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Sunnyside International School

Japan, Nagoya

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· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Japanese
Fees ¥426,600 - 630,000
Ages 3 - 11 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 1973
Bus Service Yes
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), Japanese Curriculum
Taught languages English, Japanese
Typical class size 24
Strengths STEM, Academic Enrichment, Outdoor Education
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Cultural and Language, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Infant/Toddler Care, Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary
Introduction

Sunnyside International School is located in Gifu City, about a 20-minute train ride from Nagoya, in an area known for the Nagara River and surrounding mountains. The school’s programmes span early childcare (from 6 months) through elementary Grade 6, with kindergarten and a primary department. Sunnyside became Japan’s first PYP authorized “Article one” school in 2016, and its primary programme is underpinned by the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP). The school’s language policy places Japanese as the first language of schooling while increasing English use step-by-step, supported by English specialist teachers. A distinctive feature highlighted on the site is its collaboration with educator James Nottingham’s “Challenging Learning,” including use of the “Learning Pit” model to help students understand what learning feels like.

4 Chome-10-25 Iwai, Gifu, 501-3101, Japan

The Essentials

Sunnyside International School has typical class sizes of 24, instruction in English, Japanese.

Location
Sunnyside International School is located at 4-10-25 Iwai, Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture, 501-3101, Japan. It sits in central Gifu City, near the Nagara River and surrounded by mountains. Gifu is described as central on Japan's main island and the school is about a 20-minute train ride from Nagoya City, with the area attracting both international and domestic visitors.

Stages
The school comprises a Kindergarten division and a Primary School division. The Primary School is based on the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) framework and is aligned with the Japanese national curriculum.

Type
The school is co-educational and operates as a day school. There is no public indication of boarding facilities.

Pupil Nationality Mix
Most of Sunnyside's students are Japanese. The school emphasises international mindedness and maintains an international community with representation beyond local students. A precise nationality breakdown or local-to-international ratio is not published on public pages.

Additional learning support
The school places emphasis on student well-being, with mindfulness practices and a school therapy dog named Milo. It also provides a dual-language program in English and Japanese to support bilingual learning.

Country affiliation
The school is affiliated with Japan as an IB World School and was the first PYP-Authorized (Article 1) IB school in Japan.

Religious affiliation
No religious affiliation is stated in public materials.

School day structure
Public pages do not publish exact start and end times for the school day. The school does publish daily lunch and has office hours for inquiries from 9:00 to 17:00. Bus routes are available to students as part of daily arrangements.

Bus service
A school bus service operates with five routes centered around the campus. The Primary School bus departs from JR Gifu Station. Bus user fees are 5,000 yen round trip or 3,000 yen one way, with service area changes announced each school year.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
Uniforms are required for Sunnyside International School. The entry guidance lists uniforms and learning resources as part of admission fees: Kindergarten uniforms and learning resources cost about ¥35,000, while Primary uniforms and learning resources cost about ¥10,000. The registration fee is listed separately (¥50,000 for Kindergarten entrants; ¥50,000 for Sunnyside Kindergarten graduates or ¥100,000 for others in Primary). Specific details such as uniform color and where to purchase are not provided on the site.

Food Options
The school provides a daily school lunch program. A registered dietitian plans menus using seasonal ingredients to ensure balanced meals, and meals are prepared for both the Kindergarten and Primary sections.

Governance and Ownership
Sunnyside International School is governed by the board of the Watanabe Gakuen Educational Institution. The board serves as the central decision-making body. Board members include Hisao Watanabe (Chair), Hisayuki Watanabe (Head of School at Sunnyside International School), Tatsuyoshi Yabashi (CEO, YABASHI Holdings Ltd), Yoshihiro Kawamura (CEO, Tranomon Jitsugyo Kaikan Ltd), Naohiko Kishi, Tokushi Nakashima, and Sanefumi Sammy Shoji.
Fees

Annual tuition at Sunnyside International School ranges from JPY 426,600 to JPY 630,000 for 2026/27.

Application and entrance fees

- Application fee (paid when submitting the application): ¥5,000.
- Registration / entrance fee (paid on acceptance/entry): Kindergarten: ¥50,000. Primary: ¥50,000 for Sunnyside Kindergarten graduates; ¥100,000 for external entrants.

