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Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Preschool, Elementary, Middle School
Introduction
International School of Nagano (ISN) is a private international school with campuses in Matsumoto, Nagano, Nakano, and Shimauchi. It serves preschool through middle school and follows an IB continuum with the Japanese National Curriculum. Preschools and Elementary participate in the IB Primary Years Programme, while Middle School aligns with the Japanese Junior High Curriculum with IGCSE options. Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme are delivered in English, French, or Spanish, providing a pathway to university overseas or in Japan. Distinctive feature is the PIC Program, a four-year middle school pathway beginning in Grade 6 that blends project-, inquiry-, and concept-based learning in English and Japanese. Sustainable Library at Gojo Campus and National Geographic Lift Curriculum support research literacy. Outdoor education is central through Activities in the Nature of Shinshu and seasonal trips, including Sports Day and Hakuba excursions. ISN emphasizes bilingual staff and community engagement to connect students with Shinshu's environment.
Shimauchi 7779-1, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture 390-0851, Japan
Gallery
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Vibes and Culture
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The Essentials
International School of Nagano has 320 pupils, instruction in English.
Location
ISN operates across multiple campuses in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. The Matsumoto campuses include Gojo Campus for Elementary and Middle School, Shimauchi Campus for Preschool, and Minami Matsumoto Campus for Preschool. The Nagano and Nakano campuses provide Preschool, with Nakano also offering Elementary and Middle School; Saku Kirihara Campus provides Preschool.
Stages
Preschool; Elementary; Middle School
Type
Private international school
Additional learning support
Special Language Support (EAL) is available. Language of instruction is English, with Japanese language support available by request.
School day structure
A typical day includes a morning meeting at 08:45–09:00, classes from 09:00–12:30, lunch and recess 12:30–13:20, and afternoon sessions including Japanese language study from 13:40–14:35 and independent learning from 15:40–16:35.
Bus service
A school shuttle bus service is available; seats are limited. Bus fees are based on route and schedule; contact the campus office for details.
Diving Deeper
The school has not added this information
Fees
Annual tuition at International School of Nagano ranges from JPY 875,000 to JPY 1,341,000 for 2026/27.
Application / registration fees
- Preschool (Nagano campus): Entrance fee for the 2-year-old class: JPY 35,000. Entrance fee for the 3-year-old class and older: JPY 150,000 (this JPY 150,000 amount includes the facility fee for the first year and is paid during the admission process). - Elementary (Nakano / Gojo campuses): Registration (entrance) fee: JPY 30,000, payable at the time of enrollment; this fee is non-refundable after payment.
Tuition fees by year group (monthly and annual where specified)
- Preschool (Nagano campus) — 2026/27: - 2-year-old class: JPY 70,000 per month. - 3-year-old class and older: JPY 88,000 per month. - Elementary School — 2026/27: - Standard tuition: JPY 98,000 per month (equivalent stated as JPY 1,176,000 per year when paid annually). Tuition may be paid monthly or annually. For mid-year enrollees requiring additional English support, the tuition charge used for that support example is JPY 156,000 per month. - Middle School — 2026/27: - Standard tuition: JPY 98,000 per month. (Example middle-school division fee shown for Gojo Campus.) Additional EAL (English support) and afterschool charges may apply as described under other costs.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Regular tuition is billed monthly and collected at the end of the previous month. For preschool and school programs, monthly automatic withdrawals occur on the 28th of the preceding month (or the next business day if the 28th falls on a weekend/holiday). Parents are asked to set up automatic bank-account withdrawals for monthly fees. - Facility / system maintenance fee: JPY 125,000 per year; this is billed once a year (generally collected in March of the previous fiscal year) from the second year of enrollment for preschool and is required annually for elementary/middle where shown. - Registration/entrance fees are payable at enrollment and are non-refundable after payment. