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Marist Brothers International School

Japan, Kobe

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· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

Independently researched by doris.
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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees ¥1,791,000 - 2,167,000
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 500
Type Co-educational
Opened 1951
Bus Service Yes
Availability Not shared by this school
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), American Curriculum, Catholic Curriculum
Taught languages English, Japanese
Typical class size 25
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Visual and Creative Arts, Service and Sustainability
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Community and Service, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction

Marist Brothers International School (MBIS) in Kobe, Japan, is an international day school serving students from Early Years through Grade 12 with instruction primarily in English. Founded in 1951, the school offers International Baccalaureate programmes (PYP, MYP and DP) This allows the school to form a continuous curriculum designed to support global learning from early childhood through the diploma years. The campus is situated in the residential Suma area of Kobe, near both mountains and the sea, providing a peaceful setting within easy reach of urban amenities. MBIS embraces a diverse community, with students from many backgrounds learning in a multilingual environment. Athletics, arts and service are integral to student life alongside formal academic programmes. The school also provides transportation services and a broad range of extracurricular clubs. Marist emphasises character development, teamwork and personal growth, with English as the core language of instruction and a wide range of co-curricular opportunities for students.

www.marist.ac.jp

1 Chome-2-1 Chimoricho, Suma Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 654-0072, Japan

Vibes and Culture
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The Essentials

Marist Brothers International School has 500 pupils, typical class sizes of 25, instruction in English.

Location
MBIS is located in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. The campus address is 1-2-1 Chimori-cho, Suma-ku, Kobe 654-0072. It sits in a quiet residential area between the mountains and the sea, close to Kobe's coast. The school is within easy reach by foot to Suma Station, with two train lines nearby.

Stages
MBIS offers education from Early Years through Grade 12. It is an IB World School offering the full continuum (PYP, MYP, and DP) and is accredited by WASC.

Type
MBIS is a co-educational international day school.

Pupil Nationality Mix
About 35 nationalities are represented. The largest group is Japanese (around 23%), followed by North Americans (about 18%), with roughly 59% of students coming from the rest of the world; overall, international students comprise the majority of the student body.

Additional learning support
MBIS provides counseling services to support students' academic, social, emotional, and mental well-being, with a school counselor and collaboration with specialists. It includes targeted support for developmental and other special needs.

Country affiliation
MBIS does not have a formal country affiliation; it is located in Japan and serves a diverse international student body.

Religious affiliation
MBIS is founded by the Marist Brothers, a Catholic religious order, and operates within the Marist educational tradition.

School day structure
Students typically follow a school day with morning homeroom/assembly, first period starting around 8:50 AM and dismissal around 3:10 PM; after-school activities and clubs can continue beyond that time.

Bus service
MBIS runs its own bus service with routes such as Shioya and Ashiya. The Shioya route schedules pickups at about 7:55–8:20 AM and afternoon drops around 3:25–3:50 PM. The Ashiya route serves multiple stops with pickups around 7:15–7:55 AM and afternoon drops around 4:20 PM. Timetables are published for each route.
Diving Deeper
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Fees

Annual tuition at Marist Brothers International School ranges from JPY 1,791,000 to JPY 2,167,000 for 2026/27.

Application and one‑time enrollment fees
- Application fee: ¥60,000 (one‑time, payable at application).
- Registration / enrollment (acceptance) fee: ¥630,000 (one‑time, payable on acceptance).

Tuition — annual amounts by year group (standard annual tuition charged for the school year)
- Early Years (Kindergarten 1, Kindergarten 2, Kindergarten 3): ¥1,791,000 per year.
- Elementary (Grade 1–Grade 5): ¥2,030,000 per year.
- Lower Middle/Upper Elementary (Grade 6–Grade 10): ¥2,158,000 per year.
- Upper School (Grade 11–Grade 12): ¥2,167,000 per year.

First‑year total for new entrants (example of first‑year breakdown for Early Years / K1)
- Example (K1 first year): Application fee ¥60,000 + Registration fee ¥630,000 + Tuition ¥1,611,000 + Technology fee ¥180,000 = Total initial payment ¥2,481,000 for the first year (one‑time and annual components combined).

