If you are searching for an international school in Yokohama, you have probably found the same thing everyone does: the schools are strikingly different from one another, and it is hard to tell them apart. Yokohama is unusual — the historic Yamate bluff holds some of the oldest international schools in all of Japan, while newer IB campuses have opened inland in Tsuzuki and Midori. This guide compares seven real schools honestly, by curriculum, fee range, and location, and then walks through how to choose the one that fits your family. By the end, you should know exactly how to narrow the list.
International schools in Yokohama: the landscape and fees
Yokohama has been an international city since its port opened in 1859, and the Yamate district still holds schools that are around a century old, such as YIS and Saint Maur. In recent years, campuses have also spread to more convenient inland areas like Minato Mirai, the Kohoku New Town area (Tsuzuki), and Midori. There are dozens of English-medium preschools across the city, but only around ten full international schools that run continuously from primary through high school.
For most English-medium international schools, annual tuition sits roughly between 2.0 and 3.7 million yen. Entrance fees, building funds, and bus fees are added on top, so the first year costs considerably more. At the same time, an Indian CBSE school here charges as little as about 0.61 to 1.22 million yen a year — so fees can differ several-fold between schools. Rather than assuming “Yokohama international schools are expensive,” it pays to weigh curriculum and cost together.
The 7 best international schools in Yokohama
The seven schools below were chosen for a genuine spread of curricula, price points, and locations. Each entry covers what the school is known for and the kind of family it suits. Fees are guides based on each school’s published information.
1. Yokohama International School (YIS)
Founded in 1924, YIS is one of Japan’s flagship established schools. On its Yamate campus in Naka Ward, students learn on a continuous International Baccalaureate (IB) pathway from early years through high school, in a community drawing from more than 50 nationalities.
- Curriculum: IB continuum (PYP / MYP / DP)
- Ages: 2 (early years) to 18 (Grade 12)
- Fee guide: annual tuition approx. JPY 2.88M–3.67M (2026/27, official); application, registration and campus fees are additional
- Best for: families who want one continuous IB pathway toward international university options
2. Saint Maur International School
Established in 1872, Saint Maur is widely regarded as the oldest international school in Japan and Asia. This co-educational Catholic school on the Yamate hill spans Montessori in the early years, British-style IGCSE, and the IB and AP in the upper grades.
- Curriculum: Montessori / IPC / IGCSE / IB & AP
- Ages: 2.5 to 18
- Fee guide: approx. JPY 2.86M–3.63M a year; registration and facility-maintenance fees are additional
- Best for: families wanting a small, established setting that keeps multiple graduation pathways open
3. Horizon Japan International School
An IB World School in Kanagawa Ward, with a campus completed in 2019. Horizon is known for blending the IB with Cambridge and Japanese curriculum elements, and hosts over 500 students from more than 50 nationalities.
- Curriculum: IB (PYP / MYP / DP) blended with Cambridge and Japanese curriculum
- Ages: 3 to 18 (Grade 12)
- Fee guide: approx. JPY 2.69M–3.14M a year; application, registration and building-fund fees are additional
- Best for: families who want the IB alongside strong Japanese language and culture
4. CGK International School
A relatively new IB school (PYP authorized, MYP candidate) based in the Kannai / Bashamichi area of Naka Ward. It runs from a preschool at age 2 into an elementary school (Grades 1–5), with an inquiry-led approach and easy access toward Minato Mirai.
- Curriculum: International Baccalaureate, IB PYP authorized
- Ages: 2 (preschool) through elementary Grade 5
- Fee guide: elementary tuition approx. JPY 2.11M a year plus facility fee approx. JPY 158,000 (2027, official); entrance fee additional
- Best for: families who want inquiry-based learning from the early years in the city center
5. India International School in Japan (IISJ)
Located in Kirigaoka, Midori Ward, IISJ follows the Indian CBSE curriculum and is a MEXT-designated international school, with an IB Diploma option in the senior years. It is well regarded for maths and science, and its fees are notably modest.
