Finding the Best International Kindergarten in Japan

It gets exhausting to look for a new school, college or kindergarten for your child especially when you’re burgeoned with work, grocery, household chores, etc. It already becomes like a new task for parents to go through in addition to existing commitments. It makes it even more challenging for expatriate families who are looking for an international education system which have an English medium of instruction but actively also teach Japanese to these students to be self-reliant and embrace their growth in Japan. There are a few debates around the cost of school fees in Japan, whether to consider international school education as expensive is subjective. However, it is fair to say that enrolling your child in an international school is more expensive than enrolling them in a local school. We’d still argue that international schools would give an ease to settle in, disperse individual attention and provide an environment of diversity for kids who have just transitioned into a new country or plan on continuing their education in another one. This enables the children to adopt a global perspective that opens the door to inclusivity in their own future and the future of the world.

Listed below are a few exemplary schools with their cases in point as to what to expect from International kindergartens in Japan and the link to their school fees, structures and admissions.

GIIS is a leading International School that provides an International Curricula to students from diverse backgrounds. GIIS has over twenty two campuses throughout Asia and the Middle East of which 3 of those campuses are in Tokyo, Japan. It is a multi-award winning and progressive international school in Tokyo offering a curriculum that nurtures 21st century skills. The students are given the freedom to choose a curriculum that fits their requirements. GIIS has chosen to offer the top curriculums that are recognized globally and garner benefits for students. Their campuses are nestled between lush green environments with world class facilities, high tech enabled classrooms, a multicultural diverse community and value based education programmes crafted by top ranked teachers that leverage academic excellence and additional skills that are deemed resourceful and essential for the child to become a Global Citizen.

Star Kids International Preschool is a fun and friendly daycare and kindergarten in Minato ward in Central Tokyo. It has an international world class curriculum for students living in the heart of Tokyo city. The teachers maintain high standards and use a variety of teaching methods and strategies to enhance learning and development in an appropriately challenging and safe environment for toddlers to explore and experiment. Children of this school are encouraged to learn and grow at their own individual pace in their own ways. They view education to be an essential source of development for a fruitful academic experience. The school tries to empower students by offering them opportunities in order to make problem solving decisions. The school believes that their fun based learning atmosphere can change a shy natured child into an expressive and confident child. As a new school, their facilities are brand new and are constantly aiming at adding new things that act as a learning aid to create a stimulating environment that children need for their growth.

Mitsui Gardens International School was established in the 1970s by the EWA (Employees Welfare Association) and is located in an eleven-acre park-like grounds of the American Embassy’s Mitsui Housing Compound in Minato-ku, Tokyo. Their goal is to provide children with a wide variety of activities that encourage them to learn through experimentation and play. The school also strives to create a co-operative atmosphere where mutual respect is modeled and encouraged. They also push their students to be inquisitive and problem solving, able to work in collaboration and ultimately as adults to contribute in positive ways to society. All the lead teachers have qualifications within the education field and are well-versed in the stages of child development and are responsive to children’s needs. Each day’s schedule is carefully planned with an emphasis on exploration and process which facilitates discovery. The Curriculum provides their staff with clear and concrete ways to apply child development research and theories in our classrooms. The lessons and activities follow the Early Creative Curriculum for Early Childhood Developed by Teaching Strategies, Inc. located in Washington, D.C, USA.  

Horizon Japan International School (HJIS) is a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate (IB) school programme and is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. The school’s campus is in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.  It has been developed for students aged between 3 to 12 years old and uses a multi-disciplinary, inquiry based approach that focuses on developing the whole child. The school describes itself as a place where students learn to become forthright global citizens and leaders who will help to build a peaceful world. They encourage students to become confident, committed individuals who are appreciative, by working together with others to empathize with their creative, curious, enthusiastic selves. The school believes in nurturing their students into becoming independent and tolerant individuals that keep respect as one of their top values. They hope to raise their students into learners who figure the importance of intercultural understanding to achieve Global co-operation.

Through the information on the above given schools, we hope you find the right match of International Kindergarten in Japan for your child’s progressive growth, where they are able to be amongst like-minded individuals and have their holistic needs met.