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The American School in Japan

Japan, Tokyo

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees ¥2,987,000 - 3,783,000
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 1731
Type Co-educational
Opened 1902
Bus Service Yes
Academic offering
Curriculum Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum
Taught languages Japanese
Typical class size 20
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, STEM
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Community and Service, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School, High School
Introduction

The American School in Japan (ASIJ), founded in 1902, is a non-profit, co-educational school in Tokyo serving students from nursery through high school on two campuses. Younger children attend the Early Learning Center in Roppongi (nursery–kindergarten), while the main campus in Chofu serves kindergarten–grade 12 next to Nogawa Park. ASIJ follows an American-model curriculum and offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses, including AP Capstone. High school students also have structured support through a seminar program and grades 11–12 can complete a two-year Deep Learning Signature Program. Beyond classes, students can choose from 170+ co-curricular options, including VEX Robotics, iGEM, Model UN and extensive arts and athletics opportunities.

Japan, 〒182-0031 Tokyo, Chofu, Nomizu, 1 Chome−１−1

The Essentials

The American School in Japan has 1,731 pupils, typical class sizes of 20, instruction in English.

Location
ASIJ operates on two Tokyo campuses: the Chofu Campus at 1-1-1 Nomizu, Chofu-shi, Tokyo 182-0031, and the Early Learning Center at 6-16-5 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032. The Chofu Campus hosts the main school divisions, while the Early Learning Center serves nursery through kindergarten in central Tokyo. The bus system serves neighborhoods across downtown Tokyo and ASIJ provides transport as part of campus life.

Stages
ASIJ is organized into four divisions: the Early Learning Center (Nursery–Kinder), Elementary School (Kinder–5th), Middle School (6th–8th), and High School (9th–12th).

Type
ASIJ is a non-profit, co-educational international day school.

Pupil Nationality Mix
The school represents students from over 50 nationalities. American families make up about half of the student body, and roughly half of the families are bi-cultural with parents from the United States and Japan.

Additional learning support
ASIJ offers a K–12 learning support program for students with mild learning needs. Each applicant is reviewed individually to determine whether the school can support their learning needs within the curriculum.

Country affiliation
No formal country affiliation.

Religious affiliation
No religious affiliation.

School day structure
At the Chofu campus, classes begin at 8:00 a.m. and end at 3:00 p.m. The Early Learning Center schedule runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Bus service
ASIJ operates a transportation system with 33 buses serving about 276 bus stops across downtown Tokyo. About 1,300 riders use the buses daily. The fleet includes GPS tracking, two-way radios, iPhones, seat belts, and 170 bus monitors. Parents may ride the bus to school for events at no charge.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
The school is a day school and does not offer boarding or homestay options; students live with their parent/guardian in Tokyo during enrollment; instruction is in English.

Food Options
The cafeteria offers hot meals with a vegetarian option and a salad bar every day; the kiosk provides ready-made salads, sandwiches, soup of the day, fruit, freshly baked items, snacks and beverages including coffee.

Governance and Ownership
The school is formed as a gakko hojin (incorporated educational institution) under Japan's Private School Law and is a non-profit, tax-exempt entity. The governance structure includes a Board of Directors, a Board of Trustees, and two independent Statutory Auditors; Directors oversee the school's mission and finances, Trustees approve fundamental matters and budgets, and the Auditors oversee governance and finances.
Fees

Annual tuition at The American School in Japan ranges from JPY 2,987,000 to JPY 3,783,000 for 2026/27.

Application & one-time fees
- Application fee: ¥50,000 (non-refundable).
- Registration fee (seat deposit): ¥300,000 (non-refundable).
- Building Maintenance Fee (one-time): ¥1,525,000 (non-refundable).
- Re‑enrollment fee: described as a non‑refundable tuition deposit that secures a seat and is applied to the first tuition installment (amount not listed on the tuition summary page).


Annual fees and capital assessment
- Capital Assessment (annual): ¥250,000 (non-refundable).


