doris
doris
Find Schools
Events
Saved schools
My account
Parent Guide Parent testimonials Community Transparency Charter About For Schools
Currency
Y

Yes International School

Japan, Tokyo

Save school
Share
Navigate

· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

Independently researched by doris.
Not yet claimed by the school
Claim your profile
The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Japanese
Fees ¥1,942,050 - 2,118,600
Ages 3 - 15 years
Pupil numbers 808
Type Co-educational
Opened 2018
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum, Japanese Curriculum
Taught languages English, Japanese
Typical class size 9
Strengths Sport, Visual and Creative Arts, STEM
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Elementary, Middle School
Introduction

YES International School Tokyo is a learning community in Shibuya, opened in May 2018, for children who are homeschooling or who find standard school life difficult. The daily program is built around project-based learning, where mornings can start with “morning projects” exploring themes such as science, language, art and programming, alongside creative learning in music and art. Students also take part in practical routines such as a cooking class and shared lunch time. Weekly movement sessions that include capoeira and soccer. The school describes individual support tailored to each child’s pace. A distinctive feature is its official Discord server, “YES Elegant,” designed with parent visibility and student-led rule-making.

4 Chome-11-8 Higashi, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0011, Japan

The Essentials

Yes International School has 808 pupils, typical class sizes of 9, instruction in English, Japanese.

Location
Yokohama International School (YIS) is located at 2-100-1 Kominato-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Japan. The Honmoku campus moved to this site in January 2022 and sits in a mixed residential and commercial area near the Honmoku Front shopping complex. It is well connected by public transport, with five local bus routes nearby and direct rail connections; Motomachi-Chukagai Station on the Minatomirai Line links to Shibuya in under 35 minutes.

Stages
YIS offers an Early Learning Center (ELC) for ages 3–5, followed by Elementary School (K–5), Middle School (6–8), and High School (9–12). The school provides the IB continuum across these levels: Primary Years Programme (PYP) in the primary years, Middle Years Programme (MYP) in the middle years, and the Diploma Programme (DP) in the final years.

Type
YIS is an independent, co-educational day school. There are no boarding facilities.

Pupil Nationality Mix
The student body represents more than 50 nationalities (51 nationalities reported). The most common nationality is not publicly disclosed, and the school notes a diverse international community with staff from many countries.

Additional learning support
The Learning Support department works with Counselors and English as an Additional Language (EAL) teachers to support diverse learners. It uses a three-tier delivery model (Monitor, LS-1, LS-2) and offers psycho-educational and speech-language evaluations as needed; admissions may include informal or formal assessments to determine support needs.

Country affiliation
There is no formal country affiliation; the school serves the international community and accepts students of many nationalities.

Religious affiliation
YIS is non-denominational and has no religious affiliation.

School day structure
Typical school day start times vary by level: Early Learning Center around 8:45 am, Elementary around 8:30 am, and Middle/High School around 9:00 am. End times are: ELC half-day at 12:00 pm; ELC full-day around 2:40–2:50 pm; Elementary at 3:00 pm; Middle and High School at 4:00 pm.

Bus service
YIS works with a bus service provider to offer an optional paid bus service on specified routes between Tokyo and the school, and within Yokohama to/from the school. Bus stops near the campus include Yamashita-cho (near Motomachi-Chukagai Station) with buses 8 or 58 to Kominato; Sakuragicho/Ishikawicho with buses 101, 105 or 106 to Kominato-cho; and Negishi Station with buses 58 or 101 to Honmoku-Miyabara. For seat availability and registrations, contact the School Bus Service office.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
The school is a day school and does not offer boarding facilities. Students must reside with a parent within commuting distance to the Yokohama campus. This commuting requirement is stated in the admissions guidance as a condition for enrollment.

