CGK International School - Bashamichi Campus

CGK International School – Bashamichi Campus is located at 2F, 6-75 Otamachi, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0011, Japan. It is a short walk from Bashamichi Station on the Minatomirai Line (about 3 minutes), Sakuragicho Station on the JR Keihin-Tōhoku Line (about 4 minutes), and Kannai Station on the Yokohama Blue Line (about 5 minutes). The campus sits in central Yokohama with convenient access for families relocating from abroad.

Bashamichi Campus is a preschool site for Age 2 and Age 3. The Kannai Campus serves Preschool (Age 4-5) through Grade 12, providing continuity across CGK's Yokohama program.

CGK International School is an IB World School with a 12+4-Year Continuum Education in Yokohama. The Bashamichi Campus functions as CGK's preschool site (Age 2-3), while Kannai Campus houses Preschool (Age 4-5) through Grade 12.

CGK's student body is diverse, with more than 280 students across Preschool to Middle School. International Schools Database indicates 26 nationalities represented; the most common nationality is Japanese. About 70.8% of students are local (Japanese) and 29.2% are international.

CGK emphasizes bilingual education and social-emotional development as core elements of its preschool program. Explicit SEN provisions are not listed in CGK's published materials.

CGK is described as an International School in Yokohama, Japan, indicating no separate country affiliation beyond its Japan location.

Not stated.

The preschool day runs from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, with extended care from 8:00 am to 6:30 pm. The program operates five days a week.

Bus transportation for preschool is provided with three CGK buses; service runs twice daily in the morning and evening. The area covered includes Yokohama stations and lines (JR Yokohama, Sakuragicho, Kannai; Toyoko Line/Minatomirai Line; Blue Line; Keikyu Line; Sotetsu Line, etc.). Morning pick-up is available for preschool and elementary students; drop-off is generally not provided to homes.

The Bashamichi Campus offers CGK's preschool program for ages 2–3 as part of the school's 12+4-Year Continuum Education. The curriculum follows an IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) World School framework, delivered as a full-time, five-day-a-week enrichment program for preschool-age students at Bashamichi and Kannai. Instruction is in English, with Japanese taught as a subject. The program is built on a transdisciplinary approach that nurtures self-expression, critical thinking, and inquiry, and includes components such as Talk Time, Project-Based Learning (PBL), outdoors, swimming, PE, cooking/food education, writing, reading, arts & crafts, and field trips. CGK operates within a continuum into elementary and beyond, with Kannai Campus hosting Grade 1–5 and the school pursuing IB MYP candidacy for middle school as part of the IB framework.

CGK International School emphasizes social and emotional learning (SEL) as part of its IB-based approach. The preschool program nurtures non-cognitive skills such as communication and emotional maturity, supported by a global education focused on self-expression, critical thinking, and a spirit of inquiry. The curriculum also promotes moral education and the development of social skills and cooperation to help children engage positively with others. The school aims to maintain a safe and secure environment to support healthy social and emotional development. Students are recognized for SEL-related strengths through CGK Awards that highlight empathy, collaboration, and thoughtful engagement with others. Additionally, the program emphasizes self-expression, inquiry, and social interaction as core SEL competencies.

CGK uses English immersion and bilingual education as a core part of its approach. English is the primary language of instruction in daily interactions, with Japanese taught as a separate subject, and staff interact with children in English. All Japanese teachers at CGK are described as bilingual or trilingual English-speaking professionals with expertise in English language acquisition, supporting English as an additional language development. The school explicitly supports English language development through immersion and targeted English-language education by staff trained in ESL/bilingual approaches. CGK also notes that non-native English speakers can be accommodated with bilingual/translation support as needed.

Mental wellbeing is supported by a focus on creating a safe, secure school environment and promoting social-emotional development. The curriculum prioritizes non-cognitive skills, communication, and emotional maturity as part of everyday learning. Social-emotional growth is reinforced through moral education and cooperative behaviors within classroom and school life. Empathy and pro-social behavior are recognized in student awards and classroom practices, reinforcing wellbeing and positive peer interactions. The school also highlights student voices and social-emotional growth through experiences that encourage empathy and understanding of diverse values.

CGK places emphasis on safeguarding and child protection by maintaining a safe and secure school environment and conducting regular safety practices. Evacuation drills are held monthly to prepare for emergencies, and safety measures include measures to prevent injuries, infectious disease controls, and first-aid training. All teachers and staff are expected to uphold safeguarding practices, supported by staff professional qualifications and ongoing safeguarding training. The school communicates safety policies and daily activities through bilingual communications to ensure parental awareness.

1. Open School and campus visits. The Bashamichi Campus invites prospective families to attend Open School sessions to observe activities and meet staff. Weekend sessions run on specific dates with options in Japanese, English, or bilingual formats, and you can bring your child along to see how daily routines and inquiry activities unfold. The Bashamichi Campus location is 2F, 6-75 Otamachi, Naka-ku, Yokohama, and it is a practical first step to evaluate fit before applying.

2. Enrollment Application. After exploring the program, submit your enrollment application using the Enrollment Application Form. This form initiates the formal intake process and collects essential information to start the screening and placement steps. Be prepared to indicate your preferred campus (Bashamichi for Preschool) and the age group you are applying for.

3. Admission Screening. A brief interview and behavioral observation are conducted with both the parents and the child. Enrollment decisions are based on a range of factors, including how the child engages with activities and fits with the program's IB-based inquiry approach. Parents do not need to be proficient in both English and Japanese; the assessment considers the child's readiness and development.

4. Acceptance and Payment. Enrollment is secured after payment of the required fees. For Preschool Bashamichi, the cost structure includes a Registration Fee of 440,000 JPY; Age 2 classes have a 110,000 JPY registration component, and there is an advance registration fee of 330,000 JPY for moving from Age 2 to Age 3. A deposit is charged and is offset against tuition after enrollment. Government subsidies and other supports may apply, including a 37,000 JPY monthly subsidy under the “Free Early Childhood Education and Care” program. Extended childcare, bus service, and optional activities have additional fees.

5. Enrollment and ongoing considerations. Enrollment can include midyear options in some cases; inquire for details about spaces, timelines, and the pacing of tuition. The school provides ongoing information about openings by age group and Semester/year alignment, which can influence when you enroll and how payments are structured.

CGK offers financial discounts rather than traditional scholarships. The school provides a Sibling Discount across programs, including Preschool, Elementary, Middle School, and Afterschool, applied to the lower tuition or bus fees depending on the scenario. A CGK Preschool Graduate Discount is also available, offering a 5% discount on tuition for eligible graduates of CGK Preschool; eligibility requires attending CGK in April after graduating and not having withdrawn or been absent. In addition, CGK participates in Welfare Services discounts through providers such as EWEL (WELBOX) and Benefit One (Benefit Station), which may reduce monthly preschool tuition and, for Age 2, some preschool-related costs. A government subsidy (37,000 yen monthly) may further reduce the cost for eligible families. Discounts may not be combined with all other campaigns.

CGK operates a waitlist system for Bashamichi Campus Preschool based on age and class availability. Openings for 2025 show Age 2 as Waitlist Only and Age 3 as Waitlist Only, with Age 4 and Age 5 described as Very Limited. For 2026 openings, Age 2 and Age 3 have Seats Available, while Age 4 and Age 5 are listed as TBD. This indicates a formal waitlist mechanism is used when spots are not immediately available for a given age/cohort.