Annual tuition — amounts by year group (2025–26)
- Nursery–Pre‑K: ¥2,987,000 per year.
- Kinder–Grade 5: ¥3,269,000 per year.
- Grade 6–8: ¥3,425,000 per year.
- Grade 9–12: ¥3,533,000 per year.
(These tuition amounts are refundable as noted by the school's published schedule.)


Per‑term / billing schedule and payment terms
- Tuition and fees (except the application fee) are due in full upon receipt of the school's invoice. Individuals paying from personal funds may request an installment plan through the Accounting Office; corporations/organizations are not eligible for the installment option. A carrying charge applies to installment arrangements.
- Tuition and other fees are payable by bank transfer only. Application fees may be paid by credit card or bank transfer. All payments are accepted in Japanese yen. The billing office email provided for payment enquiries and invoice requests is billing@asij.ac.jp.
- For students enrolled after the school year starts, tuition and bus fees are calculated based on academic quarters; attendance for any portion of a quarter requires payment for the entire quarter. Delinquent accounts can result in prohibition from class attendance and/or withholding of grades, transcripts, or other records.


Per‑term amounts / instalments (note on availability of detailed schedule)
- The publicly posted tuition page lists the annual totals above and explains billing, instalment eligibility and quarter‑based proration for late enrollment. A detailed Schedule of Tuition & Fees is provided by the school and itemises invoice and instalment amounts; the tuition page links to that schedule for the full, itemised per‑term breakdown. The tuition page itself does not display every per‑term numeric split directly in the summary text.


Transportation (bus) fees
- Annual regular bus service fee: ¥390,000 per student. The bus fee may be prorated on a quarter basis if necessary. ASIJ is not obligated to provide bus service if a family's housing location is outside existing routes.


Boarding
- Boarding is not applicable. ASIJ operates two campuses (Early Learning Center and the Chofu campus) as a day school for nursery through high school students.


Other costs and typical additional charges
- Travel programs and curricular/co‑curricular trips: most trip costs are the responsibility of families; costs vary by trip and will be published with payment deadlines. Certain exceptions (e.g., Grade 5 trip, Middle School Extended Campus Program and some High School Exploration Program trips) are noted as school exceptions.
- Food services: on‑campus hot meal program and other food services at the Chofu Campus are charged separately; an optional lunch delivery service is available at the Early Learning Center. Menu pricing is published with the food program information.
- Technology requirements: students in Grades 3–5 are required to have an iPad; students in Grades 6–12 are required to have a MacBook (specifications and purchase details are provided by the school).
- Uniforms are not listed as a mandatory school charge on the tuition/fees summary; no compulsory uniform fee is published on the tuition page.


Refund information
- To be eligible for a refund of tuition and bus fees for any full academic quarter during which the student will not attend, parents must notify the school in writing of the student's last expected day of attendance. That written notification must be received by the first day of classes in August (if withdrawing during the first semester) or by the first day of the second semester (if withdrawing during the second semester). Tuition and bus fee refunds are calculated on the quarter basis described above.


Fee payment options
- Currency accepted: Japanese yen.
- Application fee: acceptable by credit card or bank transfer.
- Tuition and other recurring fees: bank transfer only.
- Invoice and detailed payment instructions are issued by the school's billing office; families may request information about the installment program from the Accounting/Billing Office (a carrying charge applies).
Academics