Uniform Requirement
The school provides a PE uniform that all students wear. Elementary and middle/high school students have different PE kits; Elementary PE Kit is ¥12,800 and includes a short-sleeve YIS T-shirt, a long-sleeve YIS shirt, black shorts, and a PE bag, while the MS/HS PE Kit is ¥8,800 and includes a short-sleeve T-shirt, black shorts, and a PE bag; the red PE shirt is used for field trips. PE uniforms and related gear are sold through the on-site School Store, which carries YIS-branded PE uniforms, sweatshirts, and caps. New families can purchase PE uniforms during orientation or via the store.

Food Options
Dragon Dining operates the on-campus cafeteria, offering a rotating weekly menu with Western, Asian, vegan and vegetarian options; meals are prepared on site using fresh ingredients, with some herbs and vegetables grown on campus. All meals are labeled for allergens and dietary needs are accommodated. The Street Café & Bakery provides coffee and baked goods, and The Grainery feature supports on-site oats processing. Lunch is served in three sittings, there are breakfast offerings before school, and a cashless payment system lets families top up accounts online or at a cafeteria kiosk. Peanut-safe policies apply when bringing food to school.

House System
Yes. The school uses a House system with House events as part of student leadership opportunities; students can head or participate in House events as part of leadership development.

Governance and Ownership
YIS is governed by a Head of School and a Senior Leadership Team, with a Board of Directors and a Board of Trustees providing governance and oversight, and Auditors monitoring governance practices. Foundational governance documents include the Act of Endowment, the YIS Constitution, and the Governance Manual; the Board is elected at an Annual General Meeting each November. Ownership or affiliation with a parent organisation is not specified on the governance pages.
Fees

Annual tuition at Yes International School ranges from JPY 1,942,050 to JPY 2,118,600 for 2026/27.

Application fees

- Application Fee: JPY 50,000 (non-refundable). Payment for the application fee is made via the secure online payment system and may be paid by credit card at the time of application.

One-time / enrollment fees

- Registration Fee (paid to confirm enrollment): JPY 1,350,000 (non-refundable). Payment of the registration fee is required within 14 days of acceptance.
- Re-enrollment deposit (to secure place for the following year): JPY 300,000, due by April 15 for re-enrollment.
- Campus Development Fee (annual): JPY 385,000. The Campus Development Fee is charged annually and is not prorated for mid-year entry.

Tuition fees by year group (annual and per-term amounts)

Tuition is presented as Annual Tuition followed by the Per-Term amount (tuition is billed in two equal installments per year).

- Early Learning Center – Half Day: Annual JPY 2,025,000 — Per term JPY 1,012,500.
- Early Learning Center – Full Day: Annual JPY 2,495,000 — Per term JPY 1,247,500.
- Kindergarten – Grade 5 (Elementary): Annual JPY 3,060,000 — Per term JPY 1,530,000.
- Grades 6 – 11 (Middle & Lower Secondary): Annual JPY 3,190,000 — Per term JPY 1,595,000.
- Grade 12 (Upper Secondary): Annual JPY 3,285,000 — Per term JPY 1,642,500.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Standard tuition billing: tuition is billed in two equal installments each academic year; installment due dates are July 31 and December 8.
- Registration fee: due within 14 days of acceptance to secure the offered place.
- Mid-year enrolment: tuition is prorated by quarters for mid-year entry; the Campus Development Fee is not prorated.
- Late payment penalty: fees overdue by 30 days incur a monthly late charge of 2.5%.

Boarding fees

- Yokohama International School is a day school; boarding is not offered and there are no boarding fees. Students are required to reside with a parent within commuting distance.

Other costs or fees (charged separately)

- School bus service: charged separately to parents/guardians.
- Uniforms and PE uniforms: charged separately.
- Cafeteria / meal services: charged separately.
- Certain extracurricular activities, long-distance travel connected to activities, and some off-campus/long-distance trips: charged separately.
- Examination fees included in tuition: IB Diploma (IBDP), ISA and PSAT external examination fees are included in tuition (resits are excluded and may incur additional cost). School-issued technology, most expeditions and field trips are included in tuition.

