Deutsche Schule Tokyo Yokohama (DSTY) at a glance
| Curriculum | German national curriculum (Thüringen framework) |
|---|---|
| Exam boards | German International Abitur (DIAP) |
| Stages | Kindergarten to upper secondary (Grade 12, Abitur) |
| Founded | 1904 |
| Accreditation | Recognised German school abroad (German government) |
| Fee band | Mid to upper (Tokyo and Yokohama) |
| Campus area | Tsuzuki, Yokohama, Kanagawa |
Where a detail is not officially published we mark it clearly rather than guess. Always confirm current figures with the school.
Curriculum and academics
Deutsche Schule Tokyo Yokohama follows the German national curriculum, modelled on a German federal state framework, which means a child can move between this school and the wider German system without losing continuity. Teaching is in German across the kindergarten and school years, with English taught as a foreign language from primary onward and Japanese available to support life in the host country. The upper grades work towards the German International Abitur, and DSTY is the school in Japan that offers this route, which makes it the natural choice for families who want a continuous German education abroad.
As the oldest German school in East Asia, founded in 1904 and based in Yokohama since the years after the 1923 earthquake, DSTY carries a long institutional history and the staffing and inspection standards of a recognised German school abroad. The Abitur opens direct access to universities in Germany and across the European Union, which is reassuring for families who may be posted elsewhere next. To understand the framework and the qualifications that follow it, see our guide to the German curriculum.
Pastoral care matters at a school built around one national community abroad, and that shows in how DSTY helps newly arrived children settle into both a new country and a new class. The school year, holidays and reporting rhythm mirror the German system, which keeps life predictable for mobile families. Sport, music and the arts feature in school life, and the language emphasis means many children leave confident in German, English and some Japanese.
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Deutsche Schule Tokyo Yokohama (DSTY) fees
Deutsche Schule Tokyo Yokohama fees sit broadly in the mid to upper band for the Tokyo and Yokohama area. As at most established schools, the headline tuition is only one line on the bill, and families should plan for several additional charges across the year.
- Registration and application: a one-off charge at the point of applying.
- Annual tuition: billed per year, often payable by instalment.
- Facility or development levy: a contribution toward buildings and resources.
- Extras: school bus, lunch, materials and trips.
For a citywide view of how the bands compare, read our guide to international school fees in Tokyo, which sets out the low, mid and premium tiers. It is worth asking the admissions office how charges are split across the year and whether sibling or corporate arrangements apply, since these can change the real cost considerably. We avoid quoting precise figures because German schools abroad revise them each year.
Admissions
The main intake follows the German school year, with the principal entry point at the start of the academic year and applications opening in the months beforehand. Admission is geared to families who want a continuous German education, so the office will look at prior schooling, German language readiness for the relevant year group, and the timing of your relocation.
Families are encouraged to visit before applying so children and parents can get a feel for the German speaking environment. The admissions team can advise on how a child currently in a different system would slot into the German year groups, which is often the deciding factor in timing a move. Mid-year entry can be possible where a place opens, particularly outside transition years.
Location and who goes there
The campus is in the Tsuzuki area of Yokohama, in Kanagawa prefecture, within reach of the German and wider European communities spread across Yokohama and southern Tokyo. School transport links the campus to the residential clusters where overseas families tend to settle, and the bilingual services of central Yokohama make daily life straightforward for new arrivals.
The community is anchored by German speaking families on corporate and diplomatic postings, with European and returnee households alongside them, and the school often becomes a social anchor as much as an academic one. For a fuller picture of districts, commutes and the wider schooling landscape, our Tokyo city guide maps where expatriate families live and how the schools are distributed.
Reviews
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Frequently asked questions
How much are Deutsche Schule Tokyo Yokohama fees?
DSTY fees sit broadly in the mid to upper band for the Tokyo and Yokohama area. Expect annual tuition plus one-off registration and a facility contribution. The school's admissions office publishes current figures.
What curriculum does Deutsche Schule Tokyo Yokohama follow?
It follows the German national curriculum and prepares students for the German International Abitur, taught in German with English as a foreign language and Japanese available.
Does Deutsche Schule Tokyo Yokohama offer the Abitur?
Yes. It offers the German International Abitur, the route to German and European universities, and is the school in Japan providing this pathway.
When do Deutsche Schule Tokyo Yokohama applications open?
The main intake follows the German school year, with applications opening in the months before the start of the academic year. Mid-year places depend on availability.
Is Deutsche Schule Tokyo Yokohama a good school?
Founded in 1904, it is the oldest German school in East Asia and a recognised German school abroad with a continuous Abitur pathway. We do not rank schools; we recommend visiting and comparing it.
