Seisen International School is a Catholic international school for girls in Yoga, Setagaya, Tokyo, sponsored by the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It runs a co-educational kindergarten (including a program for two-year-olds) and then teaches girls only from Grade 1 to Grade 12. According to its 2025-2026 School Profile, it has 700 students from Kindergarten to Grade 12, representing over 40 nationalities. If you want an English-medium IB education for a daughter in Tokyo, it is likely on your list.
This guide is based on the school’s official website, its 2025-2026 School Profile and the Japanese Ministry of Education (MEXT) IB consortium list, all checked on 26 September 2026. In Japanese, the school is listed as 清泉インターナショナル学園 (Seisen International Gakuen) on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s international schools portal; both names refer to this school in Yoga. Fees and procedures change every year, so do confirm details with the school before you apply.
Seisen International School at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| School name | Seisen International School |
| Beginnings | 1962, when the Handmaids’ kindergarten moved to Gotanda and the first seven girls started Grade 1; classes began on the present Yoga campus in 1972 |
| Type | Private Catholic international school; co-ed kindergarten, girls only from Grade 1 to Grade 12 |
| Campus | 1-12-15 Yoga, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-0097 (nearest station: Yoga on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line) |
| Grades | Kindergarten section (listed as Ages 2-5): Toddler Program for 2-year-olds and a Montessori 3-6 / PYP program; then Grades 1 to 12 |
| Students (2025-26) | 700 students (K-12), 196 in High School, over 40 nationalities |
| IB programmes | PYP, MYP and DP (MEXT list, as of 30 June 2026) |
| Accreditation | Council of International Schools (CIS) and New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC); member of the Japan Council of International Schools |
| Head of School | Ms. Colette Rogers (2025-2026 School Profile) |
| Legal status in Japan | Not an “Article 1” school under the School Education Law (see the Japanese families question below) |
The school’s About page mentions “over 60” and “more than 55” nationalities; we have used the School Profile figure because it is tied to a school year.
A full IB continuum, from Kindergarten to Grade 12
Seisen is authorised for all three core IB programmes, so a girl can follow an IB framework from Kindergarten to graduation. According to the school’s FAQ and IB pages:
- Toddler Program (age 2): a separate program for two-year-olds within the kindergarten.
- Kindergarten (Montessori 3-6 program): co-educational, mixed-age classes that blend Montessori with the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP). The school’s IB page says it is one of just two schools in the Asia Pacific region blending Montessori and the PYP.
- Elementary School (Grades 1 to 5): the IB PYP, with Japanese and Spanish as language learning.
- Middle School and early High School (Grades 6 to 10): the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), ending with the MYP Personal Project in Grade 10.
- Grades 11 and 12: a choice of three pathways, including the full IB Diploma Programme (DP).
The school’s IB page says Seisen “has been an International Baccalaureate school since 1986” (its About page says 1985), and its history page says the first IB Diploma was awarded in 1988. The PYP was authorised in 2007 and the MYP in July 2020, which the school says made it “the first All-Girls IB Continuum school in Japan”.
Grades 11 and 12: three pathways
Seisen does not push every student into the full Diploma. Each girl chooses one of three two-year options:
- Option 1: Seisen High School Diploma and the IB Diploma, the broadest route for university entry worldwide.
- Option 2: Seisen High School Diploma and IB Courses, where students take individual IB subjects and receive an IB Courses Transcript.
- Option 3: Seisen High School Diploma, accredited by CIS/NEASC. Students on this route still complete CAS and the Seisen Research Essay.
The Seisen High School Diploma requires 25 credits (one credit equals one year of study), including 3 in religious and cultural exploration (2025-2026 School Profile).
For the class of 2026, DP languages included English A (mandatory), Japanese A Language and Literature, Japanese B, French B and Spanish B or ab initio.
IB Diploma results 2023 to 2025
The latest School Profile we found is the 2025-2026 edition, with results up to 2025; 2026 results had not been published in a profile at the time of writing.
| Year | IB Diploma students | Seisen pass rate | Worldwide pass rate | Seisen average | Worldwide average | 40+ scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 43 | 97.7% | 81.2% | 35 | 30.5 | 8 |
| 2024 | 44 | 97.8% | 80% | 34 | 30.3 | 4 |
| 2023 | 43 | 97.6% | 79.3% | 34 | 30.2 | 5 |
In each of the three years, the school’s average was between 3.7 and 4.5 points above the worldwide average shown in the profile. With cohorts of 43 to 44 students, small changes in a class can move the numbers. The published pass rates do not divide exactly from the student counts shown (for example, 43 of 44 would be 97.7%, not 97.8%), and the profile does not define the denominator, so we show the school’s figures as published. The School Profile web page also shows a heading of “44 IB Diploma Candidates” next to a 2025 table figure of 43; we have used the table figure.
