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International School of Nagano

Japan, Nagano

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· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees ¥875,000 - 1,341,000
Ages 0 - 15 years
Pupil numbers 320
Type Co-educational
Opened 2012
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), Japanese Curriculum
Taught languages Japanese
Strengths Outdoor Education, Languages, Academic Enrichment
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Preschool, Elementary, Middle School
Introduction

International School of Nagano (ISN) is a private international school with campuses in Matsumoto, Nagano, Nakano, and Shimauchi. It serves preschool through middle school and follows an IB continuum with the Japanese National Curriculum. Preschools and Elementary participate in the IB Primary Years Programme, while Middle School aligns with the Japanese Junior High Curriculum with IGCSE options. Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme are delivered in English, French, or Spanish, providing a pathway to university overseas or in Japan. Distinctive feature is the PIC Program, a four-year middle school pathway beginning in Grade 6 that blends project-, inquiry-, and concept-based learning in English and Japanese. Sustainable Library at Gojo Campus and National Geographic Lift Curriculum support research literacy. Outdoor education is central through Activities in the Nature of Shinshu and seasonal trips, including Sports Day and Hakuba excursions. ISN emphasizes bilingual staff and community engagement to connect students with Shinshu's environment.

Shimauchi 7779-1, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture 390-0851, Japan

The Essentials

International School of Nagano has 320 pupils, instruction in English.

Location
ISN operates across multiple campuses in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. The Matsumoto campuses include Gojo Campus for Elementary and Middle School, Shimauchi Campus for Preschool, and Minami Matsumoto Campus for Preschool. The Nagano and Nakano campuses provide Preschool, with Nakano also offering Elementary and Middle School; Saku Kirihara Campus provides Preschool.

Stages
Preschool; Elementary; Middle School

Type
Private international school

Additional learning support
Special Language Support (EAL) is available. Language of instruction is English, with Japanese language support available by request.

School day structure
A typical day includes a morning meeting at 08:45–09:00, classes from 09:00–12:30, lunch and recess 12:30–13:20, and afternoon sessions including Japanese language study from 13:40–14:35 and independent learning from 15:40–16:35.

Bus service
A school shuttle bus service is available; seats are limited. Bus fees are based on route and schedule; contact the campus office for details.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
ISN Middle School uniform includes a dark blue jacket and sweater. The iconic navy polo shirt is optional for the summer uniform. A striped necktie is included, and students may choose their own shoes and school bag.

Food Options
School Lunch ISN provides school lunches at a cost of 600 yen per meal for the Nagano Campus Summer Program; orders must be placed in advance. For children with allergies, ISN does not provide school lunches; please bring your own lunch.

House System
Gojo Campus uses a House System to create a vertical and horizontal community across Grades 1–9. Each house consists of six students and participates in assemblies, bus trips, and lunch, helping students mix across grades and develop leadership. Examples of house names include Strong Kingfishers, Fast Animals, and Super Shiba.

Governance and Ownership
The school is operated by WIP, LLC. Campuses in Matsumoto, Nagano, Nakano and Saku are managed by WIP, LLC; the Gojo Campus is operated by International School of Nagano School Corporation. The foundation date is July 30, 2012, and the representative is Rie Kuribayashi; the network employs 112 staff.
Fees

Annual tuition at International School of Nagano ranges from JPY 875,000 to JPY 1,341,000 for 2026/27.

Application / registration fees

- Preschool (Nagano campus): Entrance fee for the 2-year-old class: JPY 35,000. Entrance fee for the 3-year-old class and older: JPY 150,000 (this JPY 150,000 amount includes the facility fee for the first year and is paid during the admission process).
- Elementary (Nakano / Gojo campuses): Registration (entrance) fee: JPY 30,000, payable at the time of enrollment; this fee is non-refundable after payment.

