Seisen International School tuition for 2026–27 is ¥2,650,000 a year in Elementary (Grades 1–5) and ¥2,700,000 a year in Middle and High School (Grades 6–12), with kindergarten at ¥1,500,000 (half day) or ¥2,500,000 (full day) (official Tuition & Fees page, “School Fees 2026-2027”, checked 8 November 2026). A new student also pays a ¥30,000 application fee, a one-time ¥300,000 registration fee and a one-time ¥700,000 Land and Building Development Fee, plus a ¥150,000 building maintenance fee listed under annual fees. For a girl joining Grade 1, year one comes to ¥3,800,000 before the application fee, the bus, lunch and uniform — about US$24,000 at the 8 November 2026 mid-market rate.
If you searched “Seisen International School fees” or “Seisen International School tuition”, you are probably a family from the US, UK, Canada, Australia or New Zealand preparing for a posting to Tokyo, or a family already in Japan comparing Seisen with the other schools in Setagaya and central Tokyo. You want the real numbers in one place, what the one-time fees add up to, who the school actually admits — Seisen is a girls’ school from Grade 1, with boys only in kindergarten — and how it compares with St. Mary’s, ASIJ, the British School in Tokyo and the International School of the Sacred Heart. This page answers from Seisen’s official website first, then compares it fairly with those schools and with NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY, a different kind of option: an online international school for Asia and Oceania that opens in 2027. For the wider picture of the ward, see our guide to international schools in Setagaya.
The short answer: who Seisen International School suits — and who it doesn’t
- Suits: families with daughters who want a girls’ school with a full International Baccalaureate continuum — the school completed its IB Continuum when it was authorised for the Middle Years Programme in 2020, and it has awarded the IB Diploma since 1988.
- Suits: families who value a Catholic school with a long Tokyo history. Seisen was founded in 1962 by the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and has been on its Yoga campus in Setagaya since 1972. Children from Catholic families are one of several groups that receive priority placement, alongside siblings, alumni families and others.
- Suits: families looking for slightly lower tuition than many large Tokyo international schools. Seisen’s 2026–27 tuition (¥2.65–2.70 million) and one-time fees (¥1.0 million) sit below St. Mary’s, ASIJ and the British School in Tokyo on the official schedules.
- Suits: families with young children of either sex who want a Montessori-rooted kindergarten for ages 2–5 in a residential part of Setagaya.
- Harder fit: families with boys beyond kindergarten. The official FAQ says boys are accepted only in the kindergarten programme, so a boy must move to another school at Grade 1 — many families look at St. Mary’s, an all-boys school nearby.
- Harder fit: families who need a scholarship. The FAQ states plainly that the school does not offer scholarships; financial aid is limited and only for currently enrolled families facing temporary difficulties.
- Harder fit: families where neither parent communicates comfortably in English. The admissions page requires at least one parent who can communicate with the school in English and understand written school communications.
What Seisen International School is
According to its history page, Seisen began as a kindergarten in Yoyogi run by the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, moved to Gotanda, where a first grade opened in September 1962 with seven girls, and began classes on its current campus in Yoga, Setagaya-ku, in 1972, next to the former convent. The Montessori programme in the kindergarten dates from 1964; the first graduating class received diplomas in 1974; the first IB Diploma was awarded in 1988; the school was authorised for the IB Primary Years Programme in 2007 and for the Middle Years Programme in 2020, which made it a full IB Continuum school.
The official school profile describes Seisen as “a private Catholic school for girls in Tokyo” with about 700 students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 (196 in High School) and over 40 nationalities. Classes, per the FAQ, are 20–22 students from Kindergarten to Grade 2, 23 in Grades 3–4 and 25 in Grades 5–12. The faculty is described as broadly international, mainly trained in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. One point that trips up searches: Seisen International School is a separate institution from the Japanese-language Seisen Jogakuin schools and Seisen University, even though the names look alike.
