In this guide
Secondary fee range at a glance
Tokyo secondary fees carry a twist that few other cities share. Tuition is set in yen, and because the yen has been weak against the dollar through recent years, the dollar cost of a Tokyo place has fallen even where the yen figure has risen. Secondary is still the most expensive stage: fees step up when a child enters secondary, then again at the IGCSE years and once more at the IB Diploma, where the smallest classes and the heaviest examination load sit. The premium schools reach JPY 3.0 to 3.6 million a year, with mid tier schools well below. The bands below are 2026 estimates tied to our Tokyo fees report, with secondary and sixth form pricing at the upper end of each whole school tier.
Secondary fee table by tier
| Tier | Annual secondary tuition (JPY) | Approx USD |
|---|---|---|
| Premium | JPY 3.0M - 3.6M | USD 19,500 - 23,500 |
| Upper-mid | JPY 2.4M - 3.0M | USD 15,500 - 19,500 |
| Mid | JPY 1.5M - 2.4M | USD 9,800 - 15,500 |
| Value / entry | JPY 0.8M - 1.5M | USD 5,200 - 9,800 |
Bands are 2026 estimates tied to our Tokyo fees report. The US dollar figures move with the exchange rate; a weak yen has lowered them in recent years. Secondary and sixth form tuition sits at the top of each tier.
Added and one-off costs
| Cost item | Typical range (JPY) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Facilities / building fee | 250,000 - 400,000 | One-time, usually non-refundable |
| Refundable deposit / bond | 800,000 - 2.5M | Returned on departure at some schools |
| School bus | 250,000 - 500,000 per year | Tokyo distances make this material |
| Resource fee | 80,000 - 150,000 per year | Devices and materials |
| Exam entries (IGCSE, IB) | 100,000 - 180,000 in IGCSE/IB years | Concentrated in the senior years |
What drives the cost
Three forces shape Tokyo secondary fees. The first is the currency. Because fees are set in yen, the cost of a place in dollar or pound terms depends heavily on the exchange rate, and the weak yen of recent years has been a genuine saving for foreign currency earners even as yen tuition has crept up. The second is curriculum at senior level. Schools running the IB Diploma or Advanced Placement carry small classes, specialist teaching, university counselling and examination administration that load onto the final years. The third is the cost base of operating in central Tokyo, one of the world's most expensive cities, which keeps the established international schools toward the top of the band.
Because the exchange rate can move sharply, families relocating to Tokyo should budget in yen and stress test the dollar or pound cost rather than rely on today's favourable conversion holding for the whole of secondary.
Compare secondary fees across cities
Put Tokyo secondary fees next to Singapore, Hong Kong and other host cities side by side before you commit.
Hidden costs beyond tuition
Headline tuition is only part of the bill, and Tokyo carries some distinctive extras. The largest one-off item is a facilities or building fee of JPY 250,000 to 400,000, usually charged at entry and not refundable, often alongside a refundable deposit or bond of JPY 800,000 to 2.5 million that is returned on departure at some schools. The school bus is unusually significant because of Tokyo's distances, running JPY 250,000 to 500,000 a year. On top sit a resource fee of JPY 80,000 to 150,000, examination entries of JPY 100,000 to 180,000 in the IGCSE and IB years, trips and devices. Lunch is typically packed rather than provided.
Compare secondary fees
In yen terms Tokyo secondary fees are high, but the weak yen has pulled the dollar cost below Singapore and Hong Kong in recent years. Use our compare fees tool to put Tokyo next to other host cities and curricula, then read the full Tokyo school fees breakdown for the all stage picture and the all-in cost of a place.
FAQ
How much is secondary international school in Tokyo? Secondary and sixth form international school fees in Tokyo run from about JPY 1.5 million a year at mid tier schools to JPY 3.0 to 3.6 million at the premium international schools, with the IB Diploma years at the upper end. In US dollar terms a weak yen has made Tokyo notably cheaper than a few years ago. Families also pay a facilities fee, a deposit and exam entries on top.
Has the weak yen made Tokyo schools cheaper? For families earning in foreign currency, yes. Fees are set in yen, and as the yen weakened against the dollar over 2022 to 2025 the dollar cost of a Tokyo place fell substantially. A premium secondary place that approached USD 30,000 in 2021 has at times converted closer to USD 19,500 to 23,500, although the exact figure moves with the exchange rate.
Which Tokyo schools offer the IB Diploma? Several Tokyo and Yokohama schools offer the IB Diploma, including Aoba-Japan International School, K. International School Tokyo, Yokohama International School and Seisen International School, with The British School in Tokyo introducing the Diploma from 2025. The American School in Japan offers Advanced Placement rather than the IB.
Is the Tokyo school deposit refundable? Often, in part. Many Tokyo schools charge a refundable deposit or bond of JPY 800,000 to 2.5 million that is returned on departure under certain conditions, alongside a one-time facilities or building fee of JPY 250,000 to 400,000 that is not refundable. Always confirm the terms in writing before paying.
What are the hidden costs of secondary school in Tokyo? Beyond tuition, families add a one-time facilities fee of JPY 250,000 to 400,000, a refundable bond, a school bus that can run JPY 250,000 to 500,000 a year given Tokyo's distances, a resource fee of JPY 80,000 to 150,000, trips, examination entries of JPY 100,000 to 180,000 in the IGCSE and IB years, and devices. Lunch is typically packed.