Tuition fees by year group (monthly and annual where specified)

- Preschool (Nagano campus) — 2026/27:
- 2-year-old class: JPY 70,000 per month.
- 3-year-old class and older: JPY 88,000 per month.
- Elementary School — 2026/27:
- Standard tuition: JPY 98,000 per month (equivalent stated as JPY 1,176,000 per year when paid annually). Tuition may be paid monthly or annually. For mid-year enrollees requiring additional English support, the tuition charge used for that support example is JPY 156,000 per month.
- Middle School — 2026/27:
- Standard tuition: JPY 98,000 per month. (Example middle-school division fee shown for Gojo Campus.) Additional EAL (English support) and afterschool charges may apply as described under other costs.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Regular tuition is billed monthly and collected at the end of the previous month. For preschool and school programs, monthly automatic withdrawals occur on the 28th of the preceding month (or the next business day if the 28th falls on a weekend/holiday). Parents are asked to set up automatic bank-account withdrawals for monthly fees.
- Facility / system maintenance fee: JPY 125,000 per year; this is billed once a year (generally collected in March of the previous fiscal year) from the second year of enrollment for preschool and is required annually for elementary/middle where shown.
- Registration/entrance fees are payable at enrollment and are non-refundable after payment. The facility fee (where noted) is also non-refundable after payment. Parents are asked to register or notify changes by the deadlines noted by the school (for monthly billing changes the school asks for requests by the 15th of the previous month).
- For some payments a bank/transfer handling charge may be applied (example: a monthly bank transfer handling/processing fee shown as JPY 165 per month). Timing for that fee is typically deducted the following month.

Boarding fees

- Boarding is not provided as a regular service of the school; no boarding fees are listed. ISN operates preschool, elementary and middle-school day programmes.

Other costs and common additional fees

- Uniforms and clothing:
- Elementary / Middle: uniform set (imported from England) approximately JPY 40,000 per set (payable at enrollment).
- Preschool items: T-shirt JPY 3,800; sweatshirt JPY 5,500 (half-zip) or JPY 6,000 (full-zip); class hat JPY 1,600.
- School lunch:
- Preschool: JPY 9,000 per month (if the child brings their own lunch for allergy reasons, a school lunch management fee of JPY 4,000 is applied).
- Elementary: typical lunch fee shown as JPY 5,500 per month on some campus pages.
- Shuttle / school bus:
- Shuttle-bus fee example: JPY 9,000 per month (preschool and many elementary campuses list a JPY 9,000 monthly shuttle option; other campuses/routes may vary—route-based fees and schedules are charged separately).
- Extended childcare and emergency pickup charges:
- Extended childcare: JPY 7,000 per month or JPY 7,000 per session (preschool); emergency late pickup: JPY 1,000 per 10 minutes.
- Afterschool and EAL (English Additional Learning) support:
- Afterschool programme (Gojo example): JPY 2,500–4,500 per month depending on schedule.
- EAL / individual English support: some campuses list JPY 2,500 per lesson for targeted EAL support; mid-year or intensive English support examples may be charged at higher monthly rates (e.g., the elementary mid-year English-support example of JPY 156,000 per month).
- Equipment and devices:
- Chromebook and some instruments are listed as items to inquire about and may be charged separately if provided by the school; prices for small items (polo shirts, recorders) are shown on campus pages.
- Event and seasonal programme fees:
- Summer school and other seasonal programme fees are charged separately; those programme fees are typically non-refundable after payment confirmation.

Refund information

- Registration (entrance) fees and the facility/system maintenance fee are stated as non-refundable once paid. Summer-school and many event/programme fees are also non-refundable after payment has been confirmed. Specific refund policies for individual programmes and one-off events are specified at the time of enrolment for those programmes.

Fee payment options and methods

- Regular tuition and recurring fees are collected by automatic bank-account withdrawal (direct debit) from the parent/guardian account; withdrawals occur on the 28th of the preceding month (or next business day). This is the primary indicated payment method for monthly school fees.
- A bank transfer option is used for donations and one-off transfers to the school's accounts; some administrative/banking charges may apply when transfers are used. Example bank details are provided for donation transfers. A monthly bank-transfer handling fee (example JPY 165 per month) is shown for some campuses where bank processing is applied.
- Credit-card payment is not listed among the standard tuition-payment methods shown for recurring school fees on campus admissions pages. (Automatic withdrawal / bank transfer are the listed methods.)

Sibling discount

- Sibling discounts apply to tuition (and facility fees in some cases). Example preschool discounts: second child 30% off tuition; third child onwards 40% off tuition. If a family has children in both elementary and preschool, discounts of 15% (second child) and 20% (third child onward) can apply across those levels; discounts generally do not apply to campaign-priced admissions or to non-tuition items.

