At a Glance

Outstanding A-Level results — 59% A*-A grades (2025), with graduates admitted to Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, and top global universities

Truly international community — 65+ nationalities represented among ~1,400 students across two purpose-built Tokyo campuses

Competitive admissions — Non-selective but capacity-limited; English proficiency required, most year groups typically full with waitlists extending to May

Premium British curriculum — Annual fees ~¥3M per child, plus ¥1.18M enrollment fees; limited bursaries available (up to 50% for ~7% of students)

Best for English-fluent expat families — Requires valid Japan residence visa, no boarding available; suited for families seeking Nursery-Year 13 continuity in British system

Tuition & Fees

Annual Tuition

¥2,820,000 - ¥2,930,000≈ $17,772.42 - $18,465.67

Application Fee

¥40,000≈ $252.09

Est. First Year Total

¥3,360,000≈ $21,175.65

Tuition by Grade

GradeAnnual TuitionApplication Fee

Nursery & Reception

¥2,820,000≈ $17,772.42

Year 1 – Year 6

¥2,820,000≈ $17,772.42

Year 7 – Year 9

¥2,840,000≈ $17,898.47

Year 10 – Year 13

¥2,930,000≈ $18,465.67

Additional Fees

Enrolment Fee

¥500,000≈ $3,151.14

Approximate values based on ECB monthly average (2026-03). Actual amounts may vary.

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Corporate Contribution Programme (CCP)

Special

Eligibility: Available to employees of companies that are members of the BST CCP Association.

Corporate Contribution Programme (CCP)

Other

Typically covers 100% of tuition for qualifying students

Eligibility: Dependents of expatriate employees whose employers participate in the CCPGrade Levels: All Grades

BST Bursary Programme

Need-Based

Eligibility: Open to families demonstrating financial need. Available from Year 1 upwards (not Nursery or Reception). Capped at approximately 7% of total school enrolment. Includes 100% waiver of Enrolment Fee and Capital Development Fund contribution, plus up to 50% reduction in annual tuition.Grade Levels: primary, secondaryApplication Deadline: April 26, 2026

Need-Based Bursary

Need-Based

100% waiver of enrollment fee and up to 50% of annual tuition (including Capital Development fee)

Eligibility: Families demonstrating financial hardship with submitted financial documents (tax returns, employer letters). Priority given to education/non-profit sector employeesGrade Levels: All GradesApplication Deadline: April 26, 2026

View Fees

$17,772.42 - $18,465.67

Inquire

Facilities

Sports & Athletics

Swimming Pool (Showa)

Sports Facilities

Swimming Pool (Azabudai Hills)

Indoor Gymnasium (Azabudai Hills)

Outdoor Sports Pitches (Azabudai Hills)

Indoor Sports Halls (Showa)

Outdoor Pitches (Showa)

Academic Facilities

Music and Performing Arts Facilities

Medical Centre

Library (Azabudai Hills)

Science Laboratories (Showa)

Senior Study Centre (Showa)

Outdoor Spaces

Rooftop Garden (Azabudai Hills)

Arts & Performance

Art & Design Studio (Azabudai Hills)

Music Room (Azabudai Hills)

Art Studios (Showa)

Common Areas

Auditorium (Azabudai Hills)

dining

Cafeteria / Dining (Showa)

Technology

Digital Technology Lab (Azabudai Hills)

wellbeing

Counselling Rooms

Medical Centre / Nurse Station

Extracurricular Activities

sports

HS Boys Football (BST Lions)MS Girls Football (BST Lions)HS BadmintonBST Swim SquadHS Boys Basketball

Transportation

school bus

BST operates a school shuttle bus service for both campuses. Routes cover Azabudai Hills Campus, Shibuya (SKG stop), and Showa Campus. Morning service approximately 07:15–09:00; afternoon service approximately 15:15–17:35.

Coverage Areas: Azabudai Hills, Shibuya (SKG), Showa Campus (Setagaya)

Location & Access

Getting There

Kamiyacho Station

Primary

Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line

Walk 5 min

Sangenjaya Station

Primary

Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line / Setagaya Line

Walk 7 min

▶ Other access options (6)

Onarimon Station

Toei Mita Line

Walk 12 min

Shibuya Station

JR / Tokyu / Tokyo Metro

Reviews

Reviews Coming Soon

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Schoozy Insights

Independent analysis by the Schoozy editorial team. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the school.

