How many international nurseries in Tokyo
Tokyo lists roughly sixty international nurseries and preschools that teach primarily in English, with about a third concentrated in Minato. The remainder are spread across Setagaya, Shibuya, Meguro and Shinjuku, with a thinner ring through Suginami and Bunkyo. Provision falls into three loose families. First, the early years arms of full international schools such as Tokyo International School, Aoba Japan and the British School in Tokyo. Second, dedicated international preschool chains including Poppins, Tokyo Children's Club and Sunshine Kids Club. Third, smaller boutique nurseries that often follow a defined philosophy such as Montessori, Reggio or forest school.
For families settling into the city, the practical pool is smaller than the headline figure suggests. Once you filter by English speaking environment, full day hours, a daily commute that works for the family and a willing intake age, most families end up evaluating between six and ten settings.
Fees and the nursery tiers
Tokyo international nursery fees split into three tiers. The value tier, JPY 1.5 million to JPY 1.9 million per year, captures shorter day or part time programmes and the cheaper end of the bilingual market. The mid tier, JPY 1.9 million to JPY 2.4 million, covers most full day English speaking preschools running a defined early years curriculum. The premium tier, JPY 2.4 million to JPY 3.0 million, applies to the early years arms of full international schools and the longest established central Tokyo nurseries.
Headline tuition rarely tells the full story. Most settings charge a non refundable enrolment fee in the JPY 200,000 to JPY 400,000 range, a building or facility levy, lunch and snack contracts and a uniform allowance. Our Tokyo fees guide sets out the typical cost loading by ward.
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Illustrative example nurseries
The five settings below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each has a multi year track record in Tokyo and a clear identity in the early years market.
Poppins Active Learning International School runs multiple Tokyo campuses with a research informed early years curriculum and bilingual English Japanese teaching. The Hiroo and Ginza sites have the highest visibility with the international community.
Tokyo Children's Club in Hiroo is one of the longest standing English speaking nurseries in central Tokyo. The setting is smaller, with a single building and a settled teaching team, and feeds into the surrounding international primaries.
Aoba Japan International Pre School at Meguro and Hikarigaoka delivers an IB Primary Years Programme aligned early years curriculum from age 2, which makes the transition into Aoba's K and Year 1 cohorts straightforward for families who want a continuous IB pathway.
Komazawa Park International School in Setagaya is a popular Setagaya choice with a strong outdoor and play based focus, and a settled catchment of families in the Yoga, Sangenjaya and Komazawa corridor.
Where nursery age families live in Tokyo
Nursery age families cluster in three main belts. Minato, particularly Hiroo, Azabu, Roppongi and Akasaka, holds the embassy and corporate housing belt that drives demand for Tokyo Children's Club, Sunshine Kids Club and Poppins Hiroo. Setagaya, especially Den-en-chofu, Yoga, Sangenjaya and the area around Komazawa Park, suits families who want more space, a leafier feel and easier weekend logistics. Shibuya and Meguro sit between the two and pull families who want walkable access to Daikanyama, Nakameguro and Ebisu alongside English speaking nursery provision.
Admissions calendar
Tokyo international nurseries operate on a rolling intake from the day a child can settle, but two main calendars dominate. The international school year runs from late August or early September, with applications opening in October the year before. The Japanese academic year runs from April, and a smaller group of bilingual settings align with that calendar. Most premium nurseries close their main lists by January for the September following, with the most competitive places offered in February.
For the August 2026 start, prioritise applications between September and December 2025 at the most established Minato and Setagaya settings. For less competitive ages, including 18 months and lower toddler entry, 3 to 6 months ahead is usually enough.
Choosing a Tokyo international nursery
The honest decision drivers in Tokyo are not branding. Three questions tend to settle the choice. First, what is the daily door to door commute, factoring in nursery bus contracts that often run JPY 200,000 a year and not every setting offers. Second, how stable is the teaching team, since central Tokyo nurseries have higher turnover than the international school sector and continuity matters more in early years than in primary. Third, how does the nursery line up with the international primary you eventually want, given that some settings have a tight feeder relationship with Tokyo International School or Aoba and others sit independently. Families who are already targeting a specific primary route should read our hubs on IB schools in Tokyo, British curriculum in Tokyo and American curriculum in Tokyo alongside this page, and use our compare tool to put two or three nursery candidates side by side.
Frequently asked questions
How many international nurseries are there in Tokyo?
Tokyo has roughly 60 English speaking international nurseries and preschools serving expatriate and dual heritage families. About a third sit in Minato, with the rest spread across Setagaya, Shibuya, Meguro and Shinjuku.
What age does international nursery start in Tokyo?
Most international nurseries in Tokyo accept children from 18 months. A smaller group takes infants from 6 months under licensed daycare provision. The standard preschool entry point is age 2 turning 3.
How much do international nurseries cost in Tokyo?
Annual fees range from about JPY 1.5 million for value tier programmes to JPY 3.0 million at premium international preschools running a full day curriculum. Half day options sit around 30 to 40 percent below the headline figure.
Are international nursery places competitive in Tokyo?
Yes. Established nurseries in Minato and Setagaya operate waiting lists for the most popular intake age of two, particularly for September starts. Less competitive entry points include 18 months and the spring April intake.
