providing football training from kindergarten through upper school.

2 Chome-4-1 Chigasakiminami, Tsuzuki Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 224-0037, Japan

The Essentials

Deutsche Schule Tokyo Yokohama has 550 pupils, typical class sizes of 17, instruction in German.

Location
Deutsche Schule Tokyo Yokohama is located in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, at 2-4-1 Chigasaki-Minami, Tsuzuki-ku, Yokohama 224-0037. The campus sits in a residential area of Tsuzuki and is easily accessible by public transport from Tokyo and Yokohama. The school also operates a dedicated bus network to serve families in the region.

Stages
The school comprises Kindergarten; Grundschule (primary); Sekundarstufe I (lower secondary) and Sekundarstufe II (upper secondary), culminating in the Deutsches Internationales Abitur. The levels are provided under one roof, supporting a continuous German curriculum from early years through to Abitur.

Type
DSTY is a co-educational day school. It operates as a Ganztagsschule, offering after-school care and activities until 16:30.

Pupil Nationality Mix
Students come from around 20 nationalities; representative groups include German, Swiss, Austrian, and Japanese students, reflecting a diverse international community. The school notes these nationalities as examples and does not publish a precise local-to-international ratio.

Additional learning support
DSTY has a dedicated Förderbereich that supports students with identified learning needs (e.g., ADHD, dyslexia, autism spectrum, etc.). Support can be inclusive in the classroom, in small groups, or in one-to-one settings, and includes provision for gifted students; staff include Sonderpädagoginnen/Sonderpädagogen. Parents can access counseling through the team.

Country affiliation
Germany; DSTY is recognised as an Exzellente Deutsche Auslandsschule (Excellent German Overseas School) and maintains active engagement with the German embassy in Tokyo.

Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation is not listed as part of the school's public profile; DSTY operates as a German international school with instruction primarily in German.

School day structure
DSTY operates as a full-day school (Ganztagsschule) with supervision and activities through to 16:30. The cafeteria serves meals on school days from 7:30 to 16:30, and a midday lunch break is included for students.

Bus service
DSTY runs a school bus system for students from the Tokyo–Yokohama region. Buses depart in the morning with three return options, and the BusCatch system locates buses in real time; a supervising staff member accompanies students on the bus.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
The school provides a DSTY bus system that transports Kindergarten through Grade 12 students from the Tokyo region directly to the school and back. The return trips depart at three different times, and a supervisor accompanies the bus on board. The BusCatch system allows real-time tracking of bus locations.

Food Options
The school has a Mensa (cafeteria) open on school days from 07:30 to 16:30. The daily lunch buffet changes and includes vegetarian options, ramen, fresh sandwiches and wraps, and freshly baked pretzels. Payments are cashless, and meals for Kindergarten children are delivered to the Kindergarten. The Mensa is externally operated.

Governance and Ownership
DSTY is a non-profit foundation (Gemeinnützige Stiftung Deutsche Schule Tokyo Yokohama) that establishes and operates the school and promotes German language knowledge and Germany–Japan cultural relations. The foundation's Kuratorium (board of trustees) is the supervisory body and appoints the School Board; the Vorstand (executive board) handles administration and represents the school externally. The DSTY im Überblick confirms the school operates as an open all-day school with supervision until 16:30 for all sections from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
Fees

Annual tuition at Deutsche Schule Tokyo Yokohama ranges from JPY 1,650,000 to JPY 1,810,000 for 2026/27.

Application and one‑time fees
- Enrollment / application handling fee: JPY 75,000 (one‑time, per child, payable on enrolment).
- Entrance / admission (registration) fee: JPY 650,000 (one‑time, payable on acceptance/registration).

Annual tuition fees by year group (current academic year — annual amounts shown in Japanese yen)
- Kindergarten (full day core hours): approximately JPY 1,770,000 per year. Extended‑day options increase the annual fee (examples reported up to JPY 1,840,000 depending on number of extension days).
- Elementary (Grades 1–4): approximately JPY 1,610,000–1,650,000 per year (reported figures vary by source; this is the range in current public summaries).
- Upper elementary and secondary (Grades 5–12): approximately JPY 1,750,000–1,790,000 per year (reported figures vary by source; use the range shown here).
- First year total cost example (illustrative): for a Grade 1 entrant a one‑time enrolment/entrance combination plus tuition produces a first‑year total in the range of roughly JPY 2,300,000 (one‑time fees + annual tuition) depending on the exact one‑time fees applied.

