IB Diploma Programme Schools in Tokyo 2026: All 15 DP Schools, Teaching Language, Entry Routes and Fees

Tokyo has 15 schools authorised to teach the IB Diploma Programme (DP), the two-year IB course that students usually take in the last two years of high school. If your child is heading towards the DP, the question is not only “which school?” but also “in which language?”, “when do we have to join?” and “what will the DP years actually cost?”. The answers differ a great deal between Japanese schools and international schools, and a few rules changed for 2027 entry.

This guide looks only at the DP. If you want the wider picture of all 40 IB World Schools in Tokyo, including PYP and MYP schools and preschools, please see our broader guide, IB Schools in Tokyo 2026: All 40 IB World Schools by Type, and How to Choose. Everything below comes from the MEXT IB consortium list (as of 30 June 2026), the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education and school websites, checked on 26 September 2026. We do not rank schools.

Tokyo’s 15 DP schools at a glance

According to the MEXT consortium list, 15 schools in Tokyo are authorised for the DP. Five are Japanese “Article 1” schools, meaning schools recognised under Article 1 of Japan’s School Education Act, so students also earn a Japanese high school diploma. The other ten are international schools. Candidate schools, which are still working towards authorisation, are not included in this count.

As Figure 1 shows, three of the five Article 1 schools are marked on the MEXT list as offering the Japanese-language DP. Here is the full list.

A note on Malvern College Tokyo: the MEXT list (as of 30 June 2026) marks it as DP-authorised, while the school’s own Sixth Form page, when we checked it on 26 September 2026, still described it as a DP candidate school. If Malvern is on your list, it is worth asking the school to confirm its current DP status.

Which language is the DP taught in?

In the international schools, the DP is taught in English, and Japanese appears as a language course (for example Japanese A or Japanese B). The Article 1 schools are more varied, and the phrase “Japanese-language DP” (sometimes called the dual-language DP) can be confusing, so let’s unpack it.

Mainly English: Kokusai and Tamagawa

• Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai High School says that in the DP, all subjects except Japanese are studied in English. In Year 1, before the DP starts, students take most of the compulsory Japanese curriculum subjects in English, while subjects such as PE, Japanese language and Japanese history are taught in Japanese.
• Tamagawa Academy says that in the DP (Grades 11 and 12) all classes are taught in English except Japanese language, music and PE/health.

Japanese-language DP: TGU International Secondary, Chiyoda and Kaichi Nihonbashi

In a Japanese-language DP, some DP subjects are taught and examined in Japanese, while others remain in English. It is not a “DP without English”.

• Tokyo Gakugei University International Secondary School (TGUISS) runs a dual-language DP in Years 5 and 6 (equivalent to high school Years 2 and 3): three of the six subjects are studied in English and three in Japanese. Its published subjects are English A (language and literature) or English B, Japanese A (literature), history, chemistry, mathematics (applications and interpretation) and visual arts. The school itself points out that mathematics and chemistry are offered at Standard Level (SL) only, so some science and engineering courses that require Higher Level (HL) maths may be out of reach.
• Chiyoda High School describes its programme as a “Japanese DP (Dual Language Diploma)” in which some subjects can be studied in Japanese. Its IB course lists chemistry SL, mathematics SL, English B HL, Japanese A HL, history HL and music SL, plus the DP core.
• Kaichi Nihonbashi Gakuen is marked with the Japanese-language DP symbol on the MEXT list, but the school says it aims for a bilingual IB Diploma, with subjects such as Group 3 (individuals and societies) taken in English.

Article 1 schools: how students get into the DP

At Japanese schools, the DP normally sits inside a three-year high school course, and the entry point is often earlier than you might expect. Here is how each school describes it.

Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai High School (public)

Students join the IB course at the start of high school through a dedicated IB course exam. According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education’s 2027 selection guidelines, there are two tracks (Japanese students and foreign students), and applicants take an English proficiency test, a mathematics test, an essay and an individual interview. The maths test, essay and interview can be taken in Japanese or English, and the English and maths tests are used only to judge whether a student can cope with the IB course, not added to the total score. The school’s admissions policy looks for English at roughly Eiken Grade 2 to Pre-1 level.

Two changes matter for 2027 entry:

• No more September intake: the Board announced on 17 September 2026 that the IB course’s September-entry selection is abolished and only April entry remains.
• Earlier DP start: according to the Board’s meeting record of 23 October 2025, the Board plans to start DP classes three months earlier, in January of Year 1, to give students about one year and ten months of DP study, and the five former September places are added to April entry, making 25 places in total.

Key dates for 2027 entry: online application from 18 December 2026 to 18 January 2027, documents from 8 to 18 January 2027, tests on 26 and 27 January 2027, and results on 2 February 2027. Applicants must have been born on or before 1 April 2012 and complete an eligibility check before applying.