Refund information and withdrawal policy

- Refunds: there are no refunds of tuition in principle. The only exceptions are partial refunds of deposits or in cases where a student has been enrolled for fewer than the first five days of that semester. Notice of withdrawal must be submitted in writing.

Fee payment options and bank details

- Application fee: payable via secure online payment by credit card during the application process.
- Tuition and other major school fees: the school provides bank transfer details for international and domestic bank payments. The school's accounts include SMBC Trust Bank (SWIFT: SMTCJPJT) — Yokohama Branch (736) — Savings Account: 7579973 — Account Name: Yokohama International School; and Bank of Yokohama (SWIFT: HAMAJPJT) — Motomachi Branch (311) — Savings Account: 1708779 — Account Name: Yokohama International School. Include the student's full name or invoice number in the payment details for correct processing.

Financial regulations (summary of important points)

- Application fee is non-refundable and must be paid to initiate the admissions process. Registration fees confirming enrollment are non-refundable.
- Re-enrollment deposits secure places for the following year and must be paid by the school's stated deadline (re-enrollment deposit JPY 300,000 due by April 15).
- Mid-year entry tuition is prorated by quarters; Campus Development Fee is not prorated. Fees overdue by 30 days are subject to a monthly 2.5% late charge. Notice of withdrawal must be submitted in writing; refunds are not given except in the limited circumstances noted above.

(Amounts and terms above apply to the 2025–2026 tuition and fees schedule for Yokohama International School.)
Academics

Yes International School teaches Bespoke Curriculum, Japanese Curriculum for students aged 3 to 15.

Curriculum
YIS offers an IB continuum: Primary Years Program (PYP) for the Early Learning Center through Grade 5, Middle Years Program (MYP) for Grades 6–10, and the Diploma Programme (DP) for Grades 11–12. Beyond the DP, the school also awards IB Certificates, the YIS Diploma, and a Global Citizen Diploma as high school pathways. English is the language of instruction, with an English as an Additional Language (EAL) program to support multilingual learners; Japanese language is integrated where appropriate. The curriculum is inquiry-based and transdisciplinary, enriched by field trips, a service program, and a broad range of clubs and activities, with technology embedded across learning. Class sizes are small, with an overall student–teacher ratio around 7:1 and typical classes of 16–23 students to support individualized learning.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
SEL at Yokohama International School is supported through a formal wellbeing and counseling program. Social-emotional wellbeing is a key priority across all grades, with counselors providing individual support, group workshops, and ongoing guidance to help students manage emotions, set personal goals, and navigate school life. The Wellness & Counseling team includes a Middle & High School Counselor and an Elementary School Counselor, with additional counseling staff for both lower and upper school levels. New-family orientation supports a smooth transition into the school community. These services are integrated with the school's health and pastoral care structures to foster a caring, supportive environment.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
SEN at YIS is provided through universal and targeted supports within Support Services. Universal Support uses Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to ensure high-quality instruction with multiple ways of engagement, representation, and expression. An Evaluation Plan records psycho-educational evaluations, and an Accommodation Plan provides targeted supports (e.g., extended time, assistive technology, organizational aids) without altering learning expectations. The Learning Support Team leads this work, with a Learning Support Team Leader and Learning Support Teachers supporting students at LS-1 and LS-2 levels and collaborating with families and teachers. YIS does not present itself as a specialist SEN institution; SEN provisions sit within the mainstream learning framework and are delivered by a dedicated Learning Support Team. The school also notes the potential for diagnosed learning exceptionalities and the use of targeted accommodations.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
EAL at YIS serves students from diverse linguistic backgrounds through a program that personalizes language support in collaboration with classroom teachers to match each student's needs. The aim is for learners to feel confident and engaged in all aspects of school life, including academics and co-curricular activities, while honoring cultural identity and prior language experience. The EAL approach emphasizes building on students' language strengths to foster communication, collaboration, and full participation in the school community. EAL staffing works alongside classroom teachers to tailor support for each learner.

Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is integrated into the school's wellbeing framework, with social-emotional wellbeing treated as a priority across all grade levels. Counselors provide individual support, group workshops, and ongoing guidance to help students manage emotions, set personal goals, and plan future pathways. Counseling teams collaborate with families and teachers to nurture a caring, supportive environment and aid transitions, including orientation for new families.

Safeguarding
Safeguarding is embedded in every aspect of school life and aligned with international standards, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and Japanese law. The safeguarding framework aims to protect students from maltreatment, prevent harm to health and development, and empower students to flourish academically, emotionally, and socially. A designated Safeguarding Team leads prevention and response, with roles including Safeguarding Lead, Director of Learning, Secondary Principal, and Elementary Principal. All staff receive annual safeguarding and child protection training, with specialist training for the Case Management Team, plus background checks and safeguarding agreements for staff and external providers. CPOMS is used for reporting concerns, and the Student Protection Policy and Guidelines, along with a Parent Handbook, outline procedures and responsibilities. Safeguarding is considered everyone's responsibility within the YIS community.
Parent Experience

History
Yokohama International School opened on October 27, 1924, in a rented YMCA classroom with six students and one teacher, in the wake of the Great Kanto Earthquake. As enrollment grew, the school added facilities including a boarding house and by 1939 had over 100 students from 21 nationalities. World War II interrupted operations; the school closed in 1941 and its buildings were repurposed as a refugee center, with the original campus destroyed by fire in 1945. It was rebuilt in Yamate and reopened on September 15, 1955, and YIS was officially registered as a School Juridical Person in 1969. The IB Diploma Programme was introduced in 1986, YIS earned dual accreditation from ECIS and NEASC in 1991, and in January 2022 moved to a purpose-built campus in Honmoku, with the centenary celebrated on October 27, 2024.

Community
YIS serves an international community with students from more than 49 nationalities and staff from more than 21 countries. The Japanese Culture Program provides intercultural learning across the IB framework with hands-on experiences in arts, drama, printmaking, and local cultural activities. Community life is reflected in In Our Words, which shares classroom innovations, cultural events, and service projects. Dragon Dining and The Street Café create daily social hubs on campus, offering diverse meals, allergen labeling, and opportunities for parents and students to connect.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The YIS Parent Hub hosts the PTSA, the Parent Teacher Student Association. The PTSA organizes events to connect families throughout the year, including cultural celebrations and casual coffee mornings. Past activities are highlighted on Instagram under #yisptsa, and volunteers are invited to help plan events. Annual Food Fair, organized by the PTSA, is a long-running multi-cultural festival and major fundraising event. The PTSA maintains a leadership team for 2025–2026 with roles such as President, Vice President, and Events Coordinator, and supports additional activities through a dedicated Parent Activities program.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The campus spans 14,685 square meters and opened in January 2022. The design treats every space as a learning space, with flexible environments and communal hubs to support exploration and collaboration. Academic facilities include a 350 square meter library with satellite libraries and a Science Wing with six laboratories. Creative spaces include Visual Art & Design Studios with maker facilities, two Black Box Theatre Rooms, four music studios with recording facilities, and a multipurpose auditorium seating over 400. Outdoor and sustainability features include The Street, Bridge and outdoor decks, a Deck Garden, the Chowa-an teahouse and Japanese garden, a Dragon Dining cafeteria, and a rooftop solar energy system.

Sports Facilities
The Double Gym provides retractable dividers, practice courts, and a spectator balcony with live streaming capabilities. The 25-meter indoor heated swimming pool supports aquatic activities, with starting blocks, submersible platforms, and a timing system, and supports the Underwater Explorers program. The Field is 90 meters by 46 meters of artificial turf with floodlights, netting, and a digital scoreboard, used for sports events and community activities. Outdoor spaces include The Street promenade with basketball nets and garden areas, with wheelchair access and open spaces designed for inclusive participation and learning breaks.