| Item | Seisen International School (official) |
|---|---|
| Type | Private Catholic international day school; girls’ school (boys in kindergarten only) |
| Founded | 1962 (Yoga campus since 1972) |
| Ages / grades | Kindergarten-Preschool (ages 2–5), Elementary (Grades 1–5), Middle School (Grades 6–8), High School (Grades 9–12) |
| Campus | 12-15 Yoga 1-chome, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-0097 |
| Curriculum | IB Continuum (PYP authorised 2007, MYP 2020, DP since 1988); Montessori heritage in kindergarten; MYP in Grades 9–10 and DP in Grades 11–12 per the school profile |
| Students | About 700 (K–12), over 40 nationalities |
| Accreditation | Council of International Schools (CIS); New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC); IB World School; member of the Japan Council of International Schools |
| Tuition 2026–27 | ¥1,500,000 (KG half day) to ¥2,700,000 (Grades 6–12) a year |
Seisen International School fees (2026–27, official)
Seisen publishes a single “School Fees 2026-2027” schedule on its Tuition & Fees page. All amounts are in Japanese yen and, unless stated otherwise, cover one academic year. Every figure below comes from that page or the official FAQ, checked 8 November 2026. Third-party school directories often show older Seisen figures, so we use only the school’s own page.
Annual tuition by division
| Division (official label) | Approx. US grade | Tuition for 2026–27 (JPY) | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Half Day | Preschool, ages 2–5 | 1,500,000 | 9,470 |
| Kindergarten Full Day | Preschool / kindergarten, ages 2–5 | 2,500,000 | 15,790 |
| Elementary (Grades 1–5) | Grades 1–5 | 2,650,000 | 16,740 |
| Middle School (Grades 6–8) | Grades 6–8 | 2,700,000 | 17,050 |
| High School (Grades 9–12) | Grades 9–12 | 2,700,000 | 17,050 |
Two details are easy to miss. First, the official page carries a footnote that the Kindergarten Half Day figure was corrected from ¥1,600,000 to ¥1,500,000 because of a typographical error, so if you saw ¥1.6 million elsewhere, the current figure is ¥1.5 million. Second, the fee page does not say which kindergarten ages fall under half day or full day; ask the admissions office which rate applies to your child’s age. Seisen does not publish prices in other currencies — the USD column uses the open.er-api.com mid-market rate of ¥1 = US$0.006316 (8 November 2026) and will move with the exchange rate.
One-time and other fees
| Fee | Amount (JPY) | Official note |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | 30,000 | Non-refundable; per application |
| Registration fee | 300,000 | Initial, one-time, non-refundable; due immediately on acceptance |
| Land and Building Development Fee | 700,000 | Initial, one-time, new students; non-refundable once any portion of the school year is attended |
| Building maintenance | 150,000 | Listed under annual fees; non-refundable (see note below) |
| School bus | One way 310,000; round trip 420,000 a year | Optional; may be prorated quarterly |
| IB exams | 20,000 per subject | High School students sitting IB exams |
| Grade 12 graduation fee | 30,000 | Grade 12 only |
| ES iPad | “Price varies” | New and returning Grade 3 students and new Grade 4–5 students buy through the school |
| School lunch | Not published on the official site | Hot lunch for Grades 1–12 arranged directly with Cezars Kitchen; packed lunch allowed |
| Uniform | Not published on the official site | Designated uniform and sportswear required; sold by selected vendors |
| Field trips (Grades 5–12) | Not published on the official site | Part of the curriculum |
| Sibling discount | Not published on the official site | — |
A note on building maintenance. The fee table lists the ¥150,000 building maintenance fee in the annual column, but the refund paragraph on the same page groups it with the development fee as a “one-time” fee. We treat it as annual in the totals below because that is how the table presents it; if your budget depends on it, confirm with the Business Office. The page is also inconsistent on who pays bank transfer charges, so ask the Accounting Office before your first payment.
How payment and refunds work
All fees are paid by bank transfer; cash and credit cards are not accepted for fees. The first tuition payment is due by mid-June, and only tuition and the bus fee can be split into two instalments, with the second due by January. Attending any part of a quarter means paying for the whole quarter. Tuition and bus fees may be refunded by quarter if a written Notice of Withdrawal is submitted before the first day of the following quarter; the development and building maintenance fees are not prorated or refunded once any part of the year has been attended. Student accident insurance runs from 1 August 2026 (or the tuition payment date, if later) to 31 July 2027.
