Nishimachi International School

Located in the Moto Azabu area of Minato-ku, Tokyo, Nishimachi International School sits in central Tokyo. The campus address is 2-14-7 Moto Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0046. The area is popular with international residents and hosts parks, multinational company headquarters, and embassies. It is a central Tokyo location with straightforward access to public transport.

Nishimachi offers Kindergarten through Grade 9. The campus layout includes a dedicated kindergarten building, a primary building for Grades 1–2, and an upper elementary/middle school building for Grades 3–9.

Nishimachi is a co-educational, private day school. It does not operate a boarding facility.

There are about 35 nationalities represented among Nishimachi students, with around 470 students in total. The school notes a strong international mix, including a significant proportion of students holding dual or multiple passports (about 50%).

Nishimachi provides Learning Services (LS) for students with mild learning needs, including in-class support or specialized instruction and guidance for parents. English Language Services (ELS) support bilingual and multilingual learners, and staff use language assessments (e.g., MAP) to monitor progress.

Nishimachi International School operates in Japan as an international school and has no formal country affiliation.

Nishimachi is non-sectarian and has no religious affiliation.

The school year runs from late August to mid-June. The school day commonly starts around 8:15 am and ends at approximately 3:15 pm for Kindergarten and 3:30 pm for Grades 1–9; after-school care is available for enrolled students.

Nishimachi does not offer a school bus service; families arrange transportation themselves or use public transit as needed.

Nishimachi International School serves Kindergarten through Grade 9, with English as the language of instruction and daily Japanese study for all students. The curricular framework is Understanding by Design, and the curriculum is standards-based, designed to apply learning in real-world contexts. Elementary School (K–5) features small class sizes with specialist-led programs in arts, sports, and language. Middle School (Grades 6–9) has class sizes typically 12–18, is project-based, provides one-to-one access to Apple iPads, uses 60‑minute teaching periods on a five‑day cycle, and includes a daily 15‑minute advisory. The curriculum aligns with CCSS for English Language Arts and Mathematics, NGSS for Science, and AERO for Humanities and Social Studies, with Japanese language standards modified from MEXT and CEFR; other standards cover Digital Citizenship, Digital Literacy, Drama, Health, Music, Physical Education, Visual Arts, and Student Protection. Nishimachi is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Council of International Schools (CIS), with CIS reaccreditation completed on 2 February 2022.

Nishimachi's Student Services aims to maximize learning for all students and to help children thrive academically and socio-emotionally. In Grades 6–9, every student has 15 minutes of advisory daily to support social-emotional development.

Learning Services provides support for mild learning difficulties and is not designed to be a formal special education program. The Learning Specialist may conduct assessments, provide in-class support, or refer to external specialists; progress and goals are monitored for the following year.

Two English Language Specialist teachers provide English Language Services (ELS) in collaboration with classroom teachers, offering individualized or small-group instruction as needed. In spring, WIDA-MODEL (Measures of Academic Progress) is administered to all students receiving active ELS.

A school nurse is on the premises every school day from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., attending to injuries, illnesses, and overall wellbeing. Health guidelines describe procedures for illness and health management, while the Health Office and Student Services support students' health and socio-emotional development.

Nishimachi maintains a Student Protection Policy aligned with Japanese law (Act No. 82) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; all employees are mandatory reporters of suspected abuse. Staff receive Student Protection training and sign the Employee Code of Conduct annually, with clear procedures for safeguarding concerns.

Admissions Process

Kindergarten admissions process

1. Start the inquiry and online application. Begin by submitting the online application for the upcoming Kindergarten cycle. The online system allows you to save progress and return later, and after you complete the application you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to pay the non-refundable application fee of ¥30,000 per applicant. Overseas passport holders and residents may apply year‑round, and the September 1 to October 31 window applies to the 2026‑27 cycle.

2. Prepare and submit required documents. Upload or provide the requested documents through the online application: report cards from the past two full school years (if available), one Confidential Student Recommendation Form (English or Japanese) filled out by the most recent teacher, a copy of the applicant's birth certificate or passport, the applicant's photo, and a family photo. The process specifies a single application portal for document submission and follows up with payment instructions after the completed application is received.

3. Confirm eligibility and age requirements. Kindergarten applicants must be 5 years old by August 31 of the enrolling year. The program notes clear age eligibility and does not make exceptions for Kindergarten entrants based on age.

4. Participate in the admissions screening. A group screening for selected Kindergarten applicants is conducted during the second week of January, with in-person screening preferred whenever possible. Applicants are evaluated for English communication skills and social/behavioral maturity to ensure readiness for Nishimachi.

5. Receive the admissions decision. The admissions result is sent by email in early February. Depending on class composition and space, some applications may be placed in a waiting pool after documents have been reviewed to maintain balance in language and gender.

6. Note special considerations for overseas applicants. For overseas applicants (outside Tokyo), applications are still accepted after the October 31 deadline, and families should plan accordingly for the January screening cycle as applicable.

