Best International Schools in Nagoya: A Parent's Guide (2026)

Nagoya is an automotive and manufacturing assignment city. The English-medium school market is small: one full IB day school that most relocating families hear first, a bilingual elementary option in the east of the city, and a boarding IB high school in neighbouring Nisshin. Choose the school first, then the apartment.

National context: Best international schools in Japan

Table of Contents

• Nagoya's school market
• Nagoya International School (NIS)
• Aichi International School
• NUCB International College
• Commute and where to live
• How Nagoya compares
• Comparison table
• FAQ

Nagoya's School Market

Do not expect Tokyo's spread of American, British, and IB flagships. Most Chubu postings start with Nagoya International School, then decide whether younger children need Aichi International School instead, or whether high school means boarding at NUCB International College.

Fees, vacancies, and start months change. Confirm them on the school's site before you apply.

Nagoya International School (NIS)

NIS is a non-profit day school founded in 1964. It is the K–12 English-medium option most Chubu assignments are built around.

NIS offers the full IB: Primary Years, Middle Years, and Diploma Programme. Accreditation is a joint CIS and WASC cycle — see the school's accreditations page. It does not offer boarding and does not sponsor student visas; applicants need a dependent visa and a legal guardian in Japan, per the admissions FAQ.

Applications go through an online portal. A non-refundable ¥50,000 application fee is required per child. NIS asks for at least two weeks between receiving the file and an interview, and says a typical file takes 4–6 weeks if testing is needed. An interview is a standard part of the process.

Address: 2686 Minamihara, Nakashidami, Moriyama-ku, Nagoya 463-0002. Tel +81 52-736-2025

Official site: nis.ac.jp

Aichi International School

AIS is early years and elementary only — not a second K–12 IB school.

The school describes a fully immersive English program for ages 3–5 and a bilingual English–Japanese program for Grades 1–6. The purpose-built campus opened in 2006, across from Nijigaoka Park, with 12 classrooms.

Families who use AIS still need a separate plan for junior high: NIS, a Japanese school, or a move.

Address: Nijigaoka 3-4, Meito-ku, Nagoya. Tel 052-788-2255

Official site: nipais.com

NUCB International College

NUCB International College (NIC) is a full-boarding IB World School in Nisshin, not a Nagoya primary commute. The school states it is the only boarding school in central Japan accredited by MEXT to offer both a Japanese high-school diploma and the IB Diploma Programme. Subjects other than language classes are taught in English; bilingual IBDP is available.

Recent admissions notices have invited applications for Grade 10 or Grade 11 entry. Confirm the current year group's window on the school site.

Address: 4-4 Sagamine Komenoki, Nisshin, Aichi 470-0193. Tel +81 561-73-8181

Official site: ic.nucba.ac.jp

Commute and Where to Live

NIS (Moriyama-ku) and AIS (Meito-ku) sit on Nagoya's east and northeast side. An apartment in Sakae or Nakamura-ku that suits work can mean a long school run.

Time the door-to-door trip at drop-off hour before you sign a lease. For preschool and elementary, proximity matters more than a famous neighbourhood. Nisshin boarding is a different decision from a city day commute.

How Nagoya Compares

If the next posting may be Kansai or Tokyo, ask how transfers and records work. See how to choose an international school in Japan.

Comparison Table

FAQ

What are the international schools in Nagoya? The K–12 English-medium day school families research first is Nagoya International School in Moriyama-ku. Aichi International School in Meito-ku covers ages 3–5 and Grades 1–6. NUCB International College in Nisshin is a boarding IB high school.

Is Nagoya International School an IB school? Yes. NIS states it offers IB PYP, MYP, and DP, under joint CIS and WASC accreditation. Confirm current authorisations on nis.ac.jp.

Can we live in central Nagoya and commute to NIS? Some families do. Time the trip at drop-off hour from the actual address. Moriyama-ku and nearby eastern wards usually shorten the day.

Is there a British or American K–12 school in Nagoya like ASIJ or BST? Not at that scale. NIS is IB. ASIJ and BST are Tokyo options — see the Tokyo guide.

How do fees compare with Tokyo? Ask each school for this year's total: tuition, application, capital or building fees, bus, and lunches. Do not copy a national range onto Nagoya.