Tuition — Kindergarten (monthly and annual)

- Monthly tuition (after government subsidy for 3–5 year olds): ¥34,300.
- Monthly equipment / facilities charge: ¥10,000.
- Combined monthly charge (tuition + equipment): ¥44,300 (computed as ¥34,300 + ¥10,000). Annualised amount (12 months): ¥531,600 (computed as ¥44,300 × 12). The school sets the monthly amount by dividing the annual fee into 12 equal monthly payments; the monthly amount does not change by month.
- Annual learning/materials fee: ¥15,000 (billed annually).
- Uniforms and other entry‑time learning resources: approximately ¥120,000.
- Note: the listed monthly tuition figure reflects application of the national/municipal childcare subsidy for eligible children.

Tuition — Primary School (monthly and annual)

- Monthly tuition: ¥55,000.
- Monthly equipment / facilities charge: ¥10,000.
- Combined monthly charge (tuition + equipment): ¥65,000 (computed as ¥55,000 + ¥10,000). Annualised amount (12 months): ¥780,000 (computed as ¥65,000 × 12). The school sets the monthly amount by dividing the annual fee into 12 equal monthly payments; the monthly amount does not change by month.
- Annual education / learning environment fee (billed in two installments): ¥30,000.
- Estimated annual text/notebook costs: around ¥10,000.
- Estimated school‑trip / external learning costs: lower grades approx. ¥30,000/year; upper grades approx. ¥60,000/year (charged as events occur).
- Uniforms and other entry‑time items: approximately ¥10,000.

School bus (transport) fees

- Bus use fee (if used): Round trip: ¥5,000 per month; One way: ¥3,000 per month. Bus routes/availability vary by area. Primary bus departs from JR Gifu Station; kindergarten bus routes are established for certain service areas.

Sibling and other discounts

- Sibling discount: 20% discount on the monthly tuition for the second child when two siblings attend concurrently. Additional concessions exist for larger families.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Monthly billing model: The school states that the monthly tuition and monthly equipment/facilities charge are calculated by dividing the annual amount by 12; monthly payments do not vary with the number of school days in a month. Annual or other fees that are billed separately (for example learning material fees or education environment fees) are collected according to the schedule noted (annual or in two installments as stated). Application fees are payable at application submission; registration/entrance fees are payable at the time of enrollment.

Other one‑time and recurring costs

- Kindergarten: entry‑time uniforms and supplies ≈ ¥120,000. Annual教材費 (teaching materials) ¥15,000. Equipment charge ¥10,000/month.
- Primary: entry‑time uniforms and supplies ≈ ¥10,000. Annual education environment fee ¥30,000 (two installments). Event/field‑trip costs and occasional charges (e.g., overnight school trips) billed as they occur; estimates given for typical years. Annual/recurring event fees: 行事費 ¥10,000/year (two installments).

Refunds and non‑refundable charges

- The application (entrance) fee of ¥5,000 is stated as non‑refundable in the school's admissions notices for recent intake cycles. No other explicit general refund policy for tuition or registration is published on the school's publicly available admissions and news pages.

Boarding / residential provision

- The school operates as a day school; there is no boarding provision described.

Payment methods and how payments are accepted

- The school's public admissions and fees documentation does not publish specific accepted payment methods (for example: bank transfer, credit card, direct debit). Parents should use the school contact channels when arranging payment details.

Summary of key fee figures (rounded where applicable)

- Application fee: ¥5,000 (non‑refundable). Registration/entrance fee: Kindergarten ¥50,000; Primary ¥50,000 (internal) / ¥100,000 (external).
- Kindergarten monthly tuition: ¥34,300; equipment fee: ¥10,000; monthly total ¥44,300; annualised ¥531,600. Annual learning material fee: ¥15,000. Uniforms/entry supplies approx. ¥120,000.
- Primary monthly tuition: ¥55,000; equipment fee: ¥10,000; monthly total ¥65,000; annualised ¥780,000. Annual education environment fee: ¥30,000 (two installments). Uniforms/entry supplies approx. ¥10,000. Field‑trip and event costs billed as incurred (estimates provided).

(Prices are stated in Japanese yen as published in the school's admissions and news materials.)
Academics

Sunnyside International School teaches IB (PYP), Japanese Curriculum for students aged 3 to 11.