Academic Facilities
The North Building houses a 350 m² Library with satellite libraries across levels, study rooms, an IT Helpdesk, and a dedicated touchscreen for presentations and collaboration. The Science Wing contains six state-of-the-art laboratories with adjustable worktables, fume hoods, and direct access to an outdoor garden to support inquiry-based learning. Visual Art & Design Studios on the top floor provide interconnected spaces with maker facilities, including 3D printers, laser cutters, and a pottery kiln. Classrooms feature movable furniture, writable table surfaces, and three-meter-wide glass doors opening onto central hub spaces to support flexible, inquiry-driven learning. The Early Learning Center is purpose-built for ages 3–5 with floor-to-ceiling glass doors and a layout that blends indoor and outdoor spaces to promote exploration and independent thinking.

Extra Curricular Facilities
The Performing Arts wing includes Black Box Theatre Rooms with retractable walls, a dedicated lighting and sound system, a green screen, and space for drama and production work. The Music Studios comprise four soundproof rooms connected to recording facilities, including a tatami space for traditional instruments. The Multipurpose Auditorium seats over 400 with advanced acoustics and a backstage area for performances, ceremonies, and exhibitions. Visual Art & Design Studios offer extensive maker spaces with 3D printers, laser cutters, and a pottery kiln for student-led projects. Outdoor and campus life facilities support clubs and activities, including The Street promenade with basketball nets, the Bridge and outdoor decks, and the Deck Garden for science and sustainability projects, plus Dragon Dining as a community hub. The Field and indoor pool enable a broad range of athletic and after-school programs.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Yokohama International School (YIS) offers a wide range of academic and intellectual activities beyond the standard curriculum. Elementary activities include clubs such as Lego Club, Minecraft Club, Robotics, and other after-school options that run either seasonally or year-round. In the Secondary years, students can join Brainbowl, Math & Science Support Club, Environment Club, Model United Nations, Robotics Club, YIS Maker Club, and the YIS Student Newspaper, among others, providing opportunities to deepen subject knowledge and apply learning in collaborative settings. Activities meet before school, during lunch, or after school, giving families flexible options to fit their schedules.

Arts & Creative
YIS has a comprehensive Arts Opportunities program. Elementary students participate in a range of arts activities—Choir, Drama Club, Elementary String Ensemble, and Koto Ensemble—with many clubs meeting after school and in the afternoons. Seasonal activities for elementary include 5th Grade Rock Band, Origami, Japanese Calligraphy, Cross Stitch, Knitting, Beading, and more. In Secondary, arts offerings include Art Club, Smokey Productions, Chowa Yearbook, Dance Company, Digital Illustration, Drama Club, Jazz Band, Koto Ensemble, MS/HS String Ensemble, and Wind Ensemble, with many projects leading to performances, exhibitions, or publications.

Cultural & Language
The Japanese Culture Program (JCP) is a deeply integrated, inquiry-based approach to cultural learning that engages students with Japanese culture through hands-on experiences in printmaking, drama, music, visual arts, and shadow performance. The program connects directly to classroom learning and spans the full YIS journey, from Early Learning through the IB Diploma Programme, fostering confidence, creativity, and intercultural understanding. The JCP includes exchange programs with local schools, rice farming experiences, service-learning collaborations (e.g., Kodomo Shokudo), and artist residencies, enriching students' intercultural perspectives. Across the IB framework, JCP activities align with PYP, MYP, and DP goals, including TOK, CAS, and the Extended Essay.

