Cities / Tokyo / Shinagawa International School
Shinagawa International School
Tokyo's newest full IB Continuum school, having completed PYP (2015), MYP (2023), and DP (2024) authorisations. Three campuses in Shinagawa Ward covering early years through to Grade 12. Around 250 students from 40+ nationalities; class sizes 16-21 with a 1:6…
In brief
A mid-sized IB continuum school on the Shinagawa waterfront, drawing families who want a smaller, calmer alternative to the big Tokyo names without giving up the full PYP, MYP and DP route.
Shinagawa opened in 2007 in Shibuya and moved to its current Higashi-Shinagawa site in 2018, with the early years on a separate Seaside campus. Around 250 students from over 45 nationalities attend, with class sizes in the 16 to 21 range and a teacher to student ratio close to 1 to 6. The school is fully authorised across PYP, MYP and DP, which is rare at this size in Tokyo.
Teachers know the children well, the small scale shows in how new arrivals settle, and the building is notably clean and modern. The location works for families on the south side of the metro and the Tokyo Bay corridor, less so for anyone north or west. Tuition runs in the upper band for Tokyo, in line with the larger continuum schools.
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool - Kindergarten | 3 | Annual | $2,450,000 |
| Grades 1 - 5 | 6 | Annual | $2,575,000 |
| Secondary (Grades 6 - 10) | 11 | Annual | $2,675,000 |
| Diploma (Grades 11 - 12) | 16 | Annual | $2,775,000 |
| Application Fee | One-time | $30,000 | |
| Enrollment Fee | One-time | $1,000,000 |
Reviews
- Parents lean heavily on the small scale and 1:6 staffing. Class sizes of 16 to 21 and the multinational mix (Japanese capped at 25%) are the recurring draw.
- Teaching is praised for inquiry-led IB delivery and native-English-speaking staff from the US, UK, and Australia. One parent said their child had "improved a lot" in English and become a critical thinker.
- Atmosphere is described as family-like with low bullying and strong parent friendships. One parent kept two children there, with one already through the school.
- The IB Diploma was authorised in 2024 with the first graduating cohort due in 2026, so there is no university-placement track record yet.
- Grade-level alignment with overseas systems is a real concern. One parent reported that after moving back to the US their children were one to two grades behind state expectations.
- ESL places are reported as full year-round, with admission easier in lower grades.
- Facilities are urban and building-style across three small campuses, not a traditional grounds-based site.
Head of school
Not specified
Gamze Abis is the Head of School at Shinagawa International School, appointed in July 2023. She previously served as the Head of Secondary School and MYP Coordinator at SIS from 2021 to 2023. With over two decades of experience in international education, she held key roles including IB Diploma Coordinator and Secondary School Coordinator at Horizon Japan International School for over nine years. Ms. Abis is also a dedicated IB educator, serving as an Evaluation Leader, Programme Leader, Consultant, and Workshop Leader for the International Baccalaureate. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Language Teacher Education from Boğaziçi University and a Certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard Business School Online.
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges (Accrediting Commission for Schools) 02
Academic results
- Result Not published
- Result first IB DP cohort expected to graduate in June 2026.