Within the wider field of international schools in Taipei, Taipei Japanese School is a national community school rather than an English medium international one. It is a nihonjin gakko, a Japanese overseas school, founded in 1947 and now based in Tianmu, that teaches the Japanese national curriculum so that pupils can move back into the school system in Japan without losing their place. Its purpose is continuity for Japanese families on assignment in Taiwan rather than entry into the IB or a Western university route.
Taipei Japanese School at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | Japanese national curriculum, approved by MEXT, Japan's education ministry; taught in Japanese (this is not an IB school) |
|---|---|
| Stages | Elementary and junior high, roughly ages 6 to 15 |
| Founded | 1947, originally on the former Taihoku Imperial University site; moved to Tianmu in 1983 |
| Accreditation | Operates as a MEXT approved Japanese overseas school (nihonjin gakko) |
| Fee band | Below the premium international schools; a community school (see Taipei fees) |
| Campus area | Tianmu, Shilin District, northern Taipei |
Curriculum and academics
Taipei Japanese School follows the Japanese national curriculum set out in the courses of study approved by MEXT, taught in Japanese across elementary and junior high. The deliberate alignment with the system at home is the whole point: a child can transfer in from a school in Japan, or back to one, with minimal disruption, which matters for families whose posting in Taiwan is for a fixed number of years. Lessons, textbooks and the school calendar broadly mirror those in Japan.
The school covers compulsory education only, to the end of junior high at around age 15. Traditionally its pupils return to Japan for high school, while a minority cross over to the Taipei American School, which sits nearby, for an English medium senior education. This makes Taipei Japanese School distinct from the IB and Western curriculum schools in the city: it is a bridge back to Japan rather than a route into an international diploma. Our overview of the Taipei schools sets out where the national community schools sit alongside the international options.
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Taipei Japanese School fees
As a Japanese community school, Taipei Japanese School sits well below the premium international schools in our guide to international school fees in Taipei, closer to the more affordable end captured in our look at the cheapest international schools in Taipei. Community and national schools of this kind are typically supported by their community and government bodies, which keeps tuition lower than the IB and Western curriculum schools, though families should confirm the current fees directly with the school.
Even at a community school, plan for the practical extras a family budgets for: enrolment costs, learning materials and textbooks aligned to the Japanese curriculum, school meals and transport. Our fee calculator can still help bring these into a single annual figure if you are comparing Taipei Japanese School against an international option for a child who may later switch systems.
Admissions
Admission is geared to Japanese families posted to Taiwan, and the curriculum and language of instruction assume a child is continuing within the Japanese system. The school takes elementary and junior high pupils, with the most natural entry at the start of elementary or on arrival in Taiwan partway through a child's schooling. Families should approach the school directly to confirm eligibility and the documents required.
The Japanese school year traditionally begins in April rather than the August or September start of the Western international schools, another way the school keeps step with Japan. Because the intake is tied to corporate and diplomatic postings, places open and close as families rotate in and out of Taiwan, so timing an application around a move is best done in direct contact with the school office.
Location and who goes there
The school is in Tianmu, in the Shilin District of northern Taipei, having moved there in 1983 from its original site on what is now National Taiwan University land. Tianmu is the traditional centre of expatriate Taipei, and the Japanese community is well established there, with Japanese shops, restaurants and services nearby. The Taipei American School sits across the road, which is why a handful of pupils cross between the two systems.
The intake is overwhelmingly the children of Japanese families on assignment in Taiwan, who value an education that keeps their child on track for a return to Japan. They cluster in Tianmu and the surrounding northern districts close to the school. For how Tianmu compares with the central and hillside neighbourhoods on housing, commute and school choice, the Taipei city hub maps out the wider picture for relocating parents.
Taipei Japanese School reviews
No verified reviews yet. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish parent reviews only once we can confirm the reviewer is part of the school community, and you will not find an invented star rating here. If your family has experience of Taipei Japanese School, please share it through our school reviews hub to help other relocating parents.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Taipei Japanese School fees?
As a Japanese community school it sits well below the premium international schools in Taipei, closer to the more affordable end of the city's range. Community schools of this kind keep tuition lower than the IB and Western curriculum schools, but confirm the current fees directly with the school.
What curriculum does Taipei Japanese School follow?
It follows the Japanese national curriculum approved by MEXT, Japan's education ministry, taught in Japanese, so pupils can move back into the school system in Japan without losing their place. It is not an IB or English medium school.
What ages does Taipei Japanese School take?
The school covers elementary and junior high, roughly ages 6 to 15. Pupils traditionally return to Japan for high school, while a few cross to the nearby Taipei American School for an English medium senior education.
Is Taipei Japanese School an international school?
It is a Japanese overseas community school, a nihonjin gakko, rather than an English medium international school. Its role is to keep Japanese expatriate children aligned with the system at home, not to prepare them for an international diploma.
When do Taipei Japanese School applications open?
The Japanese school year begins in April, unlike the August or September start of the Western international schools. Places follow the rotation of Japanese postings in and out of Taiwan, so contact the school office directly to time an application around a move.