- Curriculum: CBSE (Indian), with IB DP option in senior years; instruction in English
- Ages: kindergarten through around Grade 11
- Fee guide: approx. JPY 0.61M–1.22M a year (2026/27) — among the most affordable in the city
- Best for: families wanting a maths- and science-strong English environment at a manageable cost
6. Deutsche Schule Tokyo Yokohama (DSTY)
In Chigasaki-minami, Tsuzuki Ward, DSTY is the oldest German school still operating in East Asia (opened 1904). It runs from kindergarten through the German International Abitur in a German-language, multilingual environment, and offers school buses from central Tokyo.
- Curriculum: German curriculum (kindergarten to Abitur)
- Ages: kindergarten through high school
- Fee guide: mid-to-higher range; fees vary by grade and category — check the official site for figures
- Best for: families with ties to the German-speaking world or seeking a German pathway
7. Yokohama Yamate Chinese School
In Naka Ward, this combined primary and lower-secondary school offers multicultural education built around the Chinese language. Rooted in the history of Yokohama’s Chinatown, it immerses children in Chinese, Japanese, and English. It is worth knowing as “another kind of international education” beyond the English-only route.
- Curriculum: Chinese-language-based multicultural education (primary + lower secondary)
- Ages: primary through lower-secondary
- Fee guide: tends to be more affordable than English-medium schools; contact the school for figures
- Best for: families with ties to the Chinese-speaking world or raising children multilingually
Note: fees and details reflect information publicly available as of July 2026. Entrance fees, facility fees, possible fee revisions, places, and admission requirements can change. Always confirm the latest figures on each school’s official website.
How to choose the right fit for your family
When seven schools still feel like a lot, it helps to think in terms of school “types.” The chart below compares historic Yamate schools, newer and more diverse schools, and online international schools across five honest criteria: affordability, ease of admission, a light commute, campus experience, and Japanese-language support.
The key is deciding your priorities as a family in advance. If cost comes first, an affordable school like IISJ stands out; if an international pathway matters most, an IB-continuum school like YIS or Saint Maur is a strong candidate. If you want to understand exactly what drives the fees, our guide to the real cost of international school tuition breaks it down. And if you would first like to see how the learning itself works, See how learning works online →.
When fees or the commute are the barrier — an online eighth option
As you have seen, Yokohama’s international schools are demanding on both budget and commute. Climbing the Yamate slopes every day, or making a long trip into central Tokyo — many families quietly wonder whether that is sustainable for years. This is where we would like you to know about NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY (NGA), an online international school opening in September 2027.
NGA is operated by NIJIN Inc. in Japan. Its existing alternative school in Japan, NIJIN Academy, already enrolls more than 1,000 students. Rather than ranking children by test scores, NGA centers on small-group dialogue and the belief that children should “come to love themselves and the world.” It aims to keep tuition at around one-fifth of a face-to-face international school, and welcomes children aged 6–18 across Asia and Oceania, wherever they live. It is designed so children can ease into English with Japanese-language support along the way.
To be honest, NGA has not opened yet, and its track record is still to be built. It cannot offer the same experience as a physical campus — a schoolyard to run in, friends met face to face. Even so, for families on the verge of giving up on an international education because of fees or the commute, we believe it can be a realistic “eighth option.”
Frequently asked questions
Q. From what age can children start at international schools in Yokohama?
It varies, but most accept children from preschool age (2–3). Schools like CGK and Saint Maur start from 2 to 2.5, while YIS and Horizon run continuously from the early years. Many also accept transfers into the elementary grades, so start by checking each school’s age range.
Q. Is Japanese-language support available?
Most schools offer EAL (English support) and Japanese lessons for children whose first language is not English, though the depth of support differs by school. If you want to keep Japanese-language learning too, consider schools like Horizon that weave in Japanese curriculum, or an online school built around Japanese-language support.
Q. When is the best time to transfer in?
Most schools begin in August–September, so transferring at the start of a school year is smoothest. Some accept mid-year transfers if places are open. Popular schools can have waiting lists, so early inquiry and a campus visit are wise.
Because Yokohama gives you such a wide field, widening the search to Tokyo reveals even more options. See our guide to international schools across Tokyo as well.
Not “a school that will take us,” but “a place this child can keep going”
Choosing a school is not about rankings or reputation. What matters is whether your child can attend, feel secure, and grow there for years — a place to “come to love themselves and the world.” Yokohama offers a genuinely wide range, from the traditional schools of Yamate to newer IB campuses and online. Take your time, and stay honest about your family’s priorities. The right school for you and your child is out there.
