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New International School of Japan

Japan, Tokyo

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Japanese
Fees ¥2,160,000 - 2,800,000
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 275
Type Co-educational
Opened 2001
Bus Service Yes
Academic offering
Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum, Japanese Curriculum
Taught languages Italian, Mandarin
Typical class size 20
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Visual and Creative Arts
Clubs Arts and Creative, Social and Hobbies
Stages Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School, High School
Introduction

New International School of Japan (NewIS) is a dual-language school in Minami-Ikebukuro, Tokyo, welcoming students from Pre-K (age 3) through Grade 12. Learning is delivered in English and Japanese, and the school describes its program as a dual-language implementation inspired by Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence, taught in multiage classes. Typical classrooms are staffed by two full-time teachers for about twenty children. From the year children turn six, students learn to play the violin by ear, and Mandarin Chinese is offered as an elective. The school also notes physical education includes International Tae Kwon Do. For access, NewIS is a short walk from major stations including Ikebukuro, and it offers a routed school bus service.

3 Chome-18-32 Minamiikebukuro, Toshima City, Tokyo 171-0022, Japan

The Essentials

New International School of Japan has 275 pupils, typical class sizes of 20, instruction in English, Japanese.

Location
The New International School of Japan is located at 3-18-32 Minami-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-0022, Japan. It sits in the Minami-Ikebukuro district, within easy reach of Ikebukuro Station and Zoshigaya Station, with access to multiple transit lines. The campus comprises two main buildings and additional facilities nearby in Ikebukuro. The school is about a 9–10 minute walk from Ikebukuro Station and about a 3 minute walk from Zoshigaya Station on the Toden line.

Stages
The New International School of Japan serves Pre-K (age three) through Grade 12. Classes are organized in a dual-language, multi-age model, with mixed-age groupings rather than strict single-age cohorts.

Type
The school is a private international school. It operates as a private, non-governmental institution offering education from early years through high school level.

Pupil Nationality Mix
As of the 2024–25 school year the student body is about 275 students and represents many nationalities. The most common nationality is described as dual nationals of Japanese and another nationality, reflecting a diverse bilingual community; the school does not publish a fixed local-to-international ratio.

Additional learning support
Public information does not list a dedicated SEN program or established SEN facilities. Parents considering additional learning needs should contact admissions for specific provisions.

Country affiliation
There is no formal country affiliation published for the school.

Religious affiliation
There is no religious affiliation noted for the school.

School day structure
Public pages do not publish exact start/end times for the regular school day. The school does run a Saturday program from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and a Summer Program from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Bus service
The school runs a bus service with two 28-seat buses and four smaller buses. Bus routes are managed by the school office, and families can apply via OpenApply; inquiries should be directed to the bus coordinator at busservice@newis.ed.jp.
Diving Deeper

Governance and Ownership
The school is governed by the School Corporation Iwata Gakuen.
Fees

Annual tuition at New International School of Japan ranges from JPY 2,160,000 to JPY 2,800,000 for 2026/27.

One‑time entrance and capital fees

- Entrance fee: JPY 330,000 per child (due upon acceptance).
- Building and facilities fee (one‑time, payable with initial tuition payment): JPY 450,000 for the first child; JPY 300,000 for each second and subsequent child.

Annual tuition fees (amounts published for the 2025–2026 school year) — shown by year group and sibling order

- Pre‑Kindergarten (PK1, PK2; ages 3–4):
- 1st child: JPY 1,960,000 per year.
- 2nd child: JPY 1,800,000 per year.
- 3rd child (and subsequent): JPY 1,600,000 per year.

- Kindergarten (K) – Grade 1 (ages 5–6):
- 1st child: JPY 2,360,000 per year.
- 2nd child: JPY 2,050,000 per year.
- 3rd child (and subsequent): JPY 1,800,000 per year.

- Grades 2 – 6:
- 1st child: JPY 2,450,000 per year.
- 2nd child: JPY 2,150,000 per year.
- 3rd child (and subsequent): JPY 1,850,000 per year.

