Tokyo International SchoolVerified

In Brief

TIS is worth serious consideration if genuine diversity matters to you - it actively limits any single nationality and has 70+ represented in a school of 360. The new Takanawa Gateway campus opening August 2026 is a meaningful upgrade. The one thing to confirm now: whether the DP track is fully in place for your child's timeline.

TIS is a small, deliberately diverse IB school that takes the 'international' in its name seriously. At around 360 students from 70+ nationalities, it caps any one nationality to keep the community genuinely mixed - a policy that sets it apart from schools where one or two groups dominate. Class sizes are capped at 20. It currently runs PYP and MYP; the DP is expanding to cover full K-12 and families with children approaching Diploma years should confirm the current timetable directly with the school.

The school is moving to a new campus at Takanawa Gateway in August 2026, connected to the JR Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku lines. That is a significant location improvement - Takanawa Gateway is central, well-served, and increasingly well-developed. The current Minami-Azabu site is already well placed for Minato-ku families; the new campus keeps that convenience and improves transport links. Apple Distinguished School status reflects a genuine commitment to technology integration across the curriculum. The 50+ co-curricular options are substantial for a school of this size.

At JPY 3,000,000-3,300,000 in total annual fees plus a JPY 900,000 development fee, TIS is at the higher end of Tokyo's fee range. For that price, families are buying small class sizes, genuine diversity, and a central location with a new campus - but not the scale or facilities of ASIJ or BST. Bus service is available. The main question for families right now: where exactly is the school in its DP rollout, and does the timeline match your child's year group.