Tamagawa Academy (private)

Students join the IB class in Grade 10 (high school Year 1) and take the DP in Grades 11 and 12. For 2027, Tamagawa recruits about 10 students for the Grade 10 IB class and requires Eiken Grade 2 or an equivalent English level. The written tests are Japanese (set in Japanese), English and mathematics (both set in English), followed by an interview with the student and a parent. Online applications run from 6 January to 4 February 2027, and the exam is on 11 February 2027. Returnees take the same exam and their background is considered if they meet the school’s overseas-residence conditions.

Transfers into the IB class are held once a year (exam in February for April entry), and the school says transfers are in principle accepted up to December of Grade 10. Families hoping to join from Grade 11 are asked to consult the IB office.

Tokyo Gakugei University International Secondary School (national)

The DP is chosen from within the school: students are selected while they are in Year 4 (equivalent to high school Year 1). The school states that students who transfer in for Year 5 (April or September) or Year 6 (April) cannot take the DP, and that students cannot leave the DP part-way through the two years. In practice, this means families need to be at the school by Year 4 at the latest.

Chiyoda High School (private)

Students first enter high school Year 1 in the Research or Development course, then apply for the IB course from Year 2. The school says selection is based on an English qualification and grades.

Kaichi Nihonbashi Gakuen (private)

Kaichi Nihonbashi runs a six-year programme with the MYP in the earlier years and a DP class from high school Year 2. Its transfer page (2026) states that students hoping to take the DP must be enrolled from April of high school Year 1, and that transfers into the Year 2 DP class are not held. Transfers in general are only offered when places are available.

International schools: DP entry and Grade 11-12 pathways

At international schools the DP normally covers Grades 11 and 12 (Years 12 and 13 at British-style schools). Two things are worth checking early: whether every student takes the full DP, and how late a new student can join.

• St. Mary’s International School (boys): applications are not accepted for Grade 12, and to complete the IB Diploma students must enrol no later than the beginning of Grade 11 and complete their last two full years at the school.
• Tokyo International School: the school’s history page says “In August 2025, we started offering Grade 11. Grade 12 is scheduled to open in SY 2026-2027.” Its 2026-27 admissions guidelines state that entry into Grade 12 is not accepted.
• K. International School Tokyo: all students in Grades 11 and 12 study in the DP. Start-of-year Grade 11 applications are accepted in principle up to 30 September; after that, and for Grade 12, only full-DP transfers with matching subjects are considered.
• Shinagawa International School: the DP has run at the school since 2024-25. Its homepage says Grade 12 applications are open for the 2026-27 DP.
• Seisen International School (girls only from Grade 1): the school says students have “three options for their Grade 11 and 12 studies”, each a two-year commitment: the Seisen High School Diploma with the IB Diploma, with IB Courses, or on its own.
• Aoba-Japan International School: the DP is one of two Grade 11-12 pathways alongside Aoba’s own Global Leadership Diploma (GLD). Aoba also runs an online IBDP for students who have completed Grade 10 and live within 3 to 4 hours of Japan time.
• British School in Tokyo: Years 12 and 13 offer two pathways, the IB Diploma Programme and the WASC-accredited BST Diploma, which can include BTEC Level 3 courses. The school announced it would offer the IBDP in Years 12 and 13 from August 2025, moving away from A Levels.
• Malvern College Tokyo: its 2026-27 fee table lists a Lower Sixth starting in August 2026 and an Upper Sixth starting in August 2027. Sixth Form admission is based on previous reports, an entrance assessment and an interview.
• Global Indian International School Tokyo: the IBDP is for students who have completed Grade 10, O Levels or equivalent, and the school runs a bridge programme for students coming from CBSE or IGCSE. The school also offers the Indian CBSE senior secondary course.
• India International School in Japan: a CBSE-based school that also offers the DP in Grades 11 and 12 at its Tokyo campus, with English A plus Hindi A or Japanese A options for a bilingual diploma.

Shinagawa, British School in Tokyo, Tokyo International School and Malvern College Tokyo are new to the DP, so ask how they support their first cohorts.

What do the DP years cost?

Fees are where “comparing like with like” matters most. Japanese schools publish grade funds or monthly charges, while international schools publish annual tuition plus separate one-time and annual fees. Always check what each figure includes.

Article 1 schools

International schools

Figure 4 shows tuition only (India International School in Japan is not shown; see below). On top of that, new students usually pay one-time fees, and most schools add an annual building or maintenance fee. A few examples from the 2026-27 fee pages:

• British School in Tokyo: application ¥40,000, enrolment ¥500,000 and educational resources ¥680,000 (one-time), plus a capital development fee of ¥100,000 a year
• St. Mary’s: application ¥50,000, registration ¥400,000 and development fund ¥1,000,000 (one-time), plus building maintenance of ¥200,000 a year
• Tokyo International School: one-time fees of ¥1,430,000 in total and a building fee of ¥200,000 a year
• Malvern College Tokyo: application ¥22,000, registration ¥300,000 and building development ¥742,000 (one-time); a facility maintenance fee of ¥277,500 a year from the second year; Upper Sixth tuition is still “TBC”
• India International School in Japan: its IB Handbook 2026-2028 lists a tuition fee of ¥1,500,000 paid in two instalments of ¥750,000 (it does not say whether this is per year), an application fee of ¥10,000, an IB registration fee of ¥20,000 and a Grade 12 IB exam fee of ¥160,000

Also budget for IB exam fees, which some schools include and others bill separately, as well as devices, trips and uniforms. Japan’s High School Tuition Support Fund has had no income limit since April 2026, according to MEXT, but whether it applies depends on the school’s legal status and it covers tuition only, so ask each school directly.

