Cities / Tokyo / Axis International School
Axis International School
A very small English-medium school in Musashino serving ages one to eighteen, running on a personal, family-feel model with tiny class sizes. Reads more as a close-knit learning community than a conventional international school.
In brief
A very small English-medium school in Musashino serving ages one to eighteen, running on a personal, family-feel model with tiny class sizes. Reads more as a close-knit learning community than a conventional international school.
Axis opened in 2003 in Kichijoji and the cohort sits well below the Tokyo majors. Parents describe rapid English progress, individualised plans, and fast-responding staff. Several families talk about the school as a second home for their children, which fits the scale.
The trade-offs are equally a function of size. Critical voices have flagged a very lean teaching team with limited supervision at moments, and the absence of an on-site playground means a ten-minute walk through busy roads to reach a park. Families set on a fully resourced campus with sports, theatre, and a large peer cohort will not find it. Families who want close attention for a younger child or for one who has struggled in a larger setting will read Axis well.
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text Book/Material (Preschool) | 3 | Annual | ¥61,080 |
| Annual Building Fee (Preschool) | 3 | Annual | ¥200,000 |
| Annual Tuition (Preschool, 12mo) | 3 | Annual | ¥1,956,000 |
| Annual Tuition (Preschool, 10mo) | 3 | Annual | ¥2,102,100 |
| Annual Building Fee (Grades 1-12) | 6 | Annual | ¥200,000 |
| Text Book/Material (G1-5) | 6 | Annual | ¥206,000 |
| Annual Tuition (G1-12, 12mo) | 6 | Annual | ¥1,956,000 |
| Annual Tuition (G1-12, 10mo) | 6 | Annual | ¥2,102,100 |
| Text Book/Material (G6-8) | 11 | Annual | ¥256,000 |
| Text Book/Material (G9-12) | 14 | Annual | ¥526,000 |
| Entrance Fee (Preschool) | 3 | One-time | ¥330,000 |
| Entrance Fee (Grades 1-12) | 6 | One-time | ¥550,000 |
Reviews
- Six listed reviews on the iSchool Advisor profile average across parents and one teacher, with the same themes recurring: small classes, attentive faculty and a structured American programme.
- One parent said "the teachers are highly dedicated, and the school system is well-structured". Another wrote that "my daughter has found a second home in Axis. She is always excited to go to school".
- A teacher of six years described being "supported by colleagues and administration and been very pleased with my experience here".
- A teaching-job thread from r/teachinginjapan offers a counter-signal. One commenter wrote: "It's axis international school. They offered me a position too but wouldn't send a contract till after I agreed to their weird handbook. I ultimately declined. Don't take the offer, my current boss looked into the school and it has a lot of problems."
- The school sits in Kichijoji and serves a small roster from age 2 to 18 with low pupil-teacher ratios. Reviewers note no on-site playground; pupils walk roughly 10 minutes to a public park.