Part of our guide to international schools in Tokyo. Last verified: November 2026.
Which international schools are in west Tokyo? The largest is the American School in Japan (ASIJ) in Chofu, a K–12 school with more than 22 AP courses. Further out are Christian Academy in Japan (CAJ) in Higashikurume, an AP school that gives priority to Christian families, and Tokyo West International School in Hachioji, which follows the Japanese April–March school year. In north-west Tokyo, Aoba-Japan International School teaches elementary and middle school at its Hikarigaoka campus in Nerima. Tuition ranges from under ¥1 million to about ¥3.8 million a year.
Details come from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s international schools portal and the schools’ own websites.
At a glance
| School | Location | Grades | Curriculum | Tuition (portal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American School in Japan | Nomizu, Chofu | Kindergarten to Grade 12 | American, 22+ AP courses | ¥3,143,000–¥3,826,000 |
| Christian Academy in Japan | Shinkawacho, Higashikurume | Kindergarten to Grade 12 | American, AP, Christian studies | ¥1,950,000–¥2,290,000 |
| Tokyo West International School | Umetsubo-machi, Hachioji | Kindergarten to Grade 12 | IB PYP (elementary); own curriculum; partner high school programmes | ¥913,000–¥1,463,000 |
| Aoba-Japan International School — Hikarigaoka | Hikarigaoka, Nerima | Kindergarten to middle school | IB PYP and MYP | ¥2,098,000–¥2,862,000 |
Portal figures come from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s international schools portal, which notes that some fees may not be listed. Confirm the full fee schedule with each school.
American School in Japan (ASIJ), Chofu
- Location: 1-1-1 Nomizu, Chofu. ASIJ also runs an Early Learning Center (nursery and kindergarten) in Roppongi.
- Curriculum: American, with more than 22 AP courses, Global Online Academy courses and college-level courses through Syracuse University Project Advance. WASC accredited.
- Size: one of Tokyo’s largest international schools, with a capacity of 1,726.
- Fees (portal): kindergarten ¥3,143,000; elementary ¥3,498,000; junior high ¥3,699,000; high school ¥3,826,000.
- Getting there: ASIJ runs school buses; check routes with the school.
- Admissions: families must live in Tokyo with their children, non-Japanese students must hold a dependent visa, and one parent must speak, read and write fluent English. Applications for 2027–28 open in mid-November 2026. See our admissions calendar.
Christian Academy in Japan (CAJ), Higashikurume
- Location: 1-2-14 Shinkawacho, Higashikurume.
- Curriculum: an AP-based programme with Christian studies; accredited by WASC and ACSI.
- Size: about 500 students from 25 countries.
- Fees (portal): kindergarten and elementary ¥1,950,000; junior high ¥2,100,000; high school ¥2,290,000.
- Admissions: priority goes to Christian families, though other families are welcome to enquire. Grade-level academic English is required except in kindergarten and lower elementary, and at least one parent should communicate effectively in English.
- Getting there: CAJ doesn’t run a school bus, so most families live nearby.
Tokyo West International School, Hachioji
- Location: 185 Umetsubo-machi, Hachioji.
- Curriculum: the IB Primary Years Programme in elementary, the school’s own curriculum in junior high, and high school programmes based on partner correspondence high schools in the US and Japan. Instruction is in English and Japanese. Cognia accredited.
- School year: April to March, like Japanese schools.
- Fees (portal): kindergarten ¥1,140,000; elementary ¥1,463,000; junior high and high school ¥913,000, among the lowest in Tokyo.
- Facilities: sports field, gymnasium and swimming pool; school bus available.
- Admissions: entrance examination and interview.
Aoba-Japan International School — Hikarigaoka campus, Nerima
- Location: 7-5-1 Hikarigaoka, Nerima.
- Grades: kindergarten, elementary and middle school. Early years are also taught at Aoba’s Meguro campus, and high school at its Bunkyo campus.
- Curriculum: IB PYP and MYP (with the DP at the high school). CIS and NEASC accredited.
- Fees (portal): kindergarten ¥2,098,000–¥2,332,000; elementary ¥2,518,000–¥2,862,000; middle school ¥2,862,000.
Living in west Tokyo with school-age children
- More space: west Tokyo suburbs generally offer larger homes and more green space than the central wards.
- Commute first: check school bus routes and journey times before you choose a home; travel between west Tokyo suburbs can take longer than the distance suggests.
- Different calendars: Tokyo West International School follows April to March, while most other international schools run from August.
Comparing other areas? See our guides to international schools in Setagaya, Meguro and Shibuya and Koto and east Tokyo.
FAQ
What’s the cheapest international school in west Tokyo?
Tokyo West International School in Hachioji lists ¥913,000–¥1,463,000 a year. See our most affordable schools guide.
Is there an IB school in west Tokyo?
Aoba-Japan’s Hikarigaoka campus teaches the IB PYP and MYP, and Tokyo West International School teaches the IB PYP in elementary. See our IB schools comparison.
Sources and official information
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government — International Schools Portal (profiles of ASIJ, Christian Academy in Japan, Tokyo West International School and Aoba-Japan International School)
- The American School in Japan — Admissions guidelines
- Christian Academy in Japan — Official website
- Tokyo West International School — Official website
- Aoba-Japan International School — Official website
School details change. Always confirm with the school. TokyoParents has no commercial relationship with any school listed. See our editorial policy.
Featured image: ASIJ Front Entrance by Calton, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