A worked total-cost example (official numbers only)
These examples assume 2026–27 fees stay flat (they usually rise), count building maintenance as annual and leave out the application fee, lunch, uniform, iPad and trips, which are either per-application or not published.
| Case | Arithmetic (JPY) | Total (JPY) | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Girl joining Grade 1, year one, no bus | 300,000 + 700,000 + 2,650,000 + 150,000 | 3,800,000 | 24,000 |
| Same, with round-trip bus | 3,800,000 + 420,000 | 4,220,000 | 26,650 |
| Girl joining Grade 9, year one, no bus | 300,000 + 700,000 + 2,700,000 + 150,000 | 3,850,000 | 24,320 |
| Middle or High School, each later year | 2,700,000 + 150,000 | 2,850,000 | 18,000 |
| Child joining Kindergarten Full Day, year one | 1,000,000 + 2,500,000 + 150,000 | 3,650,000 | 23,050 |
Four years of High School from Grade 9 to graduation: 30,000 application + 1,000,000 one-time + (2,700,000 + 150,000) × 4 + 30,000 graduation fee = ¥12,460,000, about US$78,700. If she sits six IB Diploma subjects, add ¥120,000; with the round-trip bus for four years, add ¥1,680,000.
A typical three-year posting with a daughter in Grade 6: year one ¥3,850,000, then ¥2,850,000 in each of the next two years, for ¥9,550,000 (about US$60,300), plus ¥30,000 to apply. Seisen’s fee page also mentions a Corporate Contribution Plan for expatriate employees; if your employer pays school fees, ask HR and the Business Office whether it applies, because it can change who carries the cost.
Seisen fees vs nearby schools: St. Mary’s, ASIJ, BST and Sacred Heart
Families who look at Seisen usually also look at four other Tokyo schools. Each publishes 2026–27 fees on its own site and structures them differently, so compare the year-one total rather than tuition alone. Figures below are for a new student entering US Grade 9 (Year 10 at BST), using each school’s published one-time and annual fees, excluding application fees and the bus.
| School | Elementary tuition | High School tuition | One-time and annual fees, new student | Year one, new Grade 9 | Each later year, High School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seisen International School (girls; boys in KG), Setagaya | ¥2,650,000 | ¥2,700,000 | Registration 300,000; development 700,000; building maintenance 150,000 a year | ¥3,850,000 | ¥2,850,000 |
| International School of the Sacred Heart (girls), Hiroo | ¥2,770,000 (Grades 1–8) | ¥2,790,000 (Grades 9–11); ¥2,880,000 (Grade 12) | Registration 300,000; education and building development 600,000; building/maintenance 220,000 a year | ¥3,910,000 | ¥3,010,000 (Grade 12: ¥3,100,000) |
| St. Mary’s International School (boys), Setagaya | ¥2,860,000 | ¥3,050,000 | Registration 400,000; Development Fund 1,000,000; building maintenance 200,000 a year | ¥4,650,000 | ¥3,250,000 |
| British School in Tokyo (co-ed), Azabudai / Showa | ¥2,960,000 (Primary) | ¥3,070,000 (Years 10–13) | Enrolment 500,000; educational resources 680,000; capital development 100,000 a year | ¥4,350,000 | ¥3,170,000 |
| The American School in Japan (co-ed), Chofu / Roppongi | ¥3,498,000 (K–Grade 5) | ¥3,826,000 (Grades 9–12) | Registration 300,000; building maintenance 1,525,000; capital assessment 250,000 a year | ¥5,901,000 | ¥4,076,000 |
Three things stand out. First, among these five schools Seisen has the lowest published tuition at every level and the lowest year-one total for a new High School student, with Sacred Heart close behind. Second, the gap is mostly in the one-time fees: ¥1.0 million at Seisen against ¥1.4 million at St. Mary’s and ¥1.825 million at ASIJ. Third, families with a daughter and a son often end up with two schools: for a girl entering Grade 1 at Seisen and a boy entering Grade 1 at St. Mary’s, year one is ¥3,800,000 + ¥4,460,000 = ¥8,260,000 before application fees and buses. Sources: ISSH Tuition & Fees 2026-2027, St. Mary’s Tuition & Fees 2026-2027, BST fees 2026-27 and ASIJ Tuition & Fees 2026–27, checked 8 November 2026 (BST figures as checked on 11 October 2026). Our St. Mary’s International School tuition guide, ASIJ tuition and review and British School in Tokyo fees cover those schools in the same detail.
Admission requirements and how entry works
Who can apply. English is the language of communication and instruction, and at least one parent must be able to communicate with the school in English. Applicants must fit one of six eligibility categories published on the How to Apply page — including expatriate families moving to Japan, bicultural families with an English-speaking parent, students fluent in English who speak it at home, Japanese students with two or more years in an English-medium school, and international transfers from other schools in Japan. The “prime criterion” is the child’s ability to benefit from the academic programme, and applications are reviewed case by case.
