Tokyo International School Fees Comparison 2026

Choosing an international school in Tokyo requires comparing fees across a wide spectrum — from JPY 400,000 community schools to JPY 4,500,000 flagship institutions. This guide puts all the major options side by side so you can make an informed decision before committing.

Note: JPY/USD conversions approximate at JPY 148 = USD 1. Exchange rates fluctuate; verify current rates.

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Full Fee Comparison Table

Budget Tier (Under JPY 1,500,000/year)

School	Annual Tuition (JPY)	USD Approx.	Curriculum
Tokyo Korean School	400,000–700,000	$2,700–$4,700	Korean national
Tokyo Chinese School	400,000–650,000	$2,700–$4,400	Taiwan/Chinese
Lycée Franco-Japonais	700,000–1,200,000	$4,700–$8,100	French Baccalauréat
Deutsche Schule Tokyo Yokohama	800,000–1,400,000	$5,400–$9,500	German Abitur
Christian Academy Japan	1,200,000–1,800,000	$8,100–$12,200	American

Community schools (Korean, Chinese, French, German) are subsidised by home governments and most affordable for nationals of those countries.

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Mid-Range Tier (JPY 1,500,000–2,500,000/year)

School	Annual Tuition (JPY)	USD Approx.	Curriculum
Seisen International School	1,700,000–2,700,000	$11,500–$18,200	American + IB DP
K. International School Tokyo	1,800,000–2,800,000	$12,200–$18,900	IB (PYP/MYP/DP)
International School of Sacred Heart	1,800,000–3,000,000	$12,200–$20,300	American + IB DP
Nishimachi International	2,000,000–3,200,000	$13,500–$21,600	Bilingual + IB DP

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Premium Tier (JPY 2,500,000–4,500,000/year)

School	Annual Tuition (JPY)	USD Approx.	Curriculum
Tokyo International School (TIS)	2,500,000–3,800,000	$16,900–$25,700	IB only
British School in Tokyo (BST)	2,200,000–3,500,000	$14,900–$23,600	British/IGCSE/IB
St. Mary’s International School	2,200,000–3,300,000	$14,900–$22,300	American/Catholic
American School in Japan (ASIJ)	3,000,000–4,500,000	$20,300–$30,400	American + IB option

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Additional Costs: What’s Not in the Tuition Figure

The headline tuition figure never tells the full story. Here is a breakdown of typical additional costs at Tokyo international schools:

One-Time Fees (First Year Only)

Fee Type	Budget Schools	Mid-Range Schools	Premium Schools
Application/Registration	JPY 50K–100K	JPY 100K–200K	JPY 150K–350K
Enrolment/Acceptance	JPY 100K–300K	JPY 300K–800K	JPY 500K–1,500K
Capital Levy/Building Fund	None–JPY 200K	JPY 300K–1,000K	JPY 800K–2,500K

Annual Recurring Costs

Fee Type	Typical Annual Cost (JPY)
Activity/Co-curricular fee	100,000–250,000
Technology fee	50,000–150,000
School bus (annual, by route)	200,000–400,000
Lunch/cafeteria (annual est.)	150,000–300,000
Uniform (initial set)	50,000–200,000
After-school activities (optional)	50,000–500,000+

Exam Fees (Secondary Only)

Qualification	Approximate Cost (JPY)
IB Diploma	130,000–180,000/subject; total ~700K–900K
IGCSE (Cambridge)	15,000–25,000/subject
A-Level (Cambridge)	20,000–35,000/subject
AP exams	13,000–18,000/exam

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First-Year Total Cost Examples

Using the additional costs above, here is what families actually pay in Year 1:

Budget School (CAJ example)

• Tuition: JPY 1,500,000
• Registration + enrolment: JPY 200,000
• Capital levy: JPY 100,000
• Bus + lunch + activities: JPY 400,000
• Uniform: JPY 80,000
• Year 1 Total: JPY 2,280,000 ($15,400)

Mid-Range School (KIST example)

• Tuition: JPY 2,300,000
• Registration + enrolment: JPY 600,000
• Capital levy: JPY 700,000
• Bus + lunch + activities: JPY 550,000
• Uniform: JPY 100,000
• Year 1 Total: JPY 4,250,000 ($28,700)

Premium School (ASIJ example, secondary)

• Tuition: JPY 4,200,000
• Registration + enrolment: JPY 1,000,000
• Capital levy: JPY 2,000,000
• Bus + lunch + activities: JPY 700,000
• Uniform: JPY 150,000
• Year 1 Total: JPY 8,050,000 ($54,400)

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How Tokyo Compares to Singapore and Seoul

Tokyo’s international school fees compare favourably at the mid-range tier but are more expensive at the premium end than some regional peers.

City	Budget Range	Premium Range	Currency
Tokyo	JPY 1.2M–2M	JPY 3M–4.5M	JPY
Singapore	SGD 25,000–35,000	SGD 40,000–55,000	SGD
Seoul	KRW 15M–22M	KRW 35M–42M	KRW
Hong Kong	HKD 100,000–150,000	HKD 160,000–220,000	HKD

At current exchange rates, Tokyo’s premium schools (JPY 3M–4.5M) cost approximately USD 20,000–30,000 — comparable to Seoul and somewhat lower than Hong Kong’s premium schools, though higher than much of Southeast Asia.

One important factor: the JPY has weakened significantly against major currencies since 2022. Families being paid in USD or GBP find Tokyo’s international schools considerably more affordable than the JPY figures suggest. Conversely, families paid in JPY face higher costs relative to income.

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Tips for Reducing Costs in Tokyo

1. Check Employer Education Allowances

Many multinational employers in Tokyo provide education allowances of JPY 1,500,000–4,000,000 per child annually. If your company offers this benefit, it may cover most or all of your school fees.

2. Consider Community Schools

For Korean, French, German, or Chinese-speaking families, community schools offer outstanding education at a fraction of mainstream international school costs. Quality is high; the limitation is language of instruction.

3. Choose a Lower-Cost School for Primary Years

Consider a more affordable school (CAJ, KIST, Seisen) for primary years and transfer to a premium school for secondary. The quality difference between budget and premium schools matters more at the secondary level for university placement.

4. Apply for Financial Aid

Some schools — particularly faith-based institutions like CAJ and Seisen — offer need-based or merit scholarships. Enquire directly with the school’s admissions office.

5. Negotiate Start Dates

Starting mid-year rather than in September may give you a reduced fee pro-rated to the remaining term. Some schools also waive capital levies for certain visa categories (ask admissions).

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Academic Support Beyond School Fees

Supplementary tutoring helps students get full value from their school investment, particularly for IB, IGCSE, and AP examination preparation.

Tutopiya provides specialist online tutors for all major international curricula offered in Tokyo, at transparent per-session pricing.

• Find a tutor: Browse Tutors
• Explore learning programmes: Learning Portal

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Summary

Tokyo international school fees span from JPY 400,000/year for community schools to JPY 4,500,000/year for ASIJ. The mid-range (JPY 1.5M–2.5M) offers strong IB and American curriculum options. Always add 30–50% to headline tuition for one-time and recurring additional costs in Year 1. The weakened JPY makes Tokyo’s schools particularly affordable for families earning in foreign currencies.

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