Per‑term detail and billing frequency
- Publicly available fee summaries present annual tuition figures by year group. No explicit, authoritative per‑term (term‑by‑term) breakdown with fixed term amounts was published in the public fee summaries reviewed. The school's annual amounts are commonly shown as the basis for invoicing; specific term instalment amounts or fixed dates for term invoices were not found in the accessible summaries.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- A detailed billing schedule (invoice dates, due dates, late‑payment penalties and standard payment terms) is not published in the public fee summaries located during this review. Where third‑party summaries list annual fees, they do not include a definitive billing calendar or explicit payment deadlines.

Boarding fees
- The school operates as a day school with a school bus system for pupil transport; there is no indication that on‑site boarding (an internat/boarding house) is offered. Therefore no boarding fees apply.

Other mandatory or commonly billed costs
- School bus / transport: an annual school‑bus fee is reported in public summaries; examples from third‑party fee summaries indicate a school bus cost in the region of JPY 380,000 per year (actual route‑based charges may vary).
- Foundation / association membership or annual contribution: a small annual foundation/association fee is reported (examples show JPY 15,000 per year).
- Extended‑day kindergarten charges: additional fees for afternoon extension(s) above the core kindergarten day are reported; amounts depend on number of extension days per week (examples reported in public summaries).
- Extracurricular activities, school trips, examination fees, lunches, learning‑support and special‑programme costs, and uniforms are commonly charged in addition to core tuition. Specific itemised amounts for these items (uniform prices, meal plans, per‑trip charges or per‑activity charges) were not published in the general fee summaries reviewed.

Refunds and cancellations
- No comprehensive public refund policy or detailed rules for refunds (for example, refundability of entrance/registration fees, pro‑rata refunds on withdrawal, or conditions for reimbursement) was located in the fee summaries that were publicly accessible. Public summaries and third‑party listings do not include a full, authoritative refund policy.

Fee payment options
- The specific methods accepted for fee payment (for example, bank transfer, credit card, direct debit or cash) are not specified in the publicly available fee summaries located during this review. Payment method details and instructions were not published in the fee overviews reviewed.

Summary of sources and limits of the available public information
- The numeric fee figures above are drawn from contemporary public fee summaries and independent school‑directory listings that publish the school's annual tuition and typical one‑time enrolment charges. These summaries show consistent banding for kindergarten, lower‑elementary and upper grades, but precise line‑item labelling (for example the exact name applied to each one‑time charge) can vary between public listings.
- What was not found in the publicly available fee summaries reviewed: a formal, itemised school fee schedule showing a term‑by‑term invoice breakdown with due dates; a published refund policy with concrete refund amounts or conditions; and a published list of accepted payment methods. The available public summaries therefore provide reliable annual figures and examples of common one‑time fees and ancillary charges, but do not include the full billing timetable, bank/credit‑card payment instructions, or an official refund statement.
Academics

Deutsche Schule Tokyo Yokohama teaches German Curriculum for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
DSTY offers a continuous German-language curriculum from Kindergarten through the Deutsches Internationales Abitur (DIA), and is the only school in Japan to offer this qualification. The program centers on German instruction, with Deutsch als Zweitsprache (DaZ) from Kindergarten to Abitur to support multilingual learners, and Japanese language and culture are integrated, with native Japanese speakers able to study Japanese as a second foreign language and non-native speakers offered Japanese as an elective through Grade 10 and as an AG in Grades 11–12. In Grundschule, language development begins with Japanese from Class 1 and English from Class 2, with computer classes from Class 3 and swimming; the curriculum also emphasizes media education and competency-based learning, and a cocurricular program with learning development discussions. Sekundarstufe I focuses on mathematics, science, and social studies, plus vocational preparation, including a two-week internship in Grade 10 and biennial Berufsfeldorientierung; English, French, and Latin are offered, and Latinum can be earned. Sekundarstufe II leads to the Deutsches Internationales Abitur, supported by Studien- und Berufsberatung and a multilingual, internationally minded education designed to enable university progression.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
DSTY provides social and emotional learning (SEL) support through a Prevention and Counseling service that includes crisis intervention, conflict mediation, and individual counseling, with pastoral care provided by pastors from two German-speaking churches; a school psychologist offers confidential counseling appointments and assists students in accessing therapy.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
DSTY operates a Förderbereich (inclusion and special education support) with an interdisciplinary child-protection team, an Inklusions-AG, and related activities such as an Inklusions-AG Elterncafe; the school also advertises internships in the Förderbereich for training in inclusive education.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Deutsch als Zweitsprache (DaZ) is provided from Kindergarten to Abitur to support non-native German speakers, with DaZ instruction including early integration in Kindergarten and DaZ in Sekundarstufe I; English is taught as a first foreign language from class 2, and there is no publicly disclosed dedicated English as an Additional Language (EAL) program.

Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is supported through the DSTY School Psychology service, which offers psychological consultations for students in crisis, and pastoral care by staff from German-speaking churches; speech therapy is also available in individual or small-group settings to support communication and wellbeing.

Safeguarding
DSTY has a safeguarding concept (Schutzkonzept) with an interdisciplinary child-protection team, a staff and student behaviour code, a reporting pathway for suspected cases, safeguarding trainings for staff, age-appropriate child-protection training for students, and multilingual safeguarding materials.
Parent Experience

History
The Deutsche Schule Tokyo Yokohama (DSTY) was founded in Yokohama and opened on September 20, 1904, making it the oldest German international school in East Asia still in operation. After the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, many German families moved to Tokyo, and the school opened a new building in Omori, Tokyo, in 1934. Following World War II, the Deutsche Schulverein Tokyo was re-founded on December 1, 1953, and the first postwar year began with 17 students; the school started awarding Abitur in 1960. In 1967 the school moved to a new building in Omori, and in 1991 it relocated to Nakamachidai, Yokohama, where it remains today, with a 2010 extension adding a third floor to the campus. DSTY operates as a private institution supported by the non-profit DSTY Foundation and currently serves kindergarten through Abitur, including the German International Abitur.

Community
DSTY is a center of the German-speaking community in Japan, serving not only as a school but also as a cultural hub for German-speaking residents in the region. The school engages in intercultural programs and exchanges, including Deutsch-Französischer Austausch and collaboration with partner schools such as LFIT. It hosts and participates in community events like Oktoberfest (the 2024 edition) and Mochi-Fest with Tsuzuki Rotary Club, reflecting active ties with local groups. An alumni network connects former students with the current community, reinforcing ongoing engagement beyond graduation.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
DSTY does not publish a formally named Parent-Teacher Association in publicly accessible materials; instead, parent involvement is organized through school-led channels and parent groups that participate in events and day-to-day school life. Examples include the January 2026 Elternabend Ostasienspiele, the Elterncafe der Inklusions-AG, and the Cocu Winterball, which mobilize families to support school programs. Parents also participate in and support events such as the Fußball-Inklusionstag at the Edogawa Ward Sports Center, where organizers thank the parents for accompanying their children. Parents engage with intercultural and language activities, including the Deutsch-Französischer Austausch and the BVB Evonik Fußballakademie training on campus. The DSTY community also features an active alumni network that maintains connections between graduates and current students, underscoring ongoing family involvement in school life.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Deutsche Schule Tokyo Yokohama sits on extensive school grounds with modern facilities, all under one roof. The campus houses Kindergarten through secondary school on a single site. The library, located on the third floor, offers a broad media collection in German, English, and French and provides PCs for research. The Mensa operates on school days with a buffet of lunch options, including vegetarian dishes, ramen, sandwiches, and baked goods, and uses a cashless system. Outdoor spaces include a climbing wall, playground, football field, and basketball court, which support PE and cocurricular activities, and an Aula is used as a venue for performances and events.

Sports Facilities
Outdoor sports spaces on campus include a football field and a basketball court, as well as a climbing wall and a playground for younger students. These spaces serve PE classes and after-school sports and activities coordinated through the Cocu program. The Cocu team programming makes regular use of the outdoor facilities for student activities and recreation.