The American School in Japan teaches Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
The American School in Japan (ASIJ) offers an English-language, American-style curriculum from the Early Learning Center through Grade 12, operating on two Tokyo campuses. The Elementary School (ages five to 11) emphasizes foundational literacy and numeracy with social-emotional development and inquiry-based learning aligned to the school's Portrait of a Learner competencies. The Middle School (grades 6–8) provides a broad, hands-on program with daily Advisory and an Approaches to Learning framework, plus exposure to language, humanities, science, math, arts, and electives and regular extended-campus experiences. The High School (grades 9–12) leads to an ASIJ diploma requiring four years and 22 credits, and offers a wide range of Advanced Placement courses (including the AP Capstone Diploma), with opportunities for concurrent enrollment via Syracuse University Project Advance (SUPA) and a personalized pathway through the IMPACT program. For the Class of 2026 and beyond, graduation requirements increase to 24 credits, with Wellness: Physical Education & Health and new elements such as Design and Innovation and digital-literacy components replacing or augmenting prior offerings.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
ASIJ identifies social emotional learning (SEL) as a strategic priority and has engaged external expertise to support its implementation, notably with the Institute for Social and Emotional Learning (IFSEL). The school notes SEL as a priority within its Strategic Design Framework and has integrated SEL into professional learning and family engagement, including parent workshops. Vision of Learning presents SEL as a core component, with a dedicated SEL crest and a focus on interpersonal, intercultural, and collaboration skills. These elements show that SEL is embedded in ASIJ's approach to learning and wellbeing.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
ASIJ states a learning support program for mild learning needs from kindergarten through 12th grade (K–12). Each applicant is reviewed individually to assess whether ASIJ can support their learning needs within the school curriculum. Public materials do not specify a broader range of Special Educational Needs or indicate that ASIJ operates as a dedicated SEN specialist institution.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
ASIJ offers a language support program in grades 1–8 to support multiple language learners, alongside English as the medium of instruction. English language instruction remains the primary medium for communication at the school.

Mental Wellbeing
ASIJ places emphasis on student wellbeing, supported by safeguarding structures and a dedicated safeguarding coordinator who acts as a school counselor. Safeguarding procedures include annual training for staff and background checks for all employees, along with a safeguarding policy and handbook. The Vision of Learning also ties wellbeing to Global Citizenship, underscoring the school's commitment to well-being as part of its learning framework.

Safeguarding
ASIJ's safeguarding framework centers on a full-time Safeguarding Coordinator, Level 2 Keeping Children Safe certification, a safeguarding policy and handbook, and annual safeguarding training. There are background checks for all employees and a Code of Conduct for faculty and staff. The safeguarding coordinator is Emily Hopwood, and the school articulates formal safeguarding procedures aligned with accrediting bodies such as WASC, CIS and Keeping Children Safe.
Parent Experience

History
ASIJ's history begins in 1902 with the Tokyo School for Foreign Children, which started in rented rooms at the Kanda YMCA and later moved to other sites as the school expanded. It moved to the Tsukiji area, then to the Shibaura site by 1921, and in 1927 opened the Nakameguro campus with Antonin Raymond assisting in the redesign. The Chofu campus opened in 1963, introducing the iconic elementary building and subsequent expansions for the high school, gym, and theater. The Community Nursery School in Roppongi merged with ASIJ in 1968 and relocated to Nakameguro in 1973, enlarging ASIJ's early childhood offerings. ASIJ celebrated its Centennial in 2002 with a series of events in Tokyo and an alumni reception in San Francisco.

Community
ASIJ has a highly engaged community of families, faculty, and students, supported by hundreds of active PTA members. The PTA contributes thousands of volunteer hours each year to create a welcoming, connected environment and to coordinate community events. Parents volunteer as mystery readers, chaperones for trips, and library helpers, and participate in campus celebrations such as the elementary Halloween Parade and the Senior Walk. Spirit Day is a signature ASIJ event that showcases the breadth of the school's life, with over 170 co-curricular activities and extensive student and parent participation coordinated through the PTA.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
ASIJ's Parent Teacher Association is a central, active organization with hundreds of members who contribute thousands of volunteer hours annually. PTA volunteers support day-to-day life by serving as mystery readers, trip chaperones, library helpers, and by organizing events such as the elementary Halloween Parade and the Senior Walk. Spirit Day is a flagship PTA-driven event, with a Booster Committee coordinating food booths, vendor logistics, and special visits such as performing guests; the event illustrates the scale of PTA-led community activities. The PTA also helps coordinate hundreds of co-curricular opportunities and connects families, faculty, and students across campuses. Parents participate in ASIJ governance, with opportunities to serve on the Board of Directors, Board of Trustees, and various committees, and they are encouraged to share their professions, expertise, and hobbies with classrooms.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
ASIJ operates on two campuses: the Chofu campus for elementary through high school, and the Early Learning Center in Roppongi Hills for nursery through kindergarten. Learning spaces are flexible and technology-enabled, with specialist spaces for art, music, design, robotics, and science. Each division has an age-appropriate library with print and digital resources, and the elementary library includes a maker space. Athletic facilities include a main field, a middle school field, gyms, and a 25-meter indoor pool. Creative and performing spaces include dedicated music rooms, a video studio, art rooms, the Japan Center for authentic cultural experiences, and expansive outdoor learning spaces around a central courtyard.