Curriculum
Sunnyside International School is an IB World School authorized to deliver the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for learners aged 3–12, with PYP accreditation granted in 2016 as Japan's first Article 1 PYP school. The PYP emphasizes concept-based, transdisciplinary learning organized around six transdisciplinary themes: Who we are; How we express ourselves; Where we are in place and time; How we organize ourselves; How the world works; Sharing the planet. The curriculum develops learners through Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills—Self-management, Social, Research, Thinking, and Communication—within inquiry-driven units. Language instruction includes Japanese as the primary language and English as an additional language, with the English curriculum using THRASS and integration of language learning with units of inquiry. The program foregrounds Student Agency, Well-being, and ICT Education as integral components of learning as part of the IB framework.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Well-being and social-emotional learning are central to Sunnyside's approach, with emotional stability described as essential for productive learning and careful attention paid to each child's readiness to learn. The IB Learner Profile emphasizes a balanced life, encouraging outdoor play and healthy eating, and teachers aim to avoid excessive workloads to support wellbeing. The school promotes positive relationships by encouraging students to talk to their teachers when they feel unsettled and by inviting parents to discuss student wellbeing. Mindfulness is taught to help students manage emotions, with practices such as deep breathing and short walks, and Milo the school therapy dog provides additional emotional support. In the PYP, wellbeing guidance includes Be healthy, Be curious, Be caring, Be social, Be thoughtful, and Be aware, with SDG awareness integrated into the curriculum.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision. There is no dedicated SEN policy or SEN support page listed on Sunnyside's English-language site. The Language Acquisition page describes a bilingual program with Japanese as the primary language and English taught as an additional language delivered through collaboration between Japanese homeroom teachers and English specialist teachers, but this does not specify SEN services. The school is an IB World School (PYP), but explicit SEN accommodations or specialist provision are not stated in published materials. Given the absence of publicly disclosed SEN information, families should contact the school directly to inquire about any assessment processes, accommodations, and supports available.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Sunnyside provides a dual-language program with English and Japanese. Japanese is the primary language of instruction, with English taught as an additional language in varied exposure across the school. The language policy describes collaboration between Japanese homeroom teachers and English specialist teachers, with joint planning to deepen understanding. English education is framed as important, emphasizing learning English in the context of daily life. The school notes a language portrait tool to capture a learner's language profile, and multilingualism is valued for developing international-mindedness.

Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is a core focus of Sunnyside's wellbeing approach, with strategies to support emotional health and resilience embedded in daily practice. Mindfulness techniques are taught to help students regulate emotions, including breathing exercises and short walks. Milo the school therapy dog provides a visible, comforting presence for students and staff. There is emphasis on student voice and agency, including a Primary Student Council that discusses wellbeing and school life, and on maintaining open communication with families. The Well-being framework for the PYP outlines Be healthy, Be curious, Be caring, Be social, Be thoughtful, and Be aware, with SDGs integrated into wellbeing education.

Safeguarding
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding safeguarding or child-protection policies on public materials. No dedicated safeguarding page is listed on Sunnyside's English-language site. The site sitemap lists Privacy Policy but does not enumerate safeguarding policies. For safeguarding arrangements, families should contact the school directly to request information about safeguarding procedures, designated safeguarding leads, reporting processes, and training. The lack of publicly available safeguarding information means inquiries must be made directly to obtain official documentation.
Parent Experience

History
The Sunnyside International School's history goes back to Nagara Kindergarten in Gifu, founded by Yone Watanabe almost 100 years ago. The institution grew under the Watanabe family, and Nagara 2nd Kindergarten was renamed Sunnyside International School as English-language education expanded. In 2012 the leadership began pursuing IB education and shifted from a teacher-led model to a student-centered approach. In 2016 Sunnyside became Japan's first IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) authorized school (Article One). In 2017, Head of School Hisayuki Watanabe was appointed to the IB Heads Council for the Asia Pacific region, reflecting the school's growing international role.

