Part of our guide to international schools in Tokyo. Dates last verified: October 2026.
When should you apply to a Tokyo international school for August 2027? Now, if your child is starting kindergarten or Grade 1. St. Mary’s International School and Nishimachi International School close entry-year applications for 2027–28 on October 31, 2026, and the International School of the Sacred Heart’s priority period for Kindergarten 5 ends on November 20, 2026. Other schools, including The British School in Tokyo and the American School in Japan, start taking applications in mid-November 2026 and make decisions from late February or March 2027.
The table below lists dates published on each school’s own website. Where a school hasn’t published 2027–28 dates, we say so.
2027–28 admissions dates by school
| School | Applications open | Key deadline | Decisions |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Mary’s International School — Readiness Program and Grade 1 | September 1, 2026 | October 31, 2026 (teacher recommendation by November 20) | Grade 1: January 31, 2027; Readiness Program: February 28, 2027 |
| Nishimachi International School — Kindergarten | September 1, 2026 | October 31, 2026 | By email by early February 2027 |
| Nishimachi International School — Grades 1–9 | November 1, 2026 | No closing date published; review starts mid-January | Not published |
| International School of the Sacred Heart — Kindergarten 5 | September 1, 2026 | Priority period ends November 20, 2026 | February 2027 |
| International School of the Sacred Heart — Kindergarten 3–4 | September 2026 | December 18, 2026 for first-round interviews | After interviews (January–February 2027); second round from March if places remain |
| International School of the Sacred Heart — Grades 1–12 | September 2026 | Aim to complete applications by early December 2026 | Not published |
| K. International School Tokyo — entry August to October 2027 | October 17, 2026 | See the KIST admissions handbook | Not published |
| The British School in Tokyo | Mid-November 2026 | Review runs early February to late June 2027 | From early March 2027, continuing into summer |
| The American School in Japan | Mid-November 2026 | No deadline published; ELC screenings December–February | From late February or early March 2027, continuing through summer |
| Tokyo International School | Not published | No deadline published; places offered as space allows | Not published |
| Seisen International School | Not published | Contact admissions | Not published |
Key dates at St. Mary’s (2027–28)
St. Mary’s has published the most detailed timeline for its entry years:
- Grade 1: on-campus screening November 3–6, 2026; group observation November 14; family interviews November 30 to December 11; decision letters January 31, 2027.
- Readiness Program: group observation January 9, 2027; family interviews January 18 to February 12; decision letters February 28, 2027.
- Both: the registration fee and Development Fund are due within two weeks of an offer. For other grades, the school says applications are welcome at any time.
Age cut-offs
Schools use different birthday cut-offs, which can put a child in a different year group from one school to the next:
- September 1: ASIJ (kindergarten applicants must be 5 before September 1; nursery applicants 3), Sacred Heart (3 for K3, 4 for K4, 5 for K5) and Seisen (minimum age for kindergarten by September 1).
- August 31: Tokyo International School (Kindergarten for 2027–28: born September 1, 2021 to August 31, 2022) and Nishimachi (5 by August 31 for kindergarten).
- July 31: K. International School Tokyo.
Sacred Heart also requires kindergarten children to be fully toilet trained, day and night, by August 1.
A month-by-month plan for August 2027 entry
- Now to October 31, 2026: submit kindergarten and Grade 1 applications to St. Mary’s and Nishimachi. Ask your child’s current teacher for references early.
- From October 17, 2026: KIST applications are open.
- November 2026: Nishimachi Grades 1–9 open (November 1); BST and ASIJ open mid-month; Sacred Heart’s K5 priority period ends November 20.
- December 2026: Sacred Heart K3–4 first-round cut-off (December 18); aim to finish Sacred Heart Grades 1–12 applications. Collect mid-year reports, which many schools request in January.
- January–February 2027: screenings, observations and interviews; first decisions arrive.
- March–June 2027: BST and ASIJ continue making decisions as places open; waitlist offers can arrive into the summer.
Tips
- Apply to more than one school. Popular entry years are oversubscribed, and decisions come at different times.
- Moving from overseas? Some schools treat you differently: Nishimachi accepts kindergarten applications from outside Tokyo after the October 31 deadline, and St. Mary’s has accepted overseas applicants after its local deadline in past years.
- Budget for fees on acceptance. One-time entry fees are often due within two weeks of an offer. See our first-year budget guide.
- Check parent-language requirements. Several schools, including TIS and ASIJ, require at least one parent to communicate in English.
- Deal with schools directly. St. Mary’s admissions policy says third parties and representatives can’t be involved in the process.
FAQ
Is it too late to apply for August 2027?
No. Several schools haven’t opened applications yet, and many admit students into the summer as places become available. But for kindergarten and Grade 1 at St. Mary’s and Nishimachi, apply by October 31, 2026.
Can we apply mid-year?
Yes, at most schools, subject to space. Contact admissions directly about current openings.
How much are application fees?
Usually ¥30,000–¥50,000 and non-refundable. See our fees comparison.
Sources and official information
- St. Mary’s International School — RP / Grade 1 admissions
- Nishimachi International School — Inquire / Apply
- International School of the Sacred Heart — Admission process
- K. International School Tokyo — Applications
- The British School in Tokyo — Applications
- The American School in Japan — Admissions guidelines
- Tokyo International School — Admissions
- Seisen International School — How to apply
Admissions dates can change. Always confirm with the school before relying on a deadline. TokyoParents has no commercial relationship with any school listed. See our editorial policy.
Featured image: Tokyo International School bus by Hawkeye080, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