How to choose a DP school in Tokyo

• Diploma needs: if your child needs a Japanese high school diploma, the five Article 1 schools give both. International schools award their own high school diploma alongside the IB Diploma
• Language: for a strong English learner, the international schools, Kokusai or Tamagawa; for a child whose academic Japanese is stronger, a Japanese-language DP school, bearing in mind that English is still essential
• Timing: if you are arriving in Tokyo when your child is 15 or 16, check the latest joining point in Figure 3 first. Several schools do not take new Grade 12 students, and some Japanese schools only select DP students internally
• Subject choices: ask for the DP subject list and levels. A school offering only SL maths or chemistry may not suit a future engineer or doctor
• Full DP or not: Seisen, Aoba, British School in Tokyo and St. Mary’s offer alternatives to the full Diploma, which can be reassuring if you are unsure

Questions parents often ask

My child is in Grade 11 overseas. Can they join a Tokyo DP school for Grade 12?

It is difficult. St. Mary’s does not accept Grade 12 applications and Tokyo International School does not accept Grade 12 entry. K. International School Tokyo considers only full-DP transfers with matching subjects. Shinagawa International School says Grade 12 applications are open for the 2026-27 DP. Contact schools as early as possible and have your child’s DP subject list and levels ready.

Is the Japanese-language DP easier than the English DP?

Not necessarily. It is the same IB Diploma with the same assessment, but some subjects are taught and examined in Japanese. TGUISS stresses that both languages are needed at a high level and that students cannot switch a subject’s language.

Can we still apply for September entry to Kokusai’s IB course?

Not from 2027. The Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education announced on 17 September 2026 that the IB course’s September-entry selection is abolished. According to the Board’s plans, the five former September places are added to April entry, for 25 places in total.

Are there public or low-cost DP options in Tokyo?

Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai is the only public DP school in Tokyo, and TGUISS is a national school. Both publish much lower costs than private and international schools, but places are limited and entry routes are strict.

Summary

• 15 DP schools: 5 Article 1 schools and 10 international schools in Tokyo (MEXT list, as of 30 June 2026)
• Language: English at the international schools, mainly English at Kokusai and Tamagawa, and a Japanese-language DP at TGUISS, Chiyoda and Kaichi Nihonbashi
• Entry: Japanese schools usually require joining by high school Year 1 (or earlier), and several international schools do not accept new Grade 12 students
• 2027 changes: Kokusai’s IB course moves to April-only entry; according to the Board’s plans, it will have 25 places and an earlier DP start
• Fees: range from Kokusai’s grade funds to over ¥3 million a year in tuition at some international schools, so compare the same items and year

Visit a few schools with your child, and confirm language, entry deadlines, subjects and fees for the year you plan to join.

Sources and references

• MEXT IB Education Promotion Consortium: IB authorised and candidate schools (as of 30 June 2026)
• Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education: 2027 high school admissions (17 September 2026)
• Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education: 2027 Kokusai IB course selection guidelines (PDF)
• Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education: meeting record, 23 October 2025 (PDF)
• Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai High School: IB course and DP
• Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai High School: Tuition and fees
• Tamagawa Academy: 2027 IB class admissions
• Tamagawa Academy: IB class FAQ (2026 fees)
• Tokyo Gakugei University International Secondary School: About the IB and DP
• Chiyoda High School: High school courses and IB course
• Chiyoda High School: FY2026 admissions guide (PDF)
• Kaichi Nihonbashi Gakuen: Courses and DP class
• Kaichi Nihonbashi Gakuen: Transfer examinations
• Kaichi Nihonbashi Gakuen: Tuition FAQ
• St. Mary’s International School: Admissions policy
• St. Mary’s International School: Tuition and fees
• Tokyo International School: School fees
• K. International School Tokyo: Fees (Admissions Handbook)
• Shinagawa International School: Tuition and fees
• Seisen International School: Tuition and fees
• Aoba-Japan International School: Tuition and fees
• British School in Tokyo: Fees
• Malvern College Tokyo: Tuition fees
• India International School in Japan: IB Handbook 2026-2028 (PDF)
• MEXT: High School Tuition Support Fund

This article is based on information checked on 26 September 2026. Fees, entry rules and dates change every year, so please confirm the latest details with each school before you apply.