Boarding Schools in Japan

Overview: British National Curriculum, IGCSE · 11–18 · ¥9.8M–¥10.6M

Harrow International School Appi Japan is a full-boarding British international school opened in August 2022 in the mountain resort of Appi Kogen, Iwate Prefecture, for students aged 11–18 (Year 7–13). It delivers the IGCSE and A-Level curriculum in small classes of 12–18 students, drawing on Harrow's 450-year tradition of holistic education and the school's core values of Courage, Honour, Humility, and Fellowship. The 90,000 m² campus features world-class sports, arts, and STEAM facilities, including an indoor swimming pool, 18 tennis courts, an Alpine Ski Academy, and a dedicated Innovation Centre. With approximately 70% of students from overseas, the school provides a truly international community supported by round-the-clock pastoral care from resident House Masters and House Parents.

Overview: British National Curriculum, IGCSE · 11–18 · ¥4.5M–¥5.5M

Rugby School Japan (RSJ) is a premier British-style international day and boarding school located in Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa City, Chiba — approximately 30 minutes from central Tokyo. Opened in September 2023, it serves coeducational Years 7–13 (ages 11–18) following the UK national curriculum through IGCSE and A-Level. RSJ's guiding philosophy is 'The Whole Person, The Whole Point,' combining academic rigour with expansive co-curricular programmes in sport, music, drama, and debate within a traditional House system. Students from over 20 nationalities study together, supported by a bilingual pastoral team, EAL provision, and a purpose-built Garden Campus with world-class facilities including a 25m indoor pool, Black Box theatre, and sports pitches.

Overview: IB Diploma, IB MYP · 15–18 · ¥4.5M

UWC ISAK Japan is Japan's first all-boarding international high school for Grades 10-12, located in Karuizawa, Nagano. Founded in 2014 and affiliated with United World Colleges in 2017, the school combines a rigorous IB Diploma Programme with Japan's national high school curriculum, granting graduates both qualifications. All 200 students from approximately 80 countries live on campus, immersed in a highly diverse, leadership-focused environment. The school's mission centers on nurturing 'changemakers' — individuals who realize their potential and catalyze positive change in the world. Approximately 70% of students receive need-based financial aid, reflecting a strong commitment to access and equity.

Overview: British National Curriculum, IGCSE · 10–18 · £29.7K–£37.8K

Rikkyo School in England (立教英国学院) is a co-educational, full-boarding Japanese international school in rural West Sussex, England, established in 1972 under the Anglican Rikkyo (St. Paul's) school network. It serves approximately 190 students aged 10–18 across Primary, Middle, and High School divisions, following the Japanese MEXT national curriculum taught primarily in Japanese with extensive English instruction. The school's defining character is its fusion of Christian boarding ethos with Japanese academic tradition, offering a unique environment where students grow bilingually and biculturally in the English countryside. University pathways include guaranteed Rikkyo University recommendation for qualifying graduates, as well as UK university foundation programmes in partnership with UCL and the University of Surrey.

Overview: IB Diploma · — · ¥340K–¥390K

AIE International High School is a private, IB World School on Awaji Island, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, offering a flexible wide-area correspondence (通信制) and full-time program with an optional on-campus dormitory. It is the first 一条校 in Hyogo Prefecture to be authorized for the IB Diploma Programme (since October 2017), and delivers a dual-language curriculum with approximately 1,600 hours of English immersion across three years. The school combines IB academics with whole-person education, supporting returnee and internationally-minded students in achieving university placements in Japan and abroad. Its informal, uniform-free environment and robust mentoring system foster self-motivated, globally aware graduates.