At a glance
| Factor | Tokyo | Brussels |
|---|---|---|
| Average international school fees (secondary) | JPY 3,500,000 to 5,800,000 (USD 23,000 to 39,000) | EUR 28,000 to 49,000 (USD 31,000 to 54,000) |
| Dominant curricula | American, IB, British, Japanese | IB, British, European Schools, French, American |
| Cost of living (Numbeo, May 2026) | Tokyo and Brussels run within 5 to 10 percent of each other on housing and groceries | |
| Family visa | Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services with dependent visa | Single Permit + family reunification; EU Blue Card for highly skilled |
| Expat share of population | Around 3 percent foreign-born in central Tokyo | Around 35 percent foreign-born in greater Brussels |
| Typical relocation timeline | 8 to 12 weeks | 8 to 14 weeks |
Tokyo is Japan's political, financial and cultural capital with 38 million in the Kanto metro and an exceptional public realm. Brussels is the de facto capital of the European Union and home to NATO, with one of Europe's deepest international school markets serving a heavily diplomatic population. Both deliver world-class IB and American pathways. The decision usually sits on whether you are heading east or staying in the European time zone.
Schools landscape side by side
Tokyo's international school market is anchored by the American School in Japan (ASIJ) in Chofu, the largest American international school in the country, and Yokohama International School (YIS), one of the world's oldest IB World Schools. The British School in Tokyo (BST) covers British IGCSE and A Level. Sacred Heart, K. International School Tokyo and the Tokyo International School fill the IB market. Most flagships hold significant waiting lists. See the Tokyo schools hub.
Brussels offers an unusually broad mix. The International School of Brussels (ISB) and the British School of Brussels (BSB) anchor the IB and British markets. The four European Schools (Uccle, Woluwe, Ixelles and Laeken) provide European Baccalaureate to children of EU and NATO staff. St John's International School, the Lycee Francais Jean Monnet, BEPS and the German School round out the field. Waiting lists are significant 12 to 18 months ahead. See the Brussels schools hub.
Not sure which city fits your family?
Take the 5 minute school finder quiz, then run the cost calculator for both cities. You get shortlisted schools plus a side by side relocation budget in under ten minutes.
Fees and value for money
Tokyo premium school fees at ASIJ run roughly USD 26,000 to USD 30,000 (around JPY 4,000,000 to JPY 5,800,000) per year in secondary. Yokohama International School runs JPY 2,600,000 to JPY 4,500,000 in primary and JPY 3,500,000 to JPY 4,500,000 in secondary. First-year enrolment can sit 40 to 60 percent higher because of one-off application, capital and enrolment fees. The British School in Tokyo runs roughly JPY 2,400,000 to JPY 3,800,000.
Brussels premium school fees at the International School of Brussels run EUR 22,590 to EUR 49,714 per year across grade bands, with senior school the most expensive bracket in continental Europe outside Switzerland. The British School of Brussels runs EUR 34,400 to EUR 44,015. The European Schools are free of charge for children of EU institution staff and charge approximately EUR 8,000 to EUR 15,000 per year for other students. See the fees explorer for distribution.
Curriculum availability
Tokyo runs four main pathways: American Common Core at ASIJ; the IB Diploma at YIS, Sacred Heart, K. International and Tokyo International; British IGCSE and A Level at BST and the New International School of Japan; and Japanese curriculum at local schools with English support. Brussels runs the IB Diploma at ISB, St John's and Antwerp International, British IGCSE and A Level at BSB, the European Baccalaureate at the European Schools, and the French Baccalaureate at the Lycee Francais. The IB Diploma remains the safest portable credential in either city. See the IB hub.
Neighbourhoods families pick
In Tokyo families cluster in Hiroo, Azabu, Roppongi, Setagaya and Shibuya for international school proximity, with a smaller community in Yokohama's Bluff and Yamate districts for YIS. A four-bedroom apartment in Hiroo or Azabu runs JPY 700,000 to JPY 1,500,000 per month.
In Brussels families lean toward Uccle (for ISB), Tervuren and Wezembeek-Oppem (for BSB), Woluwe-Saint-Pierre (for European Schools and St John's), Ixelles for city life and the leafy southern communes of Rhode-Saint-Genese and Waterloo for villa-style living. A four-bedroom house in Tervuren or Woluwe runs EUR 2,500 to EUR 5,500 per month.
Lifestyle and climate
Tokyo runs four temperate seasons: cool 4 to 12 degree winters with occasional snow, hot humid 25 to 33 degree summers, and beautiful spring and autumn shoulder periods. The transport system is unmatched and public safety exceptional. Brussels offers a maritime temperate climate of 2 to 23 degrees Celsius across the year, often grey, with cycling, parks and weekend Eurostar to Paris, Amsterdam and London. Healthcare and family infrastructure are excellent in both cities.
Verdict: who picks which city
Choose Tokyo if your business is in Asia or your family wants to immerse in Japan. ASIJ delivers an American/IB pathway with university outcomes that rival the best in the United States, and the rest of family life feels uniquely safe and ordered. Five-year value sits in cultural depth and proximity to East Asia.
Choose Brussels if you are posted to the EU institutions, NATO or to a European-listed multinational, and you want an unusually broad school market with the European Schools available for EU staff. Brussels is also the European Eurostar hub. Use the cost calculator to model both cities side by side.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tokyo or Brussels cheaper for international school families in 2026?
They are within 5 to 10 percent of each other on cost of living. School fees are comparable: Tokyo top tier USD 26,000 to USD 30,000 at ASIJ; Brussels top tier EUR 35,000 to EUR 49,000 at ISB. EU institution staff in Brussels get the European Schools free of charge, which is a significant cost advantage.
Which city has stronger international schools?
Both are strong. Tokyo has ASIJ as a long-established American/IB flagship plus YIS as one of the world's oldest IB schools. Brussels has the International School of Brussels, the British School of Brussels and four European Schools delivering the European Baccalaureate. Tokyo is deeper in American provision; Brussels is broader in pathway choice.
Is the family visa easier in Tokyo or Brussels?
Both routes are efficient with a sponsoring employer. Japan issues the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa with dependent visa in eight to twelve weeks. Belgium issues the Single Permit with family reunification in eight to fourteen weeks. EU Blue Card holders move fastest in Brussels.
How does the climate compare for families?
Tokyo runs four sharp seasons: hot humid summers, mild winters, and beautiful spring cherry blossom and autumn colour. Brussels runs a temperate maritime climate, 2 to 23 degrees, with frequent grey skies and reliable rain. Outdoor sport is year-round in both.
Where do most expat families live in each city?
In Tokyo expat families cluster in Hiroo, Azabu, Roppongi and Setagaya for ASIJ and YIS proximity. In Brussels they pick Uccle for ISB, Tervuren for BSB, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre for the European Schools and Rhode-Saint-Genese and Waterloo for villa living south of the city.