Community
The Sunnyside community includes students, their families and faculty, united around a bilingual, international-minded learning environment. Parents contribute and share experiences through the Parents' Voice section, which includes testimonials about IB implementation and daily school life. The school calendar features events that foster cultural exchange and family participation, reinforcing a sense of community beyond the classroom. Notable events include a Halloween party where the entire kindergarten dresses in costumes, a sports day with active parent–child participation, and Japanese cultural celebrations such as Bon Odori and mikoshi processions.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
A distinct Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is not described on the site. Parent involvement is organized through channels such as the Parents' Voice page and the School Board, which together provide avenues for feedback and engagement. The Leadership & Governance page outlines a board with diverse business and educational backgrounds, including Hisao Watanabe as chair and Hisayuki Watanabe as head of school. The Parents' Voice section contains firsthand parent testimonials about the IB program, classroom experiences and school life. School events—such as Halloween, sports day, and cultural activities like Bon Odori and mikoshi celebrations—show ongoing parent participation integrated into the school program. While a formal PTA is not specified, parent engagement is supported through these governance and community channels.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The Sunnyside International School campus is located at 4-10-25 Iwai, Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture, 501-3101, Japan. Kindergarten and Primary School are part of Sunnyside. The school operates in English and Japanese through a bilingual program.

Academic Facilities
The school is fully authorized as an International Baccalaureate World School and offers the IB Primary Years Programme. Language Acquisition includes a dual-language program of English and Japanese. English Education is integrated with daily life context to support English language development. KAURI Learners is a sister-school program with a New Zealand partner to support studying abroad. ICT education is emphasised to build IT skills and digital literacy. Most of the students are Japanese, and the school's approach combines inquiry-based learning with student agency within the PYP framework.

Extra Curricular Facilities
KAURI Learners provides study-abroad opportunities through Sunnyside's sister-school arrangement with a New Zealand partner.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The Primary School uses the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and an inquiry-based approach to learning. The curriculum emphasizes student agency, with voice, choice, and ownership in learning. The school offers field trips and excursions and overnight external learning experiences to deepen inquiry, with external specialists such as museums providing authentic learning moments. For example, the school conducted a 2-night-3-day hiking camp in Gujo City to develop independent learning.

Arts & Creative
Arts are integrated into Sunnyside's curriculum through activities in art, drama, and music to foster creativity. The Kindergarten section specifically highlights ‘Be creative through art activities' and notes that art, drama, and music are essential for developing creativity. Annual events include music performances, such as a Christmas concert in December, demonstrating ongoing arts engagement. The arts program spans both Kindergarten and Primary and is visible in regular performances and artistic activities.

Cultural & Language
International-mindedness shapes Sunnyside's approach to culture and language. The Primary Education section emphasizes learning Japanese language and traditional culture and includes daily-life elements of ‘Japaneseness' to nurture identity. The curriculum supports global citizenship and cross-cultural communication within its inquiry-based framework. These cultural and language initiatives are embedded in daily school life and events.

Social & Hobbies
A Primary School Student Council provides a formal channel for student voice and leadership. Sunnyside emphasises social and collaboration skills as part of its Approaches to Learning (ATL) framework. Mindfulness and well-being practices, including a school therapy dog named Milo, support social interactions and emotional health. Partnerships with families are encouraged through tools like Class Dojo to maintain home–school connection in daily life.

Community & Service
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) awareness is embedded in the curriculum to promote social responsibility and a global outlook. The school emphasizes international-mindedness and learning about cultural and societal issues as part of daily life. These elements foster a sense of community responsibility beyond the classroom and guide students to think about their role in the wider world.

Leadership & Professional
Leadership opportunities exist through the Primary School Student Council, enabling students to participate in school decision-making. The school's Student Agency framework develops key professional skills, including thinking, communication, research, and collaboration (ATL). Ongoing emphasis on ownership of learning supports students' development as capable, independent leaders.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Well-being is a formal focus at Sunnyside, emphasizing emotional stability and a balanced approach to learning. The program includes mindfulness practices and a school therapy dog (Milo) to support students' emotional health. Students are encouraged to be active and healthy, with guidance to engage in outdoor play and maintain a balanced diet. Annual events feature sports activities, such as Sports Day, and other outdoor and cultural activities that promote physical health and wellbeing.
Languages

Language Provision
Languages taught at Sunnyside are Japanese (primary language of instruction) and English (second language). The school operates a dual-language program in English and Japanese, with collaboration between Japanese homeroom teachers and English specialists to weave English into the curriculum and Units of Inquiry. English instruction uses the THRASS approach to support reading, spelling, and handwriting, and is designed to connect language learning to students' daily life and inquiry. The language policy recognises home languages and multilingualism and aligns language learning with the Primary Years Programme, which begins at age 3.