The steps.
- Step 1 — Inquiry through the online admissions form.
- Step 2 — Admissions portal: upload the required documents and pay the ¥30,000 application fee.
- Step 3 — Principal review of the application.
- Step 4 — Assessments and interview: a family interview for kindergarten; math and English assessments followed by a family interview with the principal for Grades 1–11.
- Step 5 — Offer with an enrolment package; families confirm whether they accept.
- Step 6 — Enrolment becomes official once the school receives the signed letter of endorsement, the ¥300,000 registration fee, the parent/guardian commitment agreement and, if applicable, the Summer School agreement.
Priority and space. Siblings of current students, children of alumni, children of faculty and staff, returning students and children from Catholic families receive priority placement, though priority does not guarantee admission. Application deadlines, whether admission is rolling and acceptance rates are not published on the official site. Kindergarten applicants must reach the minimum age by 1 September. Families must also disclose any special educational needs and medical history; the school consults its support team before accepting students who need learning support.
For Japanese-national families. Seisen states that it is not an “Article 1” school under Japan’s School Education Law, so a Japanese-national child attending Grades 1–9 there does not meet the compulsory education requirement in a Japanese school. This rarely affects foreign families on a posting, but it matters for bicultural families with Japanese nationality.
How a school day works: schedule, calendar and getting there
Calendar. The FAQ says the academic year runs from late August to early June, and the official calendars are posted on the school’s website. Tokyo is on UTC+9 all year with no daylight saving time.
Hours. Daily school hours are not published on the official pages we checked; the FAQ only notes that elementary after-school activities (SASA) run from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Ask admissions for the bell schedule for your child’s division.
Lunch. Hot lunch is available for Grades 1–12 from the caterer Cezars Kitchen, arranged directly between families and the caterer; students can also bring a packed lunch and use the cafeteria microwaves.
Buses. Seisen runs 11 bus routes serving Roppongi, Kamiyacho/Aobadai, Shoto, Yotsuya, Shinagawa, Hiroo, Akasaka, Shirokane, Denenchofu, Yoyogi Uehara and Kudan, at ¥310,000 one way or ¥420,000 round trip a year. The campus is in Yoga, a residential area of southwest Tokyo, so many families either live in Setagaya or rely on the bus from central Tokyo; check the route list against your housing search before you sign a lease.
Accreditation, IB results and university recognition
The official school profile lists Seisen as accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), an IB World School, a member of the Japan Council of International Schools and a member of the Kanto Plain Association, through which it competes in academics, sports and fine arts with other international and US Department of Defense schools. Families who need a particular accreditor for an employer or a US school district can confirm in that accreditor’s directory.
The High School diploma requires 25 credits: English 4, Modern Languages 3, Individuals and Societies 3, Sciences 3, Mathematics 3, Religious and Cultural Exploration 3, Design 2, Physical Education 2 and Fine Arts 2. In Grades 11–12 students take the IB Diploma Programme, choosing from three pathways. The school profile reports these IB Diploma results:
| Year | Candidates | Seisen pass rate | World pass rate | Seisen average score | World average | Scores of 40+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 35 | 94.3% | 82.6% | 33 | 30.8 | 4 |
| 2025 | 43 | 97.7% | 81.2% | 35 | 30.5 | 8 |
| 2024 | 44 | 97.8% | 80% | 34 | 30.3 | 4 |
The profile says 2020–2026 graduates have attended more than 100 universities worldwide and that students are encouraged to apply to no more than ten. A named list of destinations by year is not reproduced here; ask the college counselling office for the latest list.
Seisen vs NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY vs two other options (official data)
NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY (NGA) is included as a different kind of option rather than a like-for-like competitor: it is online, opens in September 2027 and has no accreditation or graduates yet. The two in-person alternatives are the schools Seisen families most often weigh: the International School of the Sacred Heart (another girls’ school) and St. Mary’s (the boys’ school in the same ward). Tokyo fees are in JPY for 2026–27.