Holistic British Education at the Heart of Tokyo

BST's philosophy blends UK National Curriculum rigour with a distinctly international outlook, nurturing the whole child through academic, creative, and character development.

From Modest Beginnings to Tokyo's Largest British School

Founded in 1989, BST has grown from a small expat school into Tokyo's premier British international school, culminating in a landmark 2023 move to Azabudai Hills.

From IGCSE and A-Levels to the IB Diploma: BST's Curriculum Evolution

BST delivers the UK National Curriculum through IGCSE and is transitioning to the IB Diploma Programme from 2025, while offering a rich multilingual subject programme across all year groups.

Two World-Class Campuses in the Heart of Central Tokyo

BST's Azabudai Hills and Showa campuses offer distinct, purpose-built environments that together create a seamless Nursery-to-Sixth-Form educational journey in prime Tokyo locations.

Non-Selective Admissions with English Proficiency as the Core Criterion

BST welcomes students of all academic abilities but requires age-appropriate English proficiency, with a bursary programme supporting up to 7% of enrolment from lower-income families.

Admissions Deep Dive

BST admits non-selectively based on English proficiency and age-placement, but limited seats make entry competitive. Applications open mid-November with rolling decisions March-June.

University Placement Analysis

BST graduates achieve outstanding university placements, with 59% earning A*-A at A-level and matriculating to top global institutions including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, LSE, and leading univer...

School Culture & Community

BST fosters an internationally-minded community of 65+ nationalities (1,400 students), emphasizing British values, diversity, wellbeing, and active parent engagement through extensive clubs and eve...

Total Cost Analysis

BST's total cost ranges from ¥4-5 million for first-year students (including ¥1.18M one-time fees) and ¥3-3.5M annually thereafter, with limited financial aid available.

Who Is This School Best For?

BST suits English-proficient expatriate families seeking rigorous British education in Tokyo, with strong university placement and diverse international community (65+ nationalities).

Campuses

Main Campus

Azabudai Hills Campus

1-3-3 Azabudai, Minato-ku, Tokyo

5 min walk from Kamiyacho Station (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)

State-of-the-art 2023 campus with indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, outdoor sports pitches, digital technology labs, art and design studios, music rooms, auditorium, library, rooftop gardens, nurse station, and counselling rooms.

+81 3-5544-9160

Open in Google Maps

BST Showa Campus

1-7-57 Taishido, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo (Showa Women's University Building 5)

Secondary campus within Showa Women's University grounds, featuring two art studios, science and IT labs, two indoor sports halls, three outdoor pitches, a swimming pool, cafeteria, and the Senior Study Centre (opened 2022) with independent study spaces and university counselling facilities.

+81 3-3411-4211

Open in Google Maps

Curriculum & Academics

Languages of Instruction

English

Compulsory / Optional

JapaneseFrenchSpanishMandarin ChineseEnglish

University Destinations

University of OxfordUniversity of CambridgeHarvard UniversityYale UniversityUniversity of Tokyo

Accreditations & Memberships

Cambridge International

British National CurriculumEst. 1989Tokyo, Japan

International School · Day School · Through School (K-12)

The British School in Tokyo

Tokyo, Japan

The British School in Tokyo (BST) is Tokyo's largest British international day school, serving approximately 1,400 students aged 3–18 from over 65 nationalities. Founded in 1989, BST follows the UK National Curriculum delivered entirely in English, with small classes of 20–22 pupils fostering personalised learning. The school emphasises holistic education across academics, music, sport, art, and drama, and all students from Year 1 participate in annual residential field trips across Japan. Operating from two modern campuses — Azabudai Hills (Primary) and Showa (Secondary) — BST graduates regularly progress to leading universities worldwide including Oxford, Cambridge, the Ivy League, and the University of Tokyo.

Curriculum

British National Curriculum / IGCSE / A-Level

Annual Tuition

¥2,820,000 - ¥2,930,000≈ $17,772.42 - $18,465.67

Students

~1,400

Nationalities

65+

Inquire Now

Admissions

Selectivity:

non-selective

Admissions Overview

BST is a non-selective school; admission is not based on academic ability but requires age-appropriate English proficiency, as all lessons are taught in English. Applications for the following August intake open in mid-November of the preceding year. Assessments and interviews are conducted between February and late June. An Application Fee of ¥40,000 is required, followed by an Enrolment Fee of ¥500,000 and Educational Resources fee of ¥680,000 upon acceptance. A needs-based Bursary Programme is available for Year 1 and above, offering up to 50% tuition reduction plus full Enrolment Fee waiver, capped at 7% of total enrolment. A school shuttle bus service operates for both campuses.

