Katoh Gakuen Gyoshu at a glance
| Curriculum | Japanese national curriculum with an English immersion IB stream |
|---|---|
| Exam boards | IB Middle Years and Diploma programmes (since 2002) |
| Stages | Junior and senior high school (within a wider K to 12 foundation) |
| Founded | 1926 |
| Accreditation | IB authorised (MYP and DP) |
| Fee band | Japanese private school bands |
| Campus area | Numazu, Shizuoka |
Where a detail is not officially published we mark it clearly rather than guess. Always confirm current figures with the school.
Curriculum and academics
Katoh Gakuen Gyoshu holds a distinctive place in Japanese education as the first school in the country authorised to teach the International Baccalaureate in English, having run its Middle Years and Diploma programmes since 2002. The wider Katoh Gakuen foundation, established in 1926, introduced English immersion in 1992 as the first Japanese dual language school, and it runs a bilingual model: a mainstream Japanese national curriculum alongside an English immersion international stream that delivers the IB. Students can pursue an internationally portable qualification while remaining rooted in the Japanese system, which is the main reason families seek the school out.
The international stream prepares students for the IB Diploma and onward study, taught in English by specialist staff, while the wider school keeps the strengths of a Japanese academic culture. For Japanese families, the chance to gain an internationally recognised qualification without leaving the home system is rare and valuable; for internationally minded families, the bilingual depth is hard to match elsewhere. To understand the framework and what the Diploma involves, see our pillar guide to the IB curriculum, and our overview of IB schools in the Tokyo and Japan area.
Bringing the IB into a Japanese school in English is demanding, requiring specialist teachers and a structure that lets the international stream run alongside the national curriculum, and Katoh Gakuen has been a reference point nationally for how this can work. The model rewards families who are clear from the outset about which stream and pathway they want.
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Katoh Gakuen Gyoshu fees
Katoh Gakuen Gyoshu fees follow the structure of a Japanese private school rather than the premium international school model seen in central Tokyo, so the bands differ from the foreign international schools. Families should still plan for charges beyond annual tuition.
- Entrance and admission charges: one-off fees common to Japanese private schools.
- Annual tuition: billed per year.
- Facility and association fees: contributions typical of the Japanese system.
- Extras: materials, uniform, transport and activities.
Because this is a Japanese private school with an international stream, the comparison points differ from foreign run schools; our guide to international school fees in Tokyo is a useful benchmark for the foreign international market. Japanese private schools structure their charges differently, with entrance fees and association contributions that may be unfamiliar to overseas parents, so ask for a full breakdown. We do not quote precise figures here because the school sets and revises them.
Admissions
The main intake aligns with the April start of the Japanese school year, and admission to the international stream considers prior schooling, English readiness and, for the senior years, suitability for the IB pathway. Because the English immersion IB stream is a specialist offer, families should engage with the school early to understand entry points and assessment.
A visit and an early conversation help families understand which pathway fits their child and how the international stream sits alongside the Japanese curriculum. Entry outside the standard cycle depends on availability and on the fit between a student's background and the bilingual model, so families relocating to the Shizuoka or central Japan area should contact the school directly.
Location and who goes there
The campus is in Numazu, in Shizuoka prefecture, well outside the Tokyo metropolitan core and set in a regional city between the capital and central Japan with views toward Mount Fuji. This places it apart from the cluster of foreign international schools in Tokyo and gives it a distinct catchment, serving families in the region who want an English immersion IB pathway without relocating to the capital.
The community blends Japanese families seeking an international qualification with internationally minded households in the region, drawn by the rare English-language IB offer within a Japanese institution. For the wider national picture of where overseas families settle and how international and bilingual schools are distributed, our Tokyo and Japan city guide is the place to start.
Reviews
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Frequently asked questions
How much are Katoh Gakuen Gyoshu fees?
Fees follow the Japanese private school structure rather than the foreign international school model. Expect entrance charges, annual tuition and facility fees. The school publishes current figures.
What curriculum does Katoh Gakuen Gyoshu follow?
It runs the Japanese national curriculum alongside an English immersion International Baccalaureate stream, a bilingual model that is unusual in Japan.
Is Katoh Gakuen Gyoshu in Tokyo?
No. The campus is in Numazu in Shizuoka prefecture. We include it in our wider Japan coverage because of its pioneering English-language IB stream.
Is Katoh Gakuen Gyoshu a good school?
It was the first Japanese school authorised to teach the IB Middle Years and Diploma in English, with English immersion since 1992. We do not rank schools; we recommend visiting and comparing it.
When do Katoh Gakuen Gyoshu applications open?
The main intake aligns with the April Japanese school year. Because the IB stream is specialist, contact the school early to understand entry points and assessment.
