Yes International School

Yokohama International School (YIS) is located at 2-100-1 Kominato-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Japan. The Honmoku campus moved to this site in January 2022 and sits in a mixed residential and commercial area near the Honmoku Front shopping complex. It is well connected by public transport, with five local bus routes nearby and direct rail connections; Motomachi-Chukagai Station on the Minatomirai Line links to Shibuya in under 35 minutes.

YIS offers an Early Learning Center (ELC) for ages 3–5, followed by Elementary School (K–5), Middle School (6–8), and High School (9–12). The school provides the IB continuum across these levels: Primary Years Programme (PYP) in the primary years, Middle Years Programme (MYP) in the middle years, and the Diploma Programme (DP) in the final years.

YIS is an independent, co-educational day school. There are no boarding facilities.

The student body represents more than 50 nationalities (51 nationalities reported). The most common nationality is not publicly disclosed, and the school notes a diverse international community with staff from many countries.

The Learning Support department works with Counselors and English as an Additional Language (EAL) teachers to support diverse learners. It uses a three-tier delivery model (Monitor, LS-1, LS-2) and offers psycho-educational and speech-language evaluations as needed; admissions may include informal or formal assessments to determine support needs.

There is no formal country affiliation; the school serves the international community and accepts students of many nationalities.

YIS is non-denominational and has no religious affiliation.

Typical school day start times vary by level: Early Learning Center around 8:45 am, Elementary around 8:30 am, and Middle/High School around 9:00 am. End times are: ELC half-day at 12:00 pm; ELC full-day around 2:40–2:50 pm; Elementary at 3:00 pm; Middle and High School at 4:00 pm.

YIS works with a bus service provider to offer an optional paid bus service on specified routes between Tokyo and the school, and within Yokohama to/from the school. Bus stops near the campus include Yamashita-cho (near Motomachi-Chukagai Station) with buses 8 or 58 to Kominato; Sakuragicho/Ishikawicho with buses 101, 105 or 106 to Kominato-cho; and Negishi Station with buses 58 or 101 to Honmoku-Miyabara. For seat availability and registrations, contact the School Bus Service office.

YIS offers an IB continuum: Primary Years Program (PYP) for the Early Learning Center through Grade 5, Middle Years Program (MYP) for Grades 6–10, and the Diploma Programme (DP) for Grades 11–12. Beyond the DP, the school also awards IB Certificates, the YIS Diploma, and a Global Citizen Diploma as high school pathways. English is the language of instruction, with an English as an Additional Language (EAL) program to support multilingual learners; Japanese language is integrated where appropriate. The curriculum is inquiry-based and transdisciplinary, enriched by field trips, a service program, and a broad range of clubs and activities, with technology embedded across learning. Class sizes are small, with an overall student–teacher ratio around 7:1 and typical classes of 16–23 students to support individualized learning.

SEL at Yokohama International School is supported through a formal wellbeing and counseling program. Social-emotional wellbeing is a key priority across all grades, with counselors providing individual support, group workshops, and ongoing guidance to help students manage emotions, set personal goals, and navigate school life. The Wellness & Counseling team includes a Middle & High School Counselor and an Elementary School Counselor, with additional counseling staff for both lower and upper school levels. New-family orientation supports a smooth transition into the school community. These services are integrated with the school's health and pastoral care structures to foster a caring, supportive environment.

SEN at YIS is provided through universal and targeted supports within Support Services. Universal Support uses Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to ensure high-quality instruction with multiple ways of engagement, representation, and expression. An Evaluation Plan records psycho-educational evaluations, and an Accommodation Plan provides targeted supports (e.g., extended time, assistive technology, organizational aids) without altering learning expectations. The Learning Support Team leads this work, with a Learning Support Team Leader and Learning Support Teachers supporting students at LS-1 and LS-2 levels and collaborating with families and teachers. YIS does not present itself as a specialist SEN institution; SEN provisions sit within the mainstream learning framework and are delivered by a dedicated Learning Support Team. The school also notes the potential for diagnosed learning exceptionalities and the use of targeted accommodations.

EAL at YIS serves students from diverse linguistic backgrounds through a program that personalizes language support in collaboration with classroom teachers to match each student's needs. The aim is for learners to feel confident and engaged in all aspects of school life, including academics and co-curricular activities, while honoring cultural identity and prior language experience. The EAL approach emphasizes building on students' language strengths to foster communication, collaboration, and full participation in the school community. EAL staffing works alongside classroom teachers to tailor support for each learner.

Mental wellbeing is integrated into the school's wellbeing framework, with social-emotional wellbeing treated as a priority across all grade levels. Counselors provide individual support, group workshops, and ongoing guidance to help students manage emotions, set personal goals, and plan future pathways. Counseling teams collaborate with families and teachers to nurture a caring, supportive environment and aid transitions, including orientation for new families.

Safeguarding is embedded in every aspect of school life and aligned with international standards, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and Japanese law. The safeguarding framework aims to protect students from maltreatment, prevent harm to health and development, and empower students to flourish academically, emotionally, and socially. A designated Safeguarding Team leads prevention and response, with roles including Safeguarding Lead, Director of Learning, Secondary Principal, and Elementary Principal. All staff receive annual safeguarding and child protection training, with specialist training for the Case Management Team, plus background checks and safeguarding agreements for staff and external providers. CPOMS is used for reporting concerns, and the Student Protection Policy and Guidelines, along with a Parent Handbook, outline procedures and responsibilities. Safeguarding is considered everyone's responsibility within the YIS community.

Yokohama International School (YIS) provides English-language instruction and follows a structured, online admissions process. The school welcomes children of all nationalities who are aligned with an international curriculum and can engage in English. Eligibility focuses on nationality (foreign national or Japanese national with prior international education), English-language proficiency from at least one parent, and commuting-distance residency. This foundation guides how applications are screened before moving through the formal portal-based flow.

Scholarships are available through YIS's Corporate Contribution Program. Scholarships are granted to students whose parents' employers participate in CCP. For details about eligibility and how to apply, families should contact the school's Business Office.

When the number of eligible applicants exceeds available spaces, applicants may be placed in a wait pool if deemed acceptable. Priority in the wait pool is given to siblings of current students, children of YIS staff and alumni, returning students, and dependents of organizations participating in the Corporate Contribution Program (CCP). Applicants in the wait pool may be asked to submit updated school reports to confirm continued interest.