Requirements

Nursery & Reception (Ages 3–5)

Age-Appropriate English EvaluationSchool Visit

English Requirement: Age-appropriate English proficiency

Interview Required (in-person visit)

Application Fee: 40,000

Running Club / Triathlon

Shibuya International Rugby School (external partnership)

Grades: secondary, primary

arts

Japanese Calligraphy ClubPhotography ClubDrama ClubSpeech & Drama ClubStreet Dance & Hip-Hop ClubOrigami Club

Grades: primary, secondary

music

Chamber ChoirRock BandSakura Singers (Primary Choir Year 1–4)Senior Jazz BandJunior Jazz BandAdvanced Secondary String EnsembleTaiko Drumming Club

Grades: secondary, primary

academic

Chess and Shogi ClubModel United Nations (MUN)KS4 Maths ClubWriting Club

Grades: primary, secondary

language

Japanese Language Club (enrichment/learners)Sign Language Club

Grades: primary, secondary

stem

VEX RoboticsBlock Coding ClubMinecraft ClubSpace Explorers / Astronomy Club

Grades: secondary, primary

service

Sustainability Club

Grades: primary, secondary

other

Global Cooking ClubExternally Run Clubs (Aikido, Bollywood Dance, Cambridge Kung Fu, Cheer Institute, etc.)

Grades: primary, secondary

Train 5 min / from Sangenjaya

Akabanebashi Station

Toei Oedo Line

Walk 10 min

Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND)

Taxi 30 min

Train 45 min / from Hamamatsucho / 1 transfer(s)

Narita International Airport (NRT)

Train 1h 30min / from Tokyo Station / 1 transfer(s)

Car 1h 20min

Tokyo Station

JR Lines / Tokaido Shinkansen

Subway 15 min / from Kamiyacho / 1 transfer(s)

Year 1 – Year 6 (Ages 6–11)

English AssessmentSchool Visit/Interview

English Requirement: Age-appropriate English proficiency required

Interview Required (in-person)

Application Fee: 40,000

Year 7 – Year 11 (Ages 12–16)

English AssessmentWritten InterviewSchool Records Review

English Requirement: Age-appropriate English proficiency; may include T

Interview Required (in-person)

Application Fee: 40,000

Year 12 – Year 13 / IB Diploma (Ages 16–18)

InterviewAcademic Record ReviewEnglish Proficiency

English Requirement: Strong English proficiency; academic track record

Interview Required (in-person)

Application Fee: 40,000

Key Dates

Term 1 Start2025-08-25

First day of Term 1 for the 2025-26 academic year.

Term 2 Start2026-01-06

First day of Term 2 for the 2025-26 academic year.

Term 3 Start2026-04-14

First day of Term 3 for the 2025-26 academic year.

Applications Open for August 2025 Intake2024-11-15

Applications for the following August intake open in mid-November. Exact date may vary annually.

Bursary Application Deadline (2026-27 Entry)2026-04-26

Deadline for submitting BST Bursary Programme applications for the 2026-27 academic year entry.

Stay Updated on School News

At a Glance

Tuition & Fees

Tuition by Grade

Additional Fees

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Facilities

Sports & Athletics

Academic Facilities

Outdoor Spaces

Arts & Performance

Common Areas

dining

Technology

wellbeing

Extracurricular Activities

sports

Transportation

Location & Access

Getting There

Photo Gallery

Reviews

Reviews Coming Soon

Schoozy Insights

Holistic British Education at the Heart of Tokyo

From Modest Beginnings to Tokyo's Largest British School

From IGCSE and A-Levels to the IB Diploma: BST's Curriculum Evolution

Two World-Class Campuses in the Heart of Central Tokyo

Non-Selective Admissions with English Proficiency as the Core Criterion

Admissions Deep Dive

University Placement Analysis

School Culture & Community

Total Cost Analysis

Who Is This School Best For?

Campuses

Azabudai Hills Campus

BST Showa Campus

Curriculum & Academics

Languages of Instruction

University Destinations

Accreditations & Memberships

The British School in Tokyo

Admissions

Admissions Overview

Requirements

arts

music

academic

language

stem

service

other

Key Dates