Practical notes on timing and administrative rules

- For monthly billing changes or registrations, submit requests by the school deadlines (for example the 15th of the previous month for registration/changes; specific campus pages list these administrative timelines). For leaves of absence or transfers, payments are typically required through the month following the notification unless otherwise specified.

(End of fees overview.)
Academics

International School of Nagano teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), Japanese Curriculum for students aged 0 to 15.

Curriculum
ISN implements the International Baccalaureate (IB) program with a continuum from preschool through high school. Preschool and Elementary follow the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) alongside the Japanese National Curriculum. Middle School uses the Japanese Junior High curriculum with IGCSE options. The Gojo Campus hosts the PIC Program, a four-year middle school pathway beginning in Grade 6 that blends Project-based Learning, Inquiry-based Learning, and Concept-based Learning in English and Japanese, and aligns with the Japanese National Middle School curriculum. The Diploma Programme (DP) is conducted in English, French, or Spanish, providing an internationally recognized university entrance qualification. The Educational Roadmap shows a progression from IB PYP in the early years to elementary IB-PYP, then to middle school, with pathways to high school and university abroad, including overseas and Japanese options for high school and university admissions.

Higher Education Progression
The Roadmap identifies pathways to high school and university abroad, including overseas high schools and Japanese high schools with admission support to overseas universities.

Gifted and Talented
Full or partial scholarships available for students with exceptional English or other academic skills.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school provides a safe, nurturing, and inclusive learning environment to empower your child to thrive. Students grow academically, socially, and emotionally, and the school values diversity and inclusivity.

Mental Wellbeing
The school provides a safe, nurturing, and inclusive learning environment that supports students' social and emotional growth.

Safeguarding
The school provides a safe, nurturing, and inclusive learning environment and fosters diversity and inclusivity.
Parent Experience

History
The school is operated by WIP, LLC, a Limited Liability Company founded on July 30, 2012. Minami Matsumoto Campus opened in 2012; Shimauchi Campus opened in 2018; Gojo Campus opened in 2022. ISN Elementary opened as a Free School in 2015 and became an IB Candidate School, with IB PYP accreditation achieved in 2017. Nagano Campus opened in 2019; Nakano Campus opened in 2024; Ueda-area campuses opened in 2021. Gojo Middle School Opens in 2025 and Saku Kirihara Campus opened in April 2026.

Community
ISN embraces a global IB community and provides a world of choice for all children. The school emphasizes student agency and inquiry-based, collaborative learning as a central mode of education. Rie Kuribayashi is Head of School. ISN values diversity and inclusivity with a diverse student and teaching body.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The school has campuses in Matsumoto, Nagano, and Nakano, including Shimauchi Preschool, Minami Matsumoto Preschool, Gojo Campus Elementary, and Gojo Campus Middle School in Matsumoto, and Nagano Preschool, Nakano Preschool, Nakano Elementary School, and Nakano Middle School in the Nagano/Nakano area. The Gojo Campus library was renovated into a Sustainable Library in August 2023 with support from donors and local builders, creating a better learning environment. The school has IB accreditation and offers the Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, Diploma Programme, and Career-related Programme. The school teaches in English during morning and Friday lessons and provides an English-language environment for studying society and the world. The aim is to develop internationally minded learners who engage with Shinshu's natural environment and local community.

Sports Facilities
The school has outdoor sports and nature-based activities through Activities in the Nature of Shinshu, including sports by rivers, lakes, and mountains. Outdoor activities are designed to build lifelong healthy habits, improve focus, reduce stress, and develop teamwork, problem-solving, confidence, and resilience. A Sports Day is held in October as part of Autumn activities. A Hakuba bus trip is included as part of Autumn activities.

Academic Facilities
The school has the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme across its campuses, including the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), Diploma Programme (DP), and Career-related Programme (CP). The school teaches in English during morning and Friday lessons, and uses the National Geographic Lift Curriculum to develop academic language and literacy. The middle school curriculum aligns with the Japanese government's MEXT Junior High School Curriculum. ISN serves students from preschool through middle school and provides an IB-aligned learning pathway across campuses.