SAT scores and university destinations
The same profile lists mean SAT totals of 1174 for the class of 2025, 1204 for 2024 and 1276 for 2023.
For the class of 2025, the profile web page groups destinations as Japan and Asia 37% (Japan alone 35% in the PDF chart), US and Canada 35%, UK and Europe 18%, Australia/New Zealand 4% and other 6%. Universities attended by students from 2022 to 2025 include, for example, the University of Tokyo, Keio, Waseda and ICU; UC Berkeley, NYU and Northwestern; Toronto and UBC; UCL and Edinburgh; the University of Amsterdam; Melbourne; and the University of Hong Kong. The school’s FAQ states that 100% of its graduates pursue higher education.
Tuition and fees for 2026-2027
These are the figures on Seisen’s Tuition and Fees page under “School Fees 2026-2027”.
| Fee (2026-2027) | Amount (JPY) |
|---|---|
| Application fee (per application, non-refundable) | ¥30,000 |
| Registration fee (one-time, non-refundable) | ¥300,000 |
| Land and Building Development fee (one-time, new students) | ¥700,000 |
| Building Maintenance (non-refundable; see note below) | ¥150,000 |
| Tuition: Kindergarten half day | ¥1,500,000 |
| Tuition: Kindergarten full day | ¥2,500,000 |
| Tuition: Elementary (Grades 1 to 5) | ¥2,650,000 |
| Tuition: Middle School (Grades 6 to 8) | ¥2,700,000 |
| Tuition: High School (Grades 9 to 12) | ¥2,700,000 |
| School bus (optional, annual): one way / round trip | ¥310,000 / ¥420,000 |
Kindergarten half-day tuition was corrected on the page from a previously stated ¥1,600,000. We found no Toddler Program fee there.
Adding these up, a new student pays ¥1,030,000 in one-time fees (application ¥30,000, registration ¥300,000 and Land and Building Development ¥700,000). With tuition and the ¥150,000 Building Maintenance fee, the first year comes to ¥2,680,000 for Kindergarten half day, ¥3,680,000 for Kindergarten full day, ¥3,830,000 for Grades 1 to 5, and ¥3,880,000 for Grades 6 to 12, before the bus and other extras.
A note on the Building Maintenance fee: the fee table lists it under “Annual Fees”, but the refund section on the same page calls it a “one-time” fee alongside the Land and Building Development fee. So from the second year, the ongoing cost is either tuition alone (¥2,650,000 for Grades 1 to 5, ¥2,700,000 for Grades 6 to 12) or tuition plus ¥150,000 (¥2,800,000 and ¥2,850,000). It is worth asking the Accounting Office which applies before you budget.
Other costs on the same page include an iPad bought through the school for students entering Grade 3 and new Grade 4 and 5 students (price varies), IB exam fees of ¥20,000 per subject, a ¥30,000 Grade 12 Graduation Fee, and curriculum trips from Grade 5 to Grade 12 (for example Hiroshima in Grade 8 and Hokkaido in Grade 12 in 2026-2027; costs not listed). Lunch (through the school’s caterer) is paid separately.
Paying and refunds. The first tuition payment is due by mid-June, and only tuition and the school bus fee can be paid in two instalments, with the second due by January. Fees are paid by bank transfer. Tuition and bus fees may be refunded quarterly with written notice before the next quarter.
Admissions: who can apply and how
Who the school is for
Seisen’s admissions policy says the school “exists primarily to meet the needs of expatriate families whose children require an English-speaking education”. Applicants must belong to one of these categories:
- Children of expatriate families moving to Japan, or of bicultural families, where at least one parent can communicate in English proficiently.
- Children who are fluent in English and speak English at home.
- Japanese students who have spent at least two years abroad in an English-medium school.
- Local Japanese children transferring from an international school who need a minimum of support.
- International students transferring from another international school in Japan.
At least one parent must be able to communicate in English with the school. The school does not board students or sponsor visas, and mid-year transfers between Japan Council of International Schools members need prior consultation between the two Heads. Siblings, children of alumni and staff, returning students and children from Catholic families are given priority, but not automatic acceptance.