Bilingual Teaching
Sunnyside International School runs a dual-language program in English and Japanese. Japanese is the primary language of instruction, while English is taught as a second language with exposure that varies across the school. In Kindergarten and beyond, Japanese homeroom teachers collaborate with English specialist teachers to plan and deliver lessons, integrating English into units of inquiry. The Primary Years Programme (PYP) used by the school begins at age 3 and continues through age 12.
Reputation

Accreditations
- International Baccalaureate World School (PYP) authorization since 2016. Sunnyside was the first school in Japan to be awarded the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) accreditation as a nationally recognized school, allowing it to deliver the PYP curriculum.
- Article 1 / Ichijo-kou status under Japan's School Education Act (recognition by the Japanese Ministry of Education). This status identifies Sunnyside as a formally recognized Japanese school, linked to its IB PYP authorization.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Determine the target program and verify capacity. Sunnyside International School offers a Kindergarten program (including a 3-year-old class and a 4–5-year-old class) and a Primary program. The 3-year-old Kindergarten class has a published capacity of 72 students, while the 4–5-year-old class capacity is not published and requires direct confirmation. The Primary section lists a 1st Grade capacity of 24 students, with other grades to be confirmed.

2. Prepare and submit the application, and note initial fees. For Kindergarten, the application fee is ¥5,000 at submission and the registration fee is ¥50,000; uniforms and learning resources are roughly ¥35,000. The monthly Kindergarten tuition is ¥34,300, with optional bus service at ¥5,000 round trip or ¥3,000 one-way, and an annual learning material fee of ¥15,000. For Primary, the application fee is ¥5,000 and the registration fee is ¥50,000 for Sunnyside Kindergarten graduates or ¥100,000 for others; uniforms are around ¥10,000; monthly tuition is ¥50,000, bus fees are the same as Kindergarten, and the annual learning material fee is ¥30,000 (in two installments).

3. Review ongoing costs and plan payment, including subsidies and discounts. Kindergarten monthly tuition is ¥34,300, with bus costs as above; an annual learning material fee is ¥15,000. Primary monthly tuition is ¥50,000, with a bus cost of ¥5,000 round trip or ¥3,000 one-way, and an annual learning material fee of ¥30,000 (two installments). A government subsidy is applied to all 3–5-year-old children, and Sunnyside offers a 20% sibling discount when two siblings attend together.

4. Consider transportation and logistics. The school offers a bus service where applicable; the bus fee applies to users only. Bus service areas can change each school year, and you may need to bring your child to the nearest bus stop if you reside outside the service area. The Primary bus departs from JR Gifu Station, which may influence planning for morning drop-off and pickup.

5. Engage with the Open Campus program for an on-site experience. The Admissions section includes an Open Campus option, described as a way to visit the campus and learn about the program; details and sign-up information are communicated via the site and inquiry channels. To arrange visits or obtain the latest dates, contact Sunnyside International School by phone at 058-241-1000 or use the inquiry form.

6. Enrollment and starting procedures after acceptance. Enrollment requires completing the applicable registration and paying the associated fees, along with ongoing tuition, bus, and learning-material charges as outlined above. A 20% sibling discount applies when two siblings attend together. For any questions about timelines, timelines, or specific enrollment steps, reach the school at 058-241-1000 or via the inquiry form.

Scholarships
No scholarship program is described on the admissions or tuition-related pages. The published information covers application and registration fees, uniform and learning-resource costs, monthly tuition, bus charges, and material fees, plus a 20% sibling discount and a government-subsidy note for 3–5-year-olds. There is no separate scholarship section listed.

Waitlist
There is no published waitlist or pool policy described in the admissions pages. Capacity information is published for each program (e.g., Kindergarten 3-year-old class capacity 72; 1st Grade Primary capacity 24), but no formal waitlist process is outlined. Parents may need to contact the school directly for guidance on spot availability and timing.
School Events
The school has not added events
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