Part of our guide to international schools in Tokyo. Last verified: October 2026.
Which international schools are in Minato? Minato ward is home to Tokyo International School (which moved to Takanawa Gateway City in August 2026), Nishimachi International School in Moto-Azabu, The British School in Tokyo’s primary campus at Azabudai Hills, the American School in Japan’s Early Learning Center in Roppongi, several campuses of Laurus International School of Science, and The Montessori School of Tokyo. Annual tuition at these schools is roughly ¥2.0 million to ¥3.4 million.
Details below come from each school’s profile on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s international schools portal and the schools’ own websites.
Minato international schools at a glance
| School | Location | Ages / grades | Curriculum | 2026–27 tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo International School | Takanawa Gateway City, Mita | Kindergarten (age 5) to Grade 12 | IB PYP, MYP and DP | ¥3,100,000–¥3,400,000 |
| Nishimachi International School | Moto-Azabu | Kindergarten to Grade 9 | US Common Core, daily Japanese | ¥3,129,000 |
| The British School in Tokyo — Azabudai Hills (Primary) | Azabudai | Primary (from age 3) | English National Curriculum | ¥2,960,000 |
| American School in Japan — Early Learning Center | Roppongi | Nursery and kindergarten | American | Kindergarten ¥3,143,000 |
| Laurus International School of Science | Shiba (main), Shirokanedai, Minami-Aoyama, Konan | Kindergarten to high school | Cambridge and IGCSE, STEM focus | Listed at ¥2,000,000 (K) to ¥2,600,000 (elementary) |
| The Montessori School of Tokyo | Minami-Azabu | About 18 months to 15 years (reported) | Montessori | Check with school |
Tokyo International School (TIS)
- Location: TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY RESIDENCE, 3-15-2 Mita, near Takanawa Gateway Station on the Yamanote Line. TIS moved here from its previous campus for the 2026–27 school year.
- Grades: Kindergarten to Grade 12. Grade 12 is added in 2026–27, making TIS a full K–12 school.
- Curriculum: the full IB continuum (PYP, MYP and Diploma), taught in English with Japanese language classes.
- Size: capacity of 572, with about 500 students from over 70 countries and around two classes of 22 per grade.
- Fees: tuition ¥3,100,000 (K–Grade 2) to ¥3,400,000 (Grades 10–12), plus a ¥200,000 building fee and one-time fees for new students.
- Admissions: at least one parent must communicate with the school in English without a translator; siblings get priority when other criteria are met.
Nishimachi International School
- Location: 2-14-7 Moto-Azabu, on a single campus founded in 1949.
- Grades: Kindergarten to Grade 9, coeducational. Students move to other schools for high school.
- Curriculum: US Common Core standards, with at least one Japanese lesson every day.
- Accreditation: WASC and CIS.
- Fees: tuition ¥3,129,000 for all grades, plus recurring and one-time fees.
- Getting there: Nishimachi doesn’t run a school bus, so most families live within reach by train or on foot.
- Admissions: kindergarten applications for 2027–28 close on October 31, 2026; Grades 1–9 open on November 1. See our 2027–28 admissions calendar.
The British School in Tokyo — Azabudai Hills
- Location: 1-3-3 Azabudai, in the Azabudai Hills development. This is BST’s primary campus; the secondary school is at the Showa campus in Setagaya.
- Curriculum: the English National Curriculum, leading to (I)GCSEs and then the IB Diploma or BTEC at the secondary campus.
- Fees: tuition ¥2,960,000 for Primary (including Nursery and Reception).
- Admissions: BST describes itself as non-selective; applications for 2027–28 open in mid-November 2026.
American School in Japan — Early Learning Center (Roppongi)
- Location: 6-16-5 Roppongi. The ELC serves nursery and kindergarten; from Grade 1, students attend ASIJ’s main campus in Chofu, reached by the school’s bus network.
- Fees: kindergarten tuition ¥3,143,000.
- Admissions: nursery applicants must be 3, and kindergarten applicants 5, before September 1. Non-Japanese students must hold a dependent visa, and one parent must be fluent in English.
Laurus International School of Science
- Locations in Minato: Shiba (elementary, junior and senior high, at 4-1-30 Shiba), Shirokanedai, Minami-Aoyama and Konan (Shinagawa area). Other campuses are in Bunkyo, Meguro, Chuo and Kawasaki.
- Curriculum: Cambridge Early Years, Primary, Lower Secondary and IGCSE, plus the school’s own STEM and entrepreneurship programme.
- Accreditation: a CIS member; CIS accreditation is in progress.
- Fees: the portal lists ¥2,000,000 for kindergarten and ¥2,600,000 for elementary (¥2,070,000 for the shorter regular course). Confirm the full schedule with the school.
The Montessori School of Tokyo
- Location: Minami-Azabu, with several campuses in the area (reported).
- Ages: about 18 months to 15 years (reported).
- Note: we couldn’t verify current fees or campus details from an official source. Check the school’s website.
Just outside Minato
- International School of the Sacred Heart — in Hiroo (Shibuya ward), girls from Grade 1 with a coeducational kindergarten.
- Canadian International School Tokyo — Kita-Shinagawa (Shinagawa ward), with its elementary campus in Nakameguro.
Living in Minato with school-age children
- Commute: Minato schools draw families from Azabu, Hiroo, Shirokane, Takanawa and Roppongi. Check the school bus map (where there is one) before signing a lease.
- Housing: Minato is one of Tokyo’s most expensive wards. Many families compare it with Shibuya, Meguro and Shinagawa, which are close to several of these schools.
- Combining schools: Nishimachi ends at Grade 9, so plan the high school move early.
FAQ
Where is Tokyo International School now?
Since August 2026, at Takanawa Gateway City in Mita, Minato, close to Takanawa Gateway Station.
Which Minato international school is cheapest?
Among schools with published fees, Laurus lists the lowest tuition. Compare full first-year costs in our 2026–27 fees guide and most affordable schools guide.
Is there an IB school in Minato?
Yes. Tokyo International School offers the full IB continuum, and BST students can take the IB Diploma at its secondary campus. See our IB schools comparison.
Sources and official information
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government — International Schools Portal: Minato
- Tokyo International School — New campus, August 2026
- Nishimachi International School — Admissions
- The British School in Tokyo — Fees
- The American School in Japan — Admissions guidelines
- Laurus International School of Science — 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: Azabudai Hills 4 by Syced, dedicated to the public domain (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons.