Academic Facilities
The library, affectionately called Bibi, is on the third floor and is an active component of the school community, used by students of all ages, teachers, and parents. It offers a broad collection in multiple languages, including German, English, and French, with items ranging from children's literature to reference works and magazines, plus translations and travel guides; DVDs, CDs, and other media are also available. The library houses PCs for research and hosts language- and information-literacy activities such as Lesescout, the school newspaper, and a Vorlese-AG. These resources support independent research, reading development, and project work across the curriculum.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Cocu, the school's after-school cocurricular program, runs as an open daytime program with Grundschule Hort care until 16:25 and access to spaces such as the outdoor area (climbing wall, playground, football field, basketball court) and the library for study and activities. In the Sekundarstufe, the Freizeitraum is used for common activities under supervision, including a kitchen, living room, and game areas, with staff and student-led projects. A wide range of AGs covers sports, music, arts, and crafts, and the BVB Evonik Fußballakademie is integrated into Cocu. The Cocu program also organizes events and camps, including a two-week summer camp in the last two weeks of summer, and the Aula hosts performances and events throughout the year.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
DSTY runs a cocurricular program (Cocu) that extends the day with after-school activities coordinated by a dedicated Cocu team, and it runs a two-week summer camp during the last two full weeks of the summer. In Grundschule, the Hort provides supervision until 16:25, with access to the library and outdoor facilities such as the climbing wall, playground, and football and basketball fields for study and recreation. The on-site library hosts AGs like Lesescout (reading scouts), a Schülerzeitung (student newspaper), and a Vorlese-AG (reading aloud), which develop literacy, research, journalism, and project skills. The Studien- und Berufsberatung offers individualized guidance, university visits, BEST training, and career days to support academic planning and career exploration.

Arts & Creative
DSTY supports arts and performing arts through a Theater-AG, which produced Gebrüder Grimm reloaded for Expo 2025 in Osaka with an English-language performance for both students and the wider audience. A Lehrkonzert article describes exposure to contemporary classical music through collaborations with professional musicians and composers, enriching students' understanding of modern repertoire. The school's Sommerferiencamp 2025 included a dance workshop, expanding movement and creative expression during the summer break. The theater production and concert activities illustrate ongoing engagement in performing and visual arts.

Cultural & Language
DSTY hosts language and cultural programs, including Deutsches Seminar which offers German-language courses for the German-speaking community (externally run), and Japanisches Seminar which offers Japanese-language courses for community members (externally run). The school also facilitates cross-border exchanges, such as the German–French student exchange with Lycée Français International de Tokyo (LFIT), and annual intercultural activities and performances connected to these exchanges. Cultural events and international collaborations are showcased in school activities and Expo participation, highlighting German-Japanese and German-French cultural engagement.

Social & Hobbies
The Cocu program offers a wide range of AGs across sport, music, arts, and crafts, with activities chosen each half-year and including a two-week summer camp with varied activities. School sports are organized as Schulteams in football (coached by Borussia Dortmund), volleyball, and basketball (coached by Yokohama B-Corsairs), with opportunities beginning in early grades. The Cocu leisure spaces include a Freizeitraum managed by a social pedagogue, a common room, kitchen, living room, and a game area, plus organized events such as film nights and school tournaments. DSTY also hosts culturally rich events like Mochi Festivals and Oktoberfest, which involve student participation and community celebration.

Community & Service
New families are supported by the Starthilfegruppe, a parent-led group that helps with relocation logistics and community integration, including information bundles and organized meet-ups. The Inklusions-AG includes activities such as Elterncafe and other inclusive initiatives that promote community involvement and student support. The school runs seasonal camps and community events, such as Sommerferiencamp with field trips and a focus on social interaction, and large-scale events like Oktoberfest that engage families and the local German-speaking community. These programs demonstrate DSTY's commitment to community building and service orientation.

Leadership & Professional
DSTY places a clear emphasis on leadership and professional development through Studien- und Berufsberatung, offering individual guidance by a dedicated staff member, university visits, and structured programs such as BEST training and Karrieretage to help students reflect on strengths and future pathways. The program includes class-year experiences such as university visits for ninth-graders, two-week internships for tenth-graders, and senior-year career days that involve alumni and higher education representatives. This framework supports self-assessment, informed decision-making, and exposure to career options beyond the classroom.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Wellbeing is supported by a Cocu environment where the Freizeitraum is supervised by a social pedagogue, with dedicated spaces such as a quiet room, a creativity room, and a play area to promote safe, balanced after-school time. DSTY's sports program includes school teams in football (coached by Borussia Dortmund), volleyball, and basketball (coached by Yokohama B-Corsairs), emphasizing physical health and teamwork from a young age. The summer camp and arts events include movement and dance workshops, and theatre productions and concerts provide healthy outlets for creativity and social connection. Ongoing events like Oktoberfest and theater projects further contribute to a vibrant, healthful, and inclusive school culture.
Languages

Language Provision
German is the language of instruction, with DaZ (Deutsch als Zweitsprache) offered from kindergarten through Abitur to support non-native speakers. English is taught as the first foreign language, starting in grade 2. Japanese is offered as a second language; native speakers may choose Japanese as an Abitur subject, while non-native learners may study it as an elective through grade 10 and, in grades 11–12, as an activity. French is offered as a second foreign language from grade 6, and Latin is available from grade 10, with the Latinum obtainable.

