Global Indian International School, TokyoVerified

In Brief

GIIS Tokyo is the right call if you are an Indian family in Tokyo looking for CBSE continuity, or if you want a credible international school at a fraction of the fees of the mainstream options. At JPY 1M-2M per year it is by far the most affordable, but it primarily serves the Indian community and that shapes the school culture significantly.

GIIS operates four campuses in Edogawa (east Tokyo), primarily serving the large Indian expat community concentrated in that part of the city. With around 1,200 students, it is one of the larger international school operations in Tokyo. The multi-track curriculum is the defining feature: families can choose between GMP Montessori for early years, IB PYP, CBSE, CLSP (an Indian curriculum-linked track), or IGCSE/IB DP for secondary. For Indian families who want CBSE continuity or an IGCSE qualification at a price point that makes sense, GIIS is effectively the only option in Tokyo.

The fee structure is significantly lower than any other international school in this guide. Annual tuition runs from around JPY 1,050,000 for nursery up to JPY 1,979,000 for IGCSE - roughly a third to a half of what BST, ASIJ, or KIST charge. A 25% sibling discount from the second child makes it particularly viable for larger families. Part of the Global Schools Foundation, which operates schools across Southeast Asia, the organisation has a substantial track record for CBSE and IGCSE delivery.

The community composition is the most important thing to understand before enrolling: the student body is predominantly Indian, estimated at around 75% or above. For Indian families this is often a feature - a familiar cultural environment in a foreign country - but families from other backgrounds should think about whether the community mix fits what they are looking for. The east Tokyo location in Edogawa is also notably further from central Tokyo than most international schools; from Minato-ku, allow 40-50 minutes. If your family is based in Edogawa or nearby, this is a non-issue; if you are centrally based and choosing GIIS primarily on cost, factor in the daily commute.