How many IB schools in Tokyo
Tokyo currently lists twelve authorised IB World Schools with the International Baccalaureate Organization. That figure is small relative to other major Asian capitals because Japan only opened up to the IB Diploma in Japanese as a recognised university entrance route in the late 2010s. The cluster is genuinely international in flavour and tightly capped, which is why waiting lists are common.
About seven of the twelve schools offer the full IB Diploma at senior level. The rest run PYP and MYP only, with their senior cohorts moving onto Cambridge IGCSE or the American high school diploma. Families targeting a continuous IB pathway from age 3 to 18 should focus on the dual or triple programme schools, of which Tokyo has roughly half a dozen.
Fees and the Tokyo IB tiers
IB tuition in Tokyo sits in three broad tiers. The value tier, roughly JPY 2.4 million to JPY 2.7 million per year, covers the smaller campuses and the lower years at Aoba-Japan. The mid tier, JPY 2.7 million to JPY 3.0 million, captures Tokyo International School and the senior years at K. International. The premium tier, JPY 3.0 million to JPY 3.4 million, applies to the established girls schools and the senior IB years at the larger international campuses.
Published tuition is not the full bill. Expect to add a one-off enrolment fee in the region of JPY 400,000, plus annual building and capital levies, examination entry fees in the Diploma years, school bus contracts that often run JPY 200,000 a year, and uniform. Our dedicated Tokyo fees guide walks through the cost loading school by school.
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Illustrative example schools
The five schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each has a multi-year IB record and a clear identity in the Tokyo market.
Tokyo International School in Minato is the longest established pure IB school in the city, running PYP through MYP. Its senior cohorts feed into the IB Diploma at sister schools or at K. International.
K. International School Tokyo in Koto is one of the few schools in Japan delivering the full PYP, MYP and Diploma Programme on a single site. Diploma cohorts have consistently averaged above 33 points.
Aoba-Japan International School runs two campuses, Meguro and Hikarigaoka, with the Hikarigaoka site delivering the full IB continuum. Aoba is the largest IB provider by enrolment in the city.
Seisen International School, a girls school in Setagaya, runs PYP, MYP and the full Diploma. Strong languages and arts programmes, smaller cohorts, established alumni network.
Where IB families live in Tokyo
IB families in Tokyo cluster around three areas. Minato, particularly Hiroo, Azabu and Roppongi, is the embassy belt and the most popular for families at Tokyo International School and Seisen. Housing is the most expensive in the city, with three bedroom apartments routinely running JPY 1.0 million per month. Setagaya, including Den-en-chofu and Yoga, is a leafier alternative with slightly lower rents and direct access to the IB schools in the southwest. Koto and the bay area suit families at K. International, where housing is newer, cheaper and more family-sized.
Admissions calendar
Tokyo IB schools open applications for the August 2026 academic year between September and November 2025. The most competitive intake points are Reception, Year 1, Year 7 and Year 12. Tier 1 schools close their main intake by late January and offer places by early March. Families relocating mid-year are accepted on a rolling basis subject to space, but mid-year movement is tight in Tokyo because cohorts are small.
If you are committing to a specific top tier IB school, aim to apply 10 to 12 months before your desired start. For less competitive intake points such as Year 3 or Year 8, 6 to 9 months is usually sufficient.
Choosing between Tokyo's IB schools
Because the IB cohort in Tokyo is small, families typically end up comparing three or four schools rather than a long shortlist. The honest decision drivers are catchment area, programme continuity and senior cohort size. A school that runs PYP and MYP but not the Diploma will force a transition at Year 11, which most families want to avoid if the child has settled. A larger senior cohort, even by a handful of students, also tends to widen subject choice at IB Diploma level, particularly in higher level sciences and second languages.
Pastoral fit matters more in Tokyo than in some larger international school markets, because changing schools mid-year is harder. Visit the school, ask about cohort movement in the past two years, and look at how the IB results trend over time rather than the single most recent year. Schools that have run the Diploma for at least five years tend to deliver more stable outcomes than those still building out the programme.
Language is a quiet differentiator. Almost all Tokyo IB schools teach Japanese as a Language B from primary upwards, but only some offer Japanese as a Language A at Diploma level, which is what biliterate or returnee Japanese children typically need. If keeping Japanese at academic level is a priority, ask the school about Language A Japanese cohorts in the most recent two graduating years. Our compare tool lets you place two or three Tokyo IB schools side by side on these specific points.
Frequently asked questions
How many IB schools are there in Tokyo?
Tokyo has twelve authorised IB World Schools, of which roughly seven deliver the full IB Diploma at senior level. The remainder offer PYP and MYP only.
How much do IB schools in Tokyo cost?
IB tuition in Tokyo ranges from about JPY 2.4 million to JPY 3.4 million per year, with most established Diploma programmes sitting near JPY 3.0 million. Enrolment fees, capital levies, transport and examinations add another 20 to 25 percent.
Is the IB Diploma recognised by Japanese universities?
Yes. Japan's leading universities, including the University of Tokyo, Waseda and Keio, recognise the IB Diploma for entry and most run dedicated IB entry routes. The Japanese government has actively promoted IB adoption since the late 2010s.
Can you transfer into a Tokyo IB school mid-year?
Mid-year transfers are possible at Years 4 to 9 when places exist, but Tokyo's small cohort sizes mean waiting lists are common. Diploma transfers after October of the first year are difficult because subject choices and internal assessments are already underway.