Extra Curricular Facilities
The Gojo Campus Extracurricular Activities section lists events year-round, including Spring activities such as Entrance Ceremony, Welcome Ceremony, Traffic Safety Workshop, National Academic Achievement Testing, and Class Observations / Spring Festival; May includes Open Campus Day, Handwashing Workshop, Preschool/Gojo Exchange, Class Photoshoot, and Rice Planting Event; June features Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences and Class Observations. Autumn includes Sports Day. Winter programs include activities such as Mochi Making and other events, with a structured timetable for daily activities and English/Japanese lessons.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
ISN implements the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. The Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP) can be offered in any language. The Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP) are conducted in English, French, or Spanish. The IB emphasizes inquiry-based learning and collaboration with staff from top global schools.

Arts & Creative
Summer School includes dance, crafts, water play, and art. Gojo Campus hosts Summer School for Elementary and Junior High with activities in English. Three campuses participate in Summer School: Nakano Campus, Nagano Campus, and Gojo Campus.

Cultural & Language
IB can be offered in any language. Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP) are conducted in English, French, or Spanish. At Gojo Campus and Nagano Campus, no English ability is required.

Social & Hobbies
Seasonal programs include a Study Abroad Experience in Nagano and a Sydney Study Tour. ISN Summer School runs across three Nagano Prefecture campuses: Nakano Campus, Nagano Campus, and Gojo Campus. English is the language of instruction, with no prior English required at Nakano and Gojo campuses.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Summer School is a week-long program across three Nagano Prefecture campuses. The environment emphasizes nature and outdoor exploration, with English as the language of discovery and bilingual staff providing support. The program runs July 27–August 7, 2026 for Pre-K to Grade 9.
Languages

Language Provision
Language of instruction is English. Japanese language support is available by request. The school offers an IB curriculum.

Bilingual Teaching
The school provides bilingual Preschool, Elementary, and Middle School programs.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Learn about ISN admissions and attend information sessions. ISN offers Elementary School Information Sessions and Middle School Information Sessions to inform families about ISN's approach to learning and campus options. Regular information events provide details on ISN's programs and admissions processes. These sessions help families understand how ISN blends an international curriculum with the Japanese national curriculum and how classes are structured.

2. Review admission windows and prepare to apply. For the 2026 school year, the application period runs from September 1 to October 30, 2025, with applications for Nakano Campus Elementary Division or for families currently attending ISN Nagano Preschool submitted to the Nakano Campus Office. The Nakano Campus can supply the application form. ISN's education roadmap also indicates separate windows for Elementary admissions (April–November) and Middle School admissions (April–September).

3. Submit the application and provide required information. Applications are submitted to the appropriate ISN campus (Nakano Campus Elementary Division or Nagano Campus Office). ISN operates an English-language international program complemented by Japanese-language and mathematics instruction led by certified Japanese teachers. The program combines an international curriculum with the Japanese national curriculum to prepare students for future academic and life opportunities.

4. Attend Open Campus or School Information Sessions to learn more and plan next steps. ISN Nakano Campus hosts Open Campus events and School Information Sessions with campus tours and Q&A opportunities to discuss the school, its learning environment, and tuition. Attending provides a firsthand view of ISN's learning approach and helps families understand the admissions process and what comes next.

Scholarships
ISN offers two scholarships: scholarships for English speakers and scholarships for children of ISN staff. The scholarship program provides partial tuition exemption during enrollment in Preschool, Elementary and Middle School, and does not cover the admission registration fee, facility maintenance costs, evening after-school program snack fees, event fees, shuttle bus fees, ISN T-shirt costs, or other charges.

Eligibility for English-speaker scholarships includes at least one parent from a country where English is a native language and/or English is the primary home language; availability is two students per class; eligible grades run from Preschool (3-year-old class) through Middle School Grade 9. The application period opens with the acceptance of admission forms and closes once capacity is reached, with final eligibility determined through an interview. To apply, families should contact the campus with the subject line “Application for the 2025-2026 ISN Scholarship Program”; sibling discounts are not applicable if multiple siblings apply.

Eligibility for Scholarships for ISN staff children requires at least one parent to be a full-time ISN employee; availability is two students per class; eligible grades run from Preschool through Middle School Grade 9. The application period opens with the acceptance of admission forms and closes once capacity is reached, and final decisions are made by the school on a 1-by-1 basis.
School Events
The school has not added events
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