Sports Facilities
ASIJ's athletic spaces include a main field with artificial turf and a middle school field for day use and after-school activities. The campuses house gyms for PE and activities, six rooftop tennis courts with lighting, and a 25-meter indoor pool used year-round. A fitness center and a wrestling/gymnastics room support strength training and a wide range of physical education programs.

Academic Facilities
ASIJ maintains libraries in each division with print and digital resources to support literacy and inquiry, including a maker space in the elementary library. The school provides design, robotics, and science laboratories equipped for hands-on learning. Middle and high school students have access to a digital composition space, a video studio, and dedicated music rooms for performance and production.

Extra Curricular Facilities
ASIJ offers more than 170 co-curricular activities across divisions. The Japan Center provides authentic Japanese cultural experiences and partnerships with local institutions. Outdoor spaces, courtyards, and the campus facilities support outdoor learning and community events.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
ASIJ offers extensive co-curriculars beyond class. STEM is active with VEX Robotics, iGEM, and NEA math and International Academic Competitions. A Space Conference with NASA and JAXA broadens exposure, and the Computer Science Club develops coding and problem solving skills.

Arts & Creative
Arts range from ELC hula to traditional Japanese theater in upper grades. Divisions stage annual musicals, and students can join Kanto Plain honor band, choir, orchestra, and AMIS programs.

Cultural & Language
Model UN and Amnesty International are offered as part of cultural and global awareness. Service activities include the elementary rice project and Habitat for Humanity trips.

Social & Hobbies
ASIJ has over 170 co-curriculars. High school offers 15 sports; middle school offers 20. The arts include musicals, ASIJ TV, and VEX robotics.

Community & Service
Service includes Model UN, Amnesty, and 25 projects. There are over 600 service group members and activities such as rice projects and Habitat trips.

Leadership & Professional
Leadership develops through debate and public speaking opportunities in high school. The program encourages exploration beyond predefined tracks and involvement in clubs, service groups, and athletics.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Wellbeing is promoted through athletics and the Positive Coaching Alliance partnership. Karate and kendo are offered across divisions; musicals and ASIJ TV provide creative outlets.
Languages

Language Provision
ASIJ's language provision centers on English as the language of instruction. Japanese is taught as a foreign language beginning in first grade (Chofu campus), with formal Japanese as a Foreign Language instruction documented for Grades 1–2 and Grades 3–5. In addition, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish are offered as foreign‑language options, with high school students able to pursue Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish as part of their language track. The school provides an English Language Learners (ELL) support program for non‑native English speakers in grades 1–8. In the Early Learning Center, language and cultural experiences, including Japanese language exposure, are integrated into daily learning.

Immersion Programs
ASIJ does not publish a year‑round language‑immersion program. Immersion opportunities exist in summer through the ASIJ Summer Passport program, a three‑week session in which most classes are taught in English, while native Japanese classes are offered to heritage speakers in grades 2, 3, 4 and 5–9. The Summer Passport program includes language arts, mathematics, technology, the arts, and sports, with native Japanese language study included as part of the curriculum. It serves as ASIJ's primary immersion‑style offering for language development during the summer.
Reputation

Accreditations
The American School in Japan (ASIJ) holds two primary accreditations publicized by the school:
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accreditation. WASC is a regional accrediting body that evaluates schools to ensure they meet established standards for quality and continuous improvement, supporting ASIJ's American-style college-preparatory program.
- Council of International Schools (CIS) accreditation. CIS is a global organization that provides international school accreditation against international standards, reflecting ASIJ's compliance with high-quality international-school practices.
Admissions

Admissions
Step 1: Inquiry and open houses. The process starts with submitting the ASIJ INQUIRY FORM to share your family's needs and educational goals. Completing the inquiry gives you access to register for Open House sessions at ASIJ's campuses. Open House dates for the 2025–26 school year include October 2 and 16, November 6 and 13, and December 4 in 2025, with additional sessions in January and February 2026; pre-registration is required and space is limited.

