Saint Maur International School was founded in 1872 by the Sisters of the Infant Jesus in Yamate, the hillside district of Yokohama where many of Japan's first foreign residents settled. It is the oldest international school in the country, an English-medium Catholic day school that welcomes pupils of all backgrounds and runs a coeducational programme from Montessori pre-school to Grade 12. Although its campus is in Yokohama, it draws families from across the southern reaches of the greater Tokyo area, and it features in our directory of international schools in Tokyo.
Saint Maur at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | Montessori early years, International Primary Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Advanced Placement and the IB Diploma |
|---|---|
| Stages | Montessori pre-school to Grade 12, around age 2 to 18; coeducational |
| Founded | 1872 |
| Accreditation | Member of the New England Association; authorised for the IB Diploma and Cambridge IGCSE; confirm current status with the school |
| Fee band | Mid to upper for the Tokyo and Yokohama area |
| Campus area | Yamate, Naka ward, Yokohama |
Curriculum and academics
Saint Maur offers one of the broadest curriculum maps of any school in the region. The early years are taught through the Montessori method, the primary school uses the International Primary Curriculum, and the secondary school moves into Cambridge IGCSE in Grades 9 and 10. In the final two years pupils take Advanced Placement courses or the IB Diploma Programme, with the flexibility to combine individual IB courses and AP subjects.
This range lets families choose a pathway that suits a child returning to a US, UK or IB system later on. Ask the admissions team how the Montessori, IGCSE and IB strands connect as a child moves up the school, and how the careers team supports applications to universities in different countries.
Budgeting for Saint Maur?
Estimate the full cost of a place, including the facilities charge, trips and any commute. Free and independent.
Saint Maur fees
Saint Maur International School fees sit in the mid to upper part of the Tokyo international school fees range, generally below the very top of the city's premium tier while still reflecting a full IB and AP programme. Tuition rises by stage from the Montessori pre-school to the senior years.
Beyond tuition, budget for an application or registration fee, a facilities charge, exam entry costs in the IGCSE and IB years, and the cost of lunches, trips and the daily commute from Tokyo or across Yokohama. Because figures are reviewed each year, confirm the current schedule with the admissions office.
Admissions
Saint Maur assesses applications for the main intake at the start of the school year in late August, and reviews mid-year enquiries as places open. Popular year groups can fill, so early enquiry and a place on any waiting list matter for families relocating to the area.
The process typically includes a review of prior school records, references and an age-appropriate assessment, with younger applicants assessed informally and older applicants asked about prior IGCSE or equivalent study. Align your application with the August start and confirm whether a place exists in the grade you need.
Location and who goes there
Saint Maur is in Yamate, a leafy hillside neighbourhood of Yokohama close to Ishikawacho station and the historic Bluff district where foreign residents first settled in the nineteenth century. The setting is quieter and greener than central Tokyo, and the school is reachable from much of southern Tokyo by train in around an hour.
Families at Saint Maur tend to live in Yokohama, Kawasaki and the southern Tokyo wards, drawn by the calmer pace and the school's long history. For a wider view of where families settle and which schools serve each district, see our guide to international schools in Tokyo.
Reviews
No verified reviews yet. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and accepts no payment from schools, so we publish parent reviews only after confirming the reviewer is part of the school community. If your family knows Saint Maur first hand, please share your experience through our school reviews hub.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Saint Maur International School fees?
Saint Maur fees sit in the mid to upper band relative to Tokyo's premium international schools, rising by stage from pre-school to the senior years. Budget also for an application fee, a facilities charge, and the cost of lunch, trips, exam entries and any bus or rail commute. Confirm the current schedule with the admissions office.
Where is Saint Maur International School?
Saint Maur is in Yamate, a hillside district of Yokohama close to Ishikawacho station, about an hour by train from central Tokyo. It serves expat families across Yokohama and the southern and western parts of the greater Tokyo area.
Is Saint Maur International School a good school?
Saint Maur is the oldest international school in Japan, founded in 1872, and a New England Association member offering Montessori early years, IGCSE, Advanced Placement and the IB Diploma. It suits families wanting an established, broad pathway school in the Yokohama area. We do not publish a star rating without verified parent reviews.
When do Saint Maur International School applications open?
Saint Maur assesses applications for the main August intake and reviews mid-year enquiries as places open. Apply early for popular year groups and ask whether a place is available in your child's grade.
What curriculum does Saint Maur International School follow?
Saint Maur teaches an English-medium programme spanning Montessori pre-school, the International Primary Curriculum in the lower years, IGCSE in Grades 9 and 10, and Advanced Placement and the IB Diploma in Grades 11 and 12.
