Beijing Japanese School, formally the Japanese School of Beijing, is a foreign community school in Beijing that educates the children of Japanese families posted to the city. It traces its history to a supplementary school established in 1974 and took its present name in 1976, which makes it one of the oldest foreign schools in Beijing. It teaches the Japanese national curriculum in Japanese, so it differs in kind from an English medium IB curriculum school, and is best understood as a national school for one community rather than a multinational international school.
Beijing Japanese School at a glance
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and language | Japanese national curriculum, taught in Japanese |
| Stages | Primary and lower secondary years |
| Founded | Roots in 1974; named the Japanese School of Beijing in 1976 |
| Community | Children of Japanese diplomatic, corporate and institutional families |
| Fee band | Community school; fees set for the Japanese community, not published in our directory |
| Campus area | Jiangtai area, Chaoyang district |
Curriculum and academics
The Japanese School of Beijing follows the national curriculum set by Japan's education ministry, taught in Japanese, so that students can move smoothly back into the school system at home. This is the same model used by the German, French and Korean community schools in the city, where the priority is continuity with the home country rather than an English medium international programme. Families who instead want an English language route into the IB curriculum or another international system would look to a different kind of school.
Because it is a community school, its purpose is to keep children on track with Japanese schooling while their parents are posted abroad, and it organises a calendar and assessment framework aligned with Japan. To compare it with the English medium options in the city, read our cheapest international schools in Beijing guide for the more affordable end of the market.
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Beijing Japanese School fees
As a community school serving one nationality, the Japanese School of Beijing sets fees for its own families rather than competing in the open international market, and we do not hold a verified fee figure for it, so we will not publish one. Families connected to the school should ask the school office directly for the current schedule and any community or company support that applies.
For context on the wider market, our Beijing international school fees guide sets out the bands for English medium international schools, and our fee calculator can model the full annual cost if you are also weighing an international school. Treat any figure there as the open market reference, not a quote for this community school.
Admissions
Admission to the Japanese School of Beijing is organised around the Japanese community in the city, so it is normally arranged through the channels Japanese families use when they relocate, including employers and the relevant community bodies. Eligibility centres on being part of that community and on a child being able to follow a Japanese medium programme.
Families considering the school should contact the school office directly to confirm the current entry requirements, the documents needed and the timing of intakes, since these follow the Japanese school year and community arrangements rather than the rolling admissions of a typical international school.
Location and who goes there
The school is based in the Jiangtai area of the Chaoyang district, on the east side of Beijing, close to the parts of the city where many Japanese and other international families live and work. Chaoyang holds the embassies, multinational offices and international housing that make it the natural base for foreign community schools, which keeps the school within reach of the families it serves.
The community is, by design, Japanese, which sets it apart from the multinational mix of the city's English medium schools. To weigh it against those schools, including fees and neighbourhoods, start with the Beijing city hub, or look at community and international alternatives such as Beijing Korean International School and Beijing World Youth Academy.
Beijing Japanese School reviews
We do not yet hold any verified parent reviews for Beijing Japanese School. GlobalSchoolGuide is an independent guide and no school pays to be listed, so we publish a rating only once we have collected enough verified first hand accounts to be fair to both the school and to families reading them. We would rather show nothing than show an invented score.
If your family has attended the school we would value your account of admissions, teaching, pastoral care and value for money. Share it through our school reviews hub and we will add verified contributions to this page.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Beijing Japanese School fees?
As a community school for Japanese families, the Japanese School of Beijing sets fees for its own community and we do not publish a verified figure for it. Ask the school office directly for the current schedule and any community or company support.
What curriculum does Beijing Japanese School follow?
It follows the Japanese national curriculum, taught in Japanese, so that students stay aligned with the school system in Japan. It is a community school rather than an English medium international school.
Is Beijing Japanese School an international school?
It is best described as a foreign community school for the Japanese community rather than a multinational international school. It teaches one national curriculum in one language, similar to the city's other community schools.
Who can enrol at Beijing Japanese School?
Admission is organised around the Japanese community in Beijing, normally through employers and community bodies, for children who can follow a Japanese medium programme. Contact the school office to confirm eligibility.
When do Beijing Japanese School applications open?
Intakes follow the Japanese school year and community arrangements rather than rolling international admissions. Contact the school office directly for current timing and the documents required.