Immersion Programs
Schweizer Unterricht is offered for students in grades 1–12 who are interested in Swiss culture and Swiss German. The program consists of four hours per week of Swiss language instruction, delivered in four small groups with one lesson per week each. Students engage in conversations in Swiss German and explore Swiss culture through projects and activities. The program is open to all students, not only those with Swiss roots.
Reputation

Awards
Ostasienspiele 2024 – 1st place: DSTY. Ostasienspiele is a biannual East Asian sports competition among German international schools; in 2024, DSTY emerged as the overall winner after four days of multi-sport events, marking the first time DSTY achieved the overall title.

Accreditations
Anerkannte Deutsche Auslandsschule (Official recognition as a German international school abroad). The Deutshe Schule Tokyo Yokohama is officially recognized as a German Auslandsschule and teaches according to German curricula, awarding the German general education diplomas Hauptschulabschluss, Realschulabschluss, and the Allgemeine Hochschulreife (Deutsches Internationales Abitur). The school also holds the Exzellente Deutsche Auslandsschule quality seal, indicating a recognized standard of excellence among German schools abroad. The German International Abitur is offered in Japan at the DSTY.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Initial inquiry and information request: Express interest in DSTY by using the online contact form to reach the Anmeldebüro (admissions office). A DSTY representative will respond with next steps and guidance; a campus visit or information session is strongly recommended to understand the school environment and programs. This step helps families confirm fit before submitting formal applications.

2. Language readiness and eligibility for entry: For admission to the early grades, DSTY requires age-appropriate German language knowledge. This can be demonstrated by two consecutive years of attendance at a German-speaking kindergarten or by a school-conducted language placement assessment to verify German language ability. If aiming for early admission, the school will require successful completion of its internal school-readiness checks.

3. Documentation and application forms: Gather and submit the necessary forms and documents. Application forms are provided through the admissions process and are in German; the set includes a family registration form and per-child documents (health card, kindergarten/primary/secondary forms as applicable). Completed documents are submitted to DSTY's admissions office as part of the intake process.

4. Admission decision by the school leadership: The final decision on new enrollments rests with the school leadership. Once the child is accepted, families will be asked to submit the remaining forms and documents required for enrollment.

5. Enrollment timing and waitlists: There is no strict annual application deadline because enrolment can occur mid-year; however, competition is high, especially in the kindergarten. If a class reaches its maximum capacity, a waitlist is created and families are notified when a space becomes available. Early application is advised to improve the chances of securing a place.

6. Fees and onboarding steps after acceptance: Upon acceptance, families receive billing for the admission-related fees (service fee and admission fee) and then annual tuition and other charges as applicable. The current fee schedule for the 2025/2026 year includes a service fee of 75,000 yen and an admission fee of 650,000 yen per child; tuition is 1,650,000 yen for Primary grades 1–4 and 1,790,000 yen for grades 5–12; bus service is 380,000 yen; and a DSTY membership of 500 yen applies. Fees may be paid in four installments with a 1% processing fee, and late payments incur interest of 3% above the Bank of Japan discount rate.

7. Language and curriculum context (helpful for admissions planning): The school's instruction is predominantly in German; English is taught as the first foreign language starting in Grade 2, with the option to study Japanese as a second foreign language from Grade 1 and French (or Japanese with prerequisite) from Grade 6; Latin may be chosen from Grade 10.

Scholarships
DSTY offers financial assistance through the DSTY Foundation in the form of social subsidies to support German-speaking students regardless of parental income. Eligibility focuses on income and assets: gross family income thresholds are used as guidelines (under 7,000,000 yen per year for a single child; under 8,500,000 yen for two children), and prospective recipients must disclose the worldwide assets (real estate, investments, business interests, etc.). Applications for social subsidies must be submitted before enrolling in the school year for which the subsidy is sought, and the foundation reserves the right to make decisions on a case-by-case basis. Documents and forms are to be completed and submitted in person to the DSTY administration.

Waitlist
DSTY operates a waitlist system when a class reaches its maximum capacity. There is no strict end-of-year deadline for filing the application, as admissions can occur mid-year; once a class is full, a waitlist is created and families are notified when a space becomes available. The kindergarten section tends to have especially high demand, so early application is recommended.
School Events
The school has not added events
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