- Grades 7 – 8:
- 1st child: JPY 2,560,000 per year.
- 2nd child: JPY 2,260,000 per year.
- 3rd child (and subsequent): JPY 1,960,000 per year.

- Grades 9 – 12:
- 1st child: JPY 2,600,000 per year.
- 2nd child: JPY 2,320,000 per year.
- 3rd child (and subsequent): JPY 2,000,000 per year.

Annual resource & program development fee

- JPY 200,000 per child (annual).

Per‑term fees

- The published materials give tuition as annual amounts. No published per‑term tuition breakdown (specific term instalments or per‑term invoice amounts) is provided on the tuition and fees page. Annual fees are presented as the standard reference.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Entrance fee is due upon acceptance. The building and facilities fee is due with the initial tuition payment. Annual tuition for new students is stated and is prorated by month for late entrants. No detailed billing calendar (specific invoice dates, term‑by‑term due dates, or instalment schedule) or late‑payment penalties are published on the tuition and fees page.

Sibling discount / pricing structure

- Tuition is reduced for second and third (and subsequent) children as shown in the year‑group rates above (distinct 1st, 2nd and 3rd child amounts).

Optional program and service fees

- Extended care: JPY 2,000 per day.
- School bus service (optional):
- Round trip: JPY 350,000 for the first child; JPY 250,000 for each subsequent child.
- One‑way: JPY 250,000 for the first child; JPY 175,000 for each subsequent child.

Boarding fees

- No boarding provision or boarding fees are listed; tuition and optional service fees reference day‑school services only.

Uniforms and other school charges

- The published tuition and fees page does not itemize a uniform fee or list materials/uniform charges. Other routine or incidental charges (for example field trips, specialist programme fees, personal supplies) are not detailed on the tuition and fees page.

Refund information

- No specific refund policy for entrance, building or tuition fees is published on the tuition and fees page. The only payment‑timing details provided are entrance fee due upon acceptance and that annual fees are prorated by month for late entrants. No published statement on refunds or fee cancellation terms appears on the tuition and fees page.

Fee payment options (methods)

- The tuition and fees page does not list accepted payment methods (for example bank transfer, credit card, etc.) or bank details.

Summary of items not published on the tuition page

- Specific per‑term invoice amounts or a term instalment schedule, exact billing dates, detailed payment terms (accepted payment methods, bank details), an explicit refund/cancellation policy for fees, and any uniform or materials charge are not listed on the school's published tuition and fees page. For clarity: entrance fee (JPY 330,000), the building/facilities one‑time fee (JPY 450,000 / JPY 300,000), annual tuition rates by grade and sibling order, the JPY 200,000 resource/program fee, extended care and bus fees are published.
Academics

New International School of Japan teaches Bespoke Curriculum, Japanese Curriculum for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
New International School of Japan provides a bilingual, multiage education for children aged 3 through Grade 12. The curriculum is delivered in English and Japanese, reflecting a dual-language, student-centered approach and organized around a three-year thematic cycle. The program draws on the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence and is informed by the Compass and Putney Schools for secondary study. Mandarin Chinese is offered as an elective from about age six, and violin instruction begins by ear from that age. As of the 2024-25 school year, about 275 students are enrolled across the 3–12/Grade 12 range, graduates attend universities in Japan or abroad, and there are Saturday and Summer programs available.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The New International School of Japan supports social and emotional learning through a developmentally-based, multiage, dual-language environment that celebrates diversity and inclusion, fosters self-motivation and a healthy self-image, and develops academic and social skills in English and Japanese.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The publicly available materials do not specify a dedicated SEN program or list the kinds of Special Educational Needs the school can support, nor is NewIS described as a specialist SEN institution.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
EAL support is embedded in the dual-language framework: instruction occurs in English and Japanese; home languages are celebrated and supported; students become bilingual or multilingual, with Chinese offered as an additional language.

Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is supported as part of the SEL approach, with emphasis on self-motivation, a healthy self-image, and respect for others within an inclusive, diverse learning community.