| Seisen International School | NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY | International School of the Sacred Heart | St. Mary’s International School | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School type | In-person Catholic girls’ school (boys in KG), Setagaya | Online international school (Asia & Oceania focus) | In-person girls’ school, Hiroo (Shibuya) | In-person boys’ school, Setagaya |
| Ages / grades | Ages 2–5 kindergarten; Grades 1–12 | Ages 6–18 | Kindergarten 3 to Grade 12 | Readiness Program (age 5) to Grade 12 |
| Tuition 2026–27 | ¥1,500,000–2,700,000 a year + building maintenance ¥150,000 | Not yet published (shared first with the email list); no enrolment, facility or uniform fees; materials included; sibling discounts | ¥2,560,000–2,880,000 a year + building/maintenance ¥220,000 | ¥2,860,000–3,050,000 a year + building maintenance ¥200,000 |
| Curriculum | IB Continuum (PYP, MYP, DP); Montessori heritage in KG | Subjects learned in English with a bilingual (English–Japanese) mentor; CEFR-based English levels; optional Cambridge IGCSE / A-Level pathway | See official site | US-based standards in Elementary; IB Diploma in Grades 11–12 |
| Classes & time zone | Full in-person day in Tokyo (UTC+9); classes of 20–25 | Small live online groups of about 8; timetable built for Asia & Oceania daytime — fits Tokyo, may not fit the Americas or Europe | Full in-person day in Tokyo | Full in-person day in Tokyo |
| Accreditation / diploma | CIS, NEASC; IB World School; Seisen diploma + IB Diploma | Not yet accredited; no graduates yet | See official site | WASC and CIS; IB World School |
| Admission | Eligibility categories; math and English assessments and family interview; one parent must communicate in English | No academic entrance exam and no English requirement | See official site | Transcripts, test results, screening test and family interview |
| Start dates | Late August | Opening September 2027 (planned); free trial classes monthly from September 2026; pre-opening trials April–May 2027 | See official site | August; year-round applications subject to seats |
Sources: Seisen Tuition & Fees 2026-2027, Seisen School Profile, ISSH tuition and fees, St. Mary’s tuition and fees and NGA’s curriculum and timetable page — checked 8 November 2026.
Reviews and common concerns, answered honestly
Seisen is a long-established school, and the questions families raise are mostly about fit, logistics and cost structure rather than quality. Here is what the official site says.
“We have a son and a daughter. Can they both go to Seisen?”
Only while the son is in kindergarten. The FAQ says boys are accepted only in the kindergarten programme, so from Grade 1 a boy needs another school. Many Setagaya families pair Seisen with St. Mary’s; others choose a co-educational school such as the British School in Tokyo or ASIJ so that siblings share one calendar and one bus.
“Is it really cheaper than other Tokyo international schools?”
On the 2026–27 official schedules, yes — Seisen’s tuition and one-time fees are the lowest of the five schools compared above, and its year-one total for a new High School student is about ¥2 million lower than ASIJ’s. But it is still a major cost: roughly ¥2.85 million a year in Middle and High School once building maintenance is added, before the bus, lunch, uniform and trips, none of which (except the bus) have published prices.
“Are there scholarships?”
No. The FAQ states that the school does not offer scholarships, and financial aid is limited to currently enrolled families facing temporary difficulties. A sibling discount is not published. If cost is the main constraint, check the Corporate Contribution Plan with your employer before you apply.
“What if our posting ends mid-year?”
Tuition and bus fees can be refunded by quarter if you submit a written Notice of Withdrawal before the first day of the next quarter, but attending any part of a quarter means paying for the whole quarter. The ¥1.0 million of one-time fees and the building maintenance fee are not refunded once any part of the year has been attended, so a short stay carries a higher cost per year.
“My daughter is still learning English.”
The admissions page does not publish an English-language-support programme or a minimum English level; it says applications in Grades 1–11 include an English assessment and that the prime criterion is the child’s ability to benefit from the academic programme. If your daughter is an early English learner, ask the admissions office directly what support exists in her grade before you apply.
“Is Yoga too far from central Tokyo?”
It depends on where you live. Yoga is in southwest Setagaya, a quieter residential area. The school’s 11 bus routes reach Roppongi, Hiroo, Shirokane, Shinagawa, Akasaka and other central districts, so families can live centrally, but the commute is longer than for a school in Minato-ku. Families living in Setagaya often find the location an advantage.
Alternatives to Seisen International School worth comparing
International School of the Sacred Heart — another girls’ school, in Hiroo, with 2026–27 tuition from ¥2,560,000 (Kindergarten 3 and 4) to ¥2,880,000 (Grade 12) and ¥900,000 of one-time fees. It is the closest like-for-like comparison for families who specifically want a girls’ school in central Tokyo; check its official site for curriculum and accreditation details.