Kindergarten
The school says demand often exceeds capacity. Children must reach the minimum age for their program by 1 September, and preference is given to children who will enrol for three years in the Montessori/PYP program. Japanese children may apply if they have spent at least two years in an English-medium preschool or kindergarten.
English and learning support
The admissions policy says there is “a limited number of spaces” in the English as an Additional Language (EAL) program, given through in-class and small-group support. The public pages do not say up to which grade EAL is offered, so please ask directly, especially for the upper grades. Learning Support is for students who function well in the classroom but have some learning challenges, and the school decides case by case within its resources.
The application steps
The How to Apply page sets out eight steps, from an online inquiry to a welcome email (Figure 4). Grades 1 to 11 take math and English assessments, after which the principal may invite the family to an interview. For documents, the FAQ says official transcripts are not required, but report cards for the last two school years are, and the portal tells you everything else you need.
We could not find published application deadlines for 2026-2027 or 2027-2028, an age cut-off for Grade 1 and above, or a statement on whether Grade 12 entry is possible. Please ask the admissions office if you are considering a late entry.
Faith, student life and getting there
Catholic identity. Seisen welcomes applications “irrespective of the child or family member’s race, national origin, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or religion”, but the admissions policy also says that sincere support of its mission as a Catholic international school is central to acceptance. The school describes a daily school-wide morning prayer.
Activities. The 2025-2026 School Profile lists activities such as basketball, choir, debate, drama, Model United Nations, tennis and volleyball, and Seisen competes in the Kanto Plain Association. Elementary girls can join after-school SASA activities from 3:30 to 4:30.
Getting there. The campus is a walk from the East exit of Yoga Station on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line; the school gives the route but not a time. Yoga is 12 minutes from Shibuya (express trains do not stop there). The school also runs 11 school buses covering areas such as Roppongi, Hiroo, Shinagawa, Yotsuya and Denenchofu.
Questions parents often ask
Does Seisen accept boys?
Only in the kindergarten. The Toddler Program and the Montessori/PYP Kindergarten are co-educational, and from Grade 1 to Grade 12 Seisen is a girls’ school.
We are a Japanese family. Can our daughter apply?
Possibly, but please read the conditions carefully. Seisen is not an “Article 1” school under Japan’s School Education Law, and the school states that a Japanese national continuing her education in its Grades 1 to 9 program will not meet the expectation of compulsory education in a Japanese school. The categories that mention Japanese students specifically are two years abroad in an English-medium school, or a transfer from an international school with minimal support needed; a child who is fluent in English and speaks it at home may also fit that category, and kindergarten has its own rule (see above).
Is there a scholarship?
The FAQ says Seisen does not provide scholarships. Limited financial aid exists only for enrolled families facing temporary difficulties.
Summary
- Girls’ Catholic international school with a co-ed kindergarten: 700 students from over 40 nationalities (2025-2026 School Profile), in Yoga, Setagaya.
- Full IB continuum: Montessori/PYP Kindergarten, PYP in Grades 1 to 5, MYP in Grades 6 to 10, and three pathways in Grades 11 and 12, including the full IB Diploma.
- Results: an IB Diploma average of 35 points in 2025 against a worldwide average of 30.5, with a 97.7% pass rate.
- 2026-27 fees: tuition from ¥1,500,000 (Kindergarten half day) to ¥2,700,000 (Grades 6 to 12), plus ¥1,030,000 in one-time fees and a ¥150,000 Building Maintenance fee (ask whether it recurs).
- Plan around English and eligibility: one parent must communicate in English, EAL places are limited, and Japanese families should weigh the non-Article-1 status.
If Seisen sounds right for your daughter, send an inquiry through the school’s website and ask about seats, timing and English support for her grade.
Sources and references
- Seisen International School: official website (checked 26 September 2026)
- Seisen: Tuition and Fees, School Fees 2026-2027
- Seisen: How to Apply and Admissions Policy
- Seisen: Admissions FAQ
- Seisen: International Baccalaureate
- Seisen: School Profile page and School Profile 2025-2026 (PDF)
- Seisen: About and History
- Seisen: Kindergarten, Elementary and High School
- Seisen: Student Support
- Seisen: Contact and directions
- MEXT IB Education Promotion Consortium: IB schools in Japan (as of 30 June 2026)
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