Step 2: Create an admission portal account and begin the online application. After submitting the inquiry, you will receive guidance to open an application account (Veracross) to start the online application. Within the portal you will see a checklist and can begin the Online Application Form, then submit the required items on the Admission Portal. Applications for the 2026–27 school year open in November 2025, and the portal supports multiple applicants for a family, though you should sign up for only ONE child to avoid duplicates.

Step 3: Submit required documents on the Admission Portal. The required items vary by grade but typically include school reports or transcripts when available, and confidential teacher recommendations. Recommendations in languages other than English are acceptable, though English is preferred, and translations may be requested at your expense. You may also need mid-year report cards for certain grades; the admissions portal guides you on exactly what to upload for Nursery–Kindergarten through Grade 1.

Step 4: Initial review and possible screening. There is no general entrance examination. The Admissions team reviews school reports, test scores, and recommendations, and may request academic, English, or other screening prior to a decision. The process focuses on alignment with ASIJ's philosophy, diversity balance, resource availability, and the school's English-medium education requirement. Local and overseas applicants are both considered during this review.

Step 5: Admissions decision timeline. Admissions decisions typically begin in late February or early March and continue through the summer. Decisions consider how well the family's educational goals align with ASIJ's approach, as well as current seat availability and the school's ability to support the applicant. Both local and overseas applicants are evaluated within this timeline.

Step 6: Offer, acceptance, and enrollment. If admitted, families receive an admissions decision and must respond to secure a seat. To finalize enrollment, the non-refundable Registration Fee of ¥300,000 is due, and the seat is reserved for the first day of school; additional annual fees and tuition apply as outlined below. Annual fees include Capital Assessment of ¥250,000 (non-refundable) and Building Maintenance Fee of ¥1,525,000 (non-refundable). 2025–26 tuition is ¥2,987,000 for Nursery–Pre-K, ¥3,269,000 for Kindergarten–Grade 5, ¥3,425,000 for Grades 6–8, and ¥3,533,000 for Grades 9–12. Bus service is available for ¥390,000 per year, with pricing for trips, meals, and technology requirements published in advance. Tuition and fees are due upon receipt of the invoice in Japanese yen; personal installment plans may be available. Corporate Contribution Program offers a way for participating organizations to sponsor educational benefits, potentially reducing the net cost to families through corporate funding and scholarships funded by the program.

Step 7: Language and campus logistics. One or both parents must be fluent in English to ensure effective communication and support for the child's education; English is the medium for all ASIJ communications. If language support is needed, ASIJ provides programs for language learners in Grades 1–8. Kindergarten is offered at two campuses—ELC in Roppongi and K–12 in Chofu—and applicants should indicate their campus preference during the application. ASIJ also notes mid-year transfer considerations, with the school year running August to June and certain transfer rules for families already in Tokyo.

Scholarships
ASIJ does not offer scholarships or need-based financial aid for new applicants. The admissions page states clearly that new applicants are not eligible for scholarships or financial aid. The school does offer a Corporate Contribution Program, which allows participating corporations to donate to ASIJ to fund corporate scholarships for dependents of employees; this program can influence admissions decisions as part of consideration of overall enrollment. ASIJ also maintains a Financial Aid Endowment fund with various named funds that support financial aid in general, though specific award processes and eligibility are not detailed publicly. Families should consider corporate sponsorship options if applicable and note that donor-funded financial support exists as part of the school's long-term financial structure.

Waitlist
ASIJ does not publish a formal waitlist or pool system on its admissions materials. Admissions decisions are driven by seat availability and the school's stated criteria, including alignment with ASIJ's philosophy, diversity goals, and resource capacity. Mid-year transfers are subject to seat availability and campus policies, and local applicants may face timing constraints due to the August–June school year. In practice, families may need to plan around the annual admissions cycle (with decisions typically issued from late February through the summer) rather than a published waitlist.
School Events
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