Social & Hobbies
YIS provides a wide array of social and hobby clubs as part of the Activities & Athletics program. Elementary Activities (ESA) run in three sessions per year and include Toys & Table Game Club, Gardening Club, Lego Club, Minecraft Club, Robotics, Library Council, Dragon Cooking Academy, Book Dragons, and more, with supervision by teachers or external instructors. Secondary Activities offer additional options such as Brainbowl, Hiking Club, East & West Board Games, Environment Club, Library Council, Math & Science Support Club, Mental Health Awareness Club, Model United Nations (MUN), Origami Unlimited, Robotics Club, Sakura Book Club, YIS Maker Club, YIS Student Newspaper, and Student Ambassadors. Activities are scheduled before school, at lunch, or after school to support student-led exploration of interests and peer connections.

Community & Service
Service is an integral part of the YIS curriculum, fostering empathy, resilience, and leadership. Elementary students participate in teacher-led service projects (for example, fundraising for local shelters or making onigiri for a shelter), while Middle and High School students form Service Learning Teams with teacher advisors to plan, implement, and reflect on actions across grades. Examples and impact include initiatives like Power Of Music, Roots & Shoots, and Project Ocean, which involve collaboration with local communities and organizations. Leadership opportunities extend beyond Student Council to House events, mentoring, and spearheading co-curricular clubs or service projects, all aimed at developing community-minded leadership.

Leadership & Professional
Leadership and professional development are embedded in YIS through structured student governance and multiple pathways for responsible leadership. Student Councils exist at Elementary, Middle, and High School levels to practice democratic decision-making, plan well-being activities, and shape school events. Beyond Student Council, students lead House events, mentor younger learners, and originate co-curricular clubs or service projects, developing skills in communication, organization, and collaboration. The overall approach emphasizes voice, agency, and real leadership experiences that connect to students' future personal and professional lives.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Outdoor education and athletics form central components of wellbeing at YIS. Expeditions are integrated into the curriculum, with age-appropriate journeys that build leadership, self-management, and collaboration while strengthening students' connection to the natural environment. Grade-level expeditions include trips to Okutama, Hakone, Doai, and other locations, with activities ranging from hiking and rafting to camping and canyoning, all guided by trained instructors and supported by risk-management practices. The athletics program is organized by seasons (Fall, Winter, Spring) and offers a wide range of sports, supported by facilities such as a 25-meter heated pool, an artificial turf field, a double gymnasium, indoor dance studio, and outdoor courts.
Languages

Language Provision
English is the language of instruction at YIS. An EAL program supports students from diverse linguistic backgrounds, with EAL instruction delivered by specialist teachers and integrated with content teaching (no separate ESL track). The school runs Home and Family Language programs to maintain and develop students' home languages, with courses offered in multiple languages and a multilingual community (over 20 languages represented). Middle and high school offer language acquisition courses in Japanese, French, and Spanish.

Bilingual Teaching
Bilingual teaching is not offered as a formal program at YIS. English is the language of instruction across the school. English as an Additional Language (EAL) is provided by specialist teachers and integrated with classroom teaching, and there is no separate ESL track within the academic program. The school also supports multilingualism through Home and Family Language programs for families who want to develop languages at home.
Admissions

Admissions
Yokohama International School (YIS) provides English-language instruction and follows a structured, online admissions process. The school welcomes children of all nationalities who are aligned with an international curriculum and can engage in English. Eligibility focuses on nationality (foreign national or Japanese national with prior international education), English-language proficiency from at least one parent, and commuting-distance residency. This foundation guides how applications are screened before moving through the formal portal-based flow.

Scholarships
Scholarships are available through YIS's Corporate Contribution Program. Scholarships are granted to students whose parents' employers participate in CCP. For details about eligibility and how to apply, families should contact the school's Business Office.

Waitlist
When the number of eligible applicants exceeds available spaces, applicants may be placed in a wait pool if deemed acceptable. Priority in the wait pool is given to siblings of current students, children of YIS staff and alumni, returning students, and dependents of organizations participating in the Corporate Contribution Program (CCP). Applicants in the wait pool may be asked to submit updated school reports to confirm continued interest.
School Events
The school has not added events
Search for more schools
Search schools in Japan View all schools in Tokyo View all schools in Japan Open days & tours in Tokyo View all schools Search all schools