Safeguarding
Safeguarding and child protection are prioritized; NewIS is committed to child protection and safeguarding in all practices.
Parent Experience

History
New International School of Japan (NewIS) was founded in 2001 in Tokyo as the first international school specifically established to meet the needs of permanent international marriages and long‑term residents, offering dual‑language and multiage education. Steven Parr served as the founding director/head of school, and the school was established under the sponsorship of Iwata Gakuen. The school began with students aged 3 to Grade 9 and extended to Grade 12 from August 28, 2014. NewIS operates as a non‑profit educational foundation, governed in association with Iwata Gakuen and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) and the Council of International Schools (CIS); it is a member of JCIS, PEN, and TAIP. In 2025 the campus facilities were expanded with the A‑Bis Minami‑Ikebukuro Building to increase capacity and support more students.

Community
The NewIS campus is located in Minami-Ikebukuro, Tokyo, on two complete buildings with additional spaces, reflecting a multi-building urban campus. As of the 2024–25 school year, about 275 students from age 3 to Grade 12 are enrolled, supported by more than 55 full-time staff. The school offers a range of student-centered events and cultural weeks, including Book Week, Autumn Festival Week, Heritage Week, and Science and Technology Weeks, as well as Snow Day, Picnic and Field Day, a Spring Carnival, and yearly musical productions. The community oversees Saturday and Summer Programs, and online/or onsite orientations are conducted for prospective families in English and Japanese. The school is a member of JCIS, PEN, and TAIP, reflecting its integrated international education network.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Public information does not publish a standalone PTA for NewIS. Parent involvement channels include English‑ and Japanese‑language orientations for prospective families, participation in the school's Summer Program (which features in‑person exhibitions and performances for parents on the last day), and engagement through the Corporate Contribution and Scholarship Program that enables corporate donations to fund scholarships and facilities improvements. NewIS is a non‑profit school and a founding member of the Corporate Contribution Program Association (CCPA), which coordinates these contributions. These mechanisms provide organized avenues for parental involvement alongside routine school communications. For details, orientations are scheduled online in English and Japanese, and the Summer Program pages describe parent-facing events.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
New International School of Japan is located in Tokyo's Minami-Ikebukuro area and operates across multiple buildings, with the Excellence Ikebukuro Building serving as the main campus and a new six-story A-Bis Minami-Ikebukuro Building added for the secondary school from July 2025. The NewIS Library is on the first floor of the Excellence Ikebukuro Building and is supported by the NewIS AccessIt Library system. All classes have weekly timetabled visits to the library to borrow books, and students use a library bag to carry items; the first bag is provided at no charge, with replacement bags costing 1,000 yen. The campus is within a 9- to 10-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station, with access to multiple lines, reflecting the school's urban location and appeal to relocating families.

Academic Facilities
The school's academic facilities include a dedicated library on the first floor of the Excellence Ikebukuro Building, accessed through the NewIS AccessIt Library system. Students have weekly library visits as part of the curriculum, and borrowing is managed via a library account.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The NewIS Summer Program provides active, experiential learning through drama, music, art, digital media, domestic sciences, and other creative activities. The program runs from July 10 to August 8, 2025, with daily hours from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and an aftercare option extending to 4:30 p.m. English- and Japanese-language options are available for children aged 3 to 17. The program maintains a maximum ratio of 12 students per teacher.

Arts & Creative
The Summer Program includes drama, music, art, digital media, and other creative activities. Exhibitions and performances of student work take place on the last day of each session. There are English- and Japanese-language options for ages 3 to 17. The program hours are 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with aftercare available until 4:30 p.m.

Cultural & Language
NewIS uses dual-language and multiage education. The Saturday Program provides intensive English classes on Saturdays, with classes running from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Saturday program is offered for the 2025–26 school year, from September 2025 to June 2026. Italian language classes are offered on Saturdays through Il Centro Dante Alighieri Tokyo.

Social & Hobbies
Saturday Program features theme-based activities each week, with classes from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Participants may sign up for the full program or for individual dates. A snack is provided mid-morning. External children may participate in the Saturday Program.
Languages

Language Provision
Languages taught at NewIS include English and Japanese as part of the dual-language program, with Mandarin Chinese offered as an elective. The home language(s) of each student are celebrated, encouraged, and supported. The school serves students from age 3 (Pre-K) through Grade 12, and language learning is integrated across the curriculum.