Other recurring and one‑off fees
- Technology / IT fee: a separate annual technology fee is charged (example figures shown in the fee schedule).
- Development / school fund and building/maintenance levies: the fee schedule includes development or capital/building contributions; these appear as one‑time or annual items in the published schedule.
- Uniforms: winter and summer uniforms and a PE kit are required; a full uniform price list is published. Uniform items are charged separately.
- Bus service: an optional school bus is provided (two daily routes) and a bus brochure with route and service information is published; bus fees are charged in addition to tuition.
- After‑school / Extended Day program: charged quarterly based on days per week attended (example quarter prices are published and billed by quarter).

Boarding
- MBIS operates as a day school and does not provide boarding accommodation. Transportation and optional bus service are provided for day students.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Application fees are payable at application; registration/enrollment fees are payable on acceptance to secure the place. Tuition and other recurring charges are invoiced according to the school's published fee schedule and billing system. The school uses SchoolsBuddy/ManageBac for school management and billing processes.
- Credit‑card payments are accepted but a card processing surcharge applies where noted (credit‑card payment currently incurs an additional processing fee of 5% when used for admissions payments). Bank transfer instructions are supplied in the applicant account for wire payments.

Refunds and withdrawal / cancellation notes
- For the Extended Day program: fees are charged quarterly and no refunds are issued once a quarter has begun.
- The school's published fee schedule and policies set the specific terms for refunds, withdrawals, and any refundable deposits; those policies govern whether application, registration, development, or other fees are refundable in particular circumstances. Parents should note that some one‑time fees (application/registration) are typically treated as non‑refundable in the school's fee materials.

Accepted payment methods and practical notes
- Typical payment methods: bank transfer (wire) and credit card; bank transfer details are provided in the applicant billing portal. Credit‑card payments may carry a processing surcharge. Billing and incidental charges are managed through the school's parent billing systems.

Notes for parents (concise)
- The school publishes a detailed Fee Schedule (itemised annual and one‑time fees, and the billing calendar). The headline items above (application, registration, technology, tuition by grade and common additional charges such as uniforms, bus and extended day) are the main cost categories to expect when budgeting for enrollment.
Academics

Marist Brothers International School teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), American Curriculum, Catholic Curriculum for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
MBIS in Kobe, Japan offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum for students from Early Years through Grade 12, with English as the language of instruction and alignment with Common Core standards. The Primary Years Programme (PYP) guides learners from Early Years 3 to Grade 5 through inquiry-based, transdisciplinary units that integrate language, mathematics, science, social studies, arts, physical education, and religion. The Middle Years Programme (MYP) runs from Grade 6 to Grade 10 across eight subject groups—English, Individuals and Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, Arts, an additional language (Japanese), Physical Education, and Design—and includes a Grade 10 Personal Project. The Diploma Programme (DP) for Grades 11–12 requires six subjects across Groups 1–6 (Studies in language and literature, Language acquisition, Individuals and Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, and The Arts) and the core Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and CAS. MBIS has been IB-authorized since 2017 and is accredited by WASC, confirming its global standards of curriculum design and assessment.
Wellbeing
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Parent Experience
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Facilities
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Extra-Curricular Activities
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Languages
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Reputation
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Admissions

Admissions
1. Submit an Online Application: Begin by submitting the online application with the required details about the child and family. An online Applicant Page is created after submission to organize and track the process. An application fee is required and can be paid via bank transfer or credit card, incurring a 5% processing fee. 2. Provide Supporting Documents: Upload all necessary documents, including academic records from the past three years, proof of identity, and a recommendation from a current teacher or principal. A checklist of the required documents is provided in the online Applicant Page to guide families. 3. Interview & Assessment: After the application is reviewed, an admissions team member will schedule an interview with the Divisional Head. An English language proficiency test may be administered if deemed necessary for certain grades. 4. Finalize Enrollment: If accepted, complete the required enrollment forms and submit payment for the enrollment deposit. All applicants must reside in the Kansai region with at least one parent or guardian during study, and the school does not sponsor student visas; families should arrange the visa themselves and can request proof of admission if needed.

Scholarships
Marist Brothers International School offers scholarships and tuition assistance programs to support families. Eligibility criteria and application guidelines are outlined in the Scholarships and Tuition Assistance Policy. For the 2025–2026 academic year, a detailed Fee Schedule is available, and scholarship programs are designed to assist students based on merit and/or need. Parents should review the policy for specifics on how to apply and qualify.

Waitlist
If no space is available in the requested grade level, an applicant may be placed in a wait pool. The wait pool operates as a pool of candidates rather than a strict sequential list. When a space becomes available, the most suitable candidate is selected from the pool, and some grade levels may be nearing capacity, which influences waitpool usage.
School Events
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