Japan International School Tuition 2026: What Parents Pay

The tuition line is the number everyone quotes, and it is the least useful one for budgeting. What families actually pay in the first year includes application, registration and building fees that can add more than a million yen, and some schools charge a capital fee every year on top.

Three well-known schools publish their full 2026–27 schedules, so this guide uses their real figures rather than ranges. Fees change every year; check the school's own page before you commit.

Tuition at three schools, 2026–27

Sources: the tuition and fees pages of Canadian Academy, St. Mary's and ASIJ, checked October 2026.

The grade bands differ from school to school, so compare the band your child will actually be in. Canadian Academy also takes boarders, at ¥3,500,000 a year on top of tuition.

The fees new families pay once

Then there are charges that recur:

• Canadian Academy lists a ¥300,000 building and development fee without marking it one-time, so ask whether it recurs for your child.
• ASIJ charges a ¥250,000 capital assessment every year, and ¥390,000 a year for the school bus if you use it.
• St. Mary's asks returning families for a ¥300,000 re-enrollment deposit, credited against the next year's tuition, and charges separately for iPads and laptops in some grades.

What a first year actually costs

For a new Grade 1 student in 2026–27, before bus, lunch and trips:

The gap between the cheapest and the dearest tuition here is under ¥800,000. Once the one-time fees are in, the first-year gap is about ¥1.5 million. That is why the tuition line alone is a poor way to compare schools.

Other schools and other cities

Many schools share their fee schedule only with applicants. As a rough guide from schools that publish:

• Tokyo has the highest fees nationally. The large established schools sit around ¥3–4 million a year at secondary level before fees. See international schools in Tokyo.
• Kobe is somewhat lower. Canadian Academy, above, is the clearest reference; see international schools in Kobe.
• Osaka schools are generally in a similar band to Kobe. See international schools in Osaka.
• Preschools charge by the month, and five full days with extended care can pass ¥100,000 a month. See international preschools in Kobe.

Costs outside the fee schedule

• School bus: often a separate annual charge, and in Tokyo it can be several hundred thousand yen.
• Lunch: paid daily or by term at most schools.
• Devices: many schools require a laptop or iPad from upper elementary.
• Trips and activities: residential trips, sports travel and music lessons add up over the year.
• Donations: some schools run annual giving campaigns. Ask what is required and what is voluntary.

Planning over several years

Tuition rises as your child moves from elementary to middle and high school, and schools review their fees every year. A simple way to plan:

1. Get the fee schedule for every grade your child will attend.
2. Put the one-time fees in the first year.
3. Add any annual capital or building fee to every year.
4. Assume a small rise each year; schools do not promise fixed fees.
5. Ask about sibling discounts, which some schools offer and others do not.

If your employer pays school fees, check exactly which items the policy covers. Many cover tuition but not the one-time capital fees or the bus. For tax treatment, ask your company or a tax adviser; this guide does not cover tax.

FAQ

How much does an international school in Japan cost per year? For 2026–27, published tuition runs from about ¥2.1 million for the youngest children to about ¥3.8 million for high school. Canadian Academy charges ¥2,100,000 to ¥3,370,000, St. Mary's ¥2,860,000 to ¥3,050,000 and ASIJ ¥3,143,000 to ¥3,826,000.

How much is Canadian Academy? For 2026–27, tuition is ¥2,100,000 for Pre-K and Kindergarten A, ¥2,710,000 from Kindergarten B to Grade 5, ¥3,170,000 for Grades 6–8, ¥3,240,000 for Grades 9–11 and ¥3,370,000 for Grade 12. New students also pay ¥1,090,000 in one-time fees and a ¥300,000 building and development fee.

Why is the first year so much more expensive? New families pay one-time application, registration and capital or building fees, which come to ¥1.09 million at Canadian Academy, ¥1.65 million at St. Mary's and ¥1.875 million at ASIJ for 2026–27.

Is Tokyo more expensive than Kobe? Usually, yes. ASIJ's elementary tuition is about ¥800,000 a year more than Canadian Academy's, and its one-time fees are higher too. But fees vary more between schools than between cities, so compare the schools on your shortlist.

Do international schools offer sibling discounts? Some do and some do not, and the terms vary. Ask each school directly.

Related: Canadian Academy admissions · ASIJ guide · St. Mary's guide · How to choose an international school