Bilingual Teaching
New International School of Japan uses a dual language and multiage education model. The program is designed to develop bilingual or multilingual capabilities, with academic and social skills in both English and Japanese developed throughout the curriculum. The school serves students from Pre-K (age 3) through Grade 12, and home languages are celebrated, encouraged, and supported. Mandarin Chinese is offered as an additional language option.

Immersion Programs
NewIS follows a bilingual immersion approach across its Pre-K to Grade 12 program, with learning designed to develop proficiency in both English and Japanese across the curriculum. Mandarin Chinese is available as an elective, expanding multilingual options beyond the core bilingual program. The school emphasizes celebration and support of students' home languages and provides language-related opportunities such as weekend/holiday language offerings. Saturday and Summer programs provide additional English- or Japanese-language exposure as part of the school's language experiences.
Reputation

Awards
null

Accreditations
Accreditations: Council of International Schools (CIS) and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA).
Admissions

Admissions
1. Orientation attendance: Attendance by one or both parents at an online or onsite orientation is required. The school offers online or in-person orientations, run in English and in Japanese, and registration is done via the orientations page. These sessions explain the program, admissions steps, and how to begin the application. Plan to attend before submitting any application materials.

2. Open Apply online application: Complete the OPEN APPLY online application form. There is no application fee, and after submitting you should verify and open the parent account as directed. This form initiates the formal admission process and collects initial information about the child and family.

3. Health history form: Complete an online Health History Form for each child. These forms are available from the Open Apply parent account once it is opened.

4. Transcripts and supporting documents: Provide transcripts or copies of reports for the most recent two years for each child. For applicants to grades 10–12, transcripts from Grade 8 onward are required. Transcripts may be uploaded in OPEN APPLY, emailed, or mailed to the school; for Early Learning Center or Grade One applicants, a transcript may not be required if the prior school does not issue one.

5. Interview: An interview with parent(s) and child(ren) is conducted online or onsite. If neither parent speaks English or Japanese, an interpreter should be provided by the family. This interview assesses fit with the school's program and mission.

6. Language proficiency (grades 9–12): Applicants to Grades 9–12 must have sufficient proficiency in English and/or Japanese to follow the curriculum. The school reviews language readiness as part of the admission decision.

7. Admission decision: After the interview and review of all materials, admission is granted subject to available space and completeness of records, and when the school is confident the child will benefit from the program and the family will support school policies. Decisions are made on a rolling basis, so early application is advised to avoid a waiting list.

8. Enrollment and fees: If admitted, the Entrance Fee must be paid within ten days to hold the space. The remainder of the fees is paid according to the schedule and payment options provided by the school. A bus application form is also available in the Open Apply dashboard for families who want transportation.

9. Transportation (optional): If you plan to use the school bus, submit the bus application form via the Open Apply dashboard or contact the school bus coordinator. The school operates several bus routes; the bus service is coordinated through the bus coordinator, with contact available in the School Bus Service page.

Scholarships
Corporate Contribution and Scholarship Program: New International School is a non-profit (Gakko Hojin) institution that participates in a Corporate Contribution and Scholarship Program established in 1978 under an agreement with Japan's National Tax Administration Agency. Corporations or organizations can donate directly to the school instead of providing taxable educational benefits to expatriate employees' families; donations fund corporate scholarships for employees' children and support facility and resource development. If a decision to participate is made after enrollment, prepaid fees (including the entrance fee) may be refunded. For more details, contact the school.

Waitlist
Waitlist/pool status: Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis, and early application is advised to avoid a waiting list. In addition, Expanded Facilities from the 2025-26 school year include a new building that eliminates waiting lists from the Fall Term 2025, signaling a shift toward in-area availability for new students. This suggests that waitlist pressures were reduced starting in Fall 2025 due to expanded capacity.
School Events
The school has not added events
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