St. Mary’s, the British School in Tokyo and ASIJ — St. Mary’s is the boys’ counterpart in Setagaya (IB Diploma, WASC and CIS); BST is a co-educational British school with Primary in Azabudai and Senior School in Setagaya; ASIJ is a large co-educational American school in Chofu with an early learning centre in Roppongi. Families comparing the whole city can start with our guide to international schools in Tokyo.
NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY (NGA) — an online international school for ages 6–18 focused on Asia and Oceania, opening in September 2027 (planned), with a first cohort of 100 students. Classes are small live dialogue groups of about 8; subjects are learned in English with a bilingual (English–Japanese) mentor, English is taught by CEFR level, and there is no academic entrance exam and no English requirement. It is co-educational, can run alongside a local school or as the main school, and travels with the family if they relocate again. The timetable is built for Asia–Oceania daytime, which fits Tokyo. Tuition is not yet published; NGA says it will be far more affordable than a typical international school, with no enrolment, facility or uniform fees, materials included and sibling discounts. The honest limitations: it is not yet open, not yet accredited, has no graduates and is not a campus school — families who want a girls’ IB school with a Tokyo campus community, a long record of IB results and a Catholic ethos should choose a school like Seisen. Free trial classes run monthly from September 2026. NGA is operated by NIJIN Inc. in Japan, whose alternative school NIJIN Academy has more than 1,000 students.
For a wider view, see online international schools compared, the cost of online vs in-person international schools and how a day at an online international school works.
FAQ
How much does Seisen International School cost per year?
For 2026–27, tuition is ¥1,500,000 (Kindergarten Half Day), ¥2,500,000 (Kindergarten Full Day), ¥2,650,000 (Grades 1–5) and ¥2,700,000 (Grades 6–12), plus a ¥150,000 building maintenance fee listed as annual. New students add a ¥30,000 application fee, a ¥300,000 registration fee and a ¥700,000 Land and Building Development Fee, so a new Grade 1 student’s year one is ¥3,800,000 before the bus and other extras.
Is Seisen International School accredited?
Yes. Seisen’s official school profile lists accreditation by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). It is an IB World School offering the full IB Continuum and has awarded the IB Diploma since 1988; its 2026 IB Diploma pass rate was 94.3% with an average score of 33.
Can international students enrol at Seisen?
Yes — expatriate families moving to Japan are one of the school’s published eligibility categories, and the student body represents over 40 nationalities. Students from Grade 1 must be girls; boys are accepted in kindergarten only. At least one parent must be able to communicate with the school in English, and applicants in Grades 1–11 take math and English assessments and a family interview.
Is Seisen International School worth it?
For families with daughters who want a girls’ Catholic IB school in a residential part of Tokyo, with lower published fees than most large Tokyo international schools and a long IB record, many find it is — especially when an employer pays through a corporate plan. It is harder to justify if you have sons beyond kindergarten and want one school for all children, if you need a scholarship (none is offered), or if your stay may be short, because the ¥1.0 million of one-time fees is not refundable.
What are the alternatives to Seisen?
The International School of the Sacred Heart (girls’ school in Hiroo), St. Mary’s (boys’ school in Setagaya), the British School in Tokyo and ASIJ are the usual comparisons. For families in Asia and Oceania who want a small bilingual live-online option with no academic entrance exam and no English requirement, NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY opens in September 2027 (planned); it is not yet accredited and its tuition is not yet published.
Choosing calmly before a move to Tokyo
Seisen publishes a clear one-page fee schedule, and the next steps are concrete: check which eligibility category your family fits, confirm the right division and kindergarten rate for your child’s age, and send the inquiry early so you can ask directly about space. Then add up year one honestly — tuition, the ¥1.0 million of one-time fees, building maintenance, the bus if you need it, lunch, uniform and the iPad — and compare it with Sacred Heart, St. Mary’s, BST and ASIJ on the same basis. If you have children of both sexes, plan each child’s path from the start. And if your posting is short, your child is still growing into English, or you want something that moves with your family, it is worth keeping one flexible option in view as well; our curriculum and timetable page shows how NGA’s live classes sit in Tokyo’s day.
Tuition and admissions details were checked on the official websites on 8 November 2026. Schools revise fees every year — always confirm on the official site before applying.