Grades 1–9 admissions process

1. Start the inquiry and online application. For Grades 1–9, applications for the next school year open on November 1, and online submission is available through the admissions portal. Applications are reviewed after submission and space availability is assessed; Grade 9 is not currently offered.

2. Prepare and submit required documents. Required documents for Grades 1–9 include report cards from the past two full school years, two online Confidential Student Recommendation Forms (preferably from English and Mathematics teachers for Grades 7–8 applicants), standardized test results if available, a copy of the birth certificate or passport, the applicant's photo, and a family photo. The standard application fee is ¥30,000 (non-refundable).

3. Confirm eligibility and grade availability. Nishimachi serves Kindergarten through Grade 9, but Grade 9 admission is not currently offered; age-based placement guidance applies (Kindergarten 5 by Aug 31; Grade 1 6 by Aug 31). Non-Japanese students must have a residential dependent visa to attend.

4. Admissions screening/interview. Applicants for Grades 1–9 are evaluated for proficiency in English and grade‑level Mathematics to ensure suitability for Nishimachi's program. Applications are not prioritized by the date of submission, and some applicants may be invited to be screened before an admissions decision is made. Parent interviews may be arranged for some applicants.

5. How to apply and follow-up. The online application process allows you to save progress and return to finish later; supporting documents can be uploaded online. After submission, applicants progress to the screening/interview phase and wait for notification of decisions.

6. Waitlist considerations. For Grades 1–9, there is no explicit published waitlist policy; admissions decisions are based on the screening outcomes and other criteria rather than a first-come basis. Applicants are informed by the admissions process when decisions are made.

Note on general admissions context

- The school offers an English-language curriculum based on American common core standards, complemented by a Japanese language program. Tours and virtual information sessions are available for prospective families, including overseas families.

- The school also provides a defined set of admissions criteria, including age cutoffs, language readiness, and visa/residency expectations for non-Japanese students.

- Documentation and fee details, as well as the multi-step screening and decision timeline, are outlined in the admissions materials and online application portal.

Waitlist / Pool

- Kindergarten: Some applicants may be kept in a waiting pool after documents are reviewed to help balance language and gender in classrooms. This is part of the group screening process for Kindergarten.
- Grades 1–9: There is no published waitlist policy for these grades; admissions decisions are not strictly ordered by application date and are based on screening outcomes and eligibility rather than a queue.

Scholarships

- Outreach Scholarship Program: Nishimachi offers the Outreach Scholarship Program to provide partial or full scholarships to select students from diverse socioeconomic, racial, cultural, and geographic backgrounds who are currently in Japan and whose families cannot afford international school tuition. Scholarships are designed to augment diversity on campus.

- Program details: Candidates must meet the school's admissions requirements and provide proof of financial need. The scholarship is awarded for one academic year with renewal options, contingent on satisfactory progress. The Headmaster, with the Scholarship Committee, selects recipients according to criteria including financial need, country of origin and cultural background, grade level, academic achievement and talents, and other factors that enrich Nishimachi's educational environment.

- How to inquire: For those interested, contact the Admissions Office by phone or email to learn more about eligibility and the application process.

- Additional background: The Outreach Scholarship program has been active since 2003–2004 and continues to fund a limited number of scholarships to sustain program diversity.

Notes on language and tone

- Nishimachi offers an English-language program with a strong Japanese language component, aiming for a balanced, bilingual-friendly educational environment. This context informs the admissions and screening focus, including English proficiency assessments and readiness for an international school setting.

- Beyond the core admissions steps, the school runs monthly Head of School Tours and virtual information sessions to help families learn about the campus, programs, and admissions process.

- Family eligibility considerations include the expectation that students live with at least one parent in Japan, and non-Japanese students generally require a residential dependent visa; boarding is not offered.

Scholarships

- Outreach Scholarship Program: Nishimachi offers partial or full scholarships to select students from a variety of socioeconomic, racial, cultural, and geographic backgrounds who are currently in Japan and whose families cannot afford the international school tuition. The program is intended to augment campus diversity.

- How it works: Candidates must meet admissions requirements and provide proof of financial need. The scholarship lasts for one academic year with potential renewal, subject to satisfactory progress. Selection is made by the Headmaster on the recommendation of the Scholarship Committee and considers family need, origin, culture, grade level, academic performance, talents, and other factors that enrich Nishimachi's educational environment.

- How to inquire: Interested families should contact the Admissions Office by phone or email for details on eligibility and the application process.

Waitlist / Pool

- Kindergarten: Some applicants may be placed in a waiting pool after document review in order to maintain language and gender balance in the class. This waiting pool is part of the Kindergarten screening process.
- Grades 1–9: There is no published waitlist policy for Grades 1–9. Admissions decisions are based on screening outcomes and other criteria rather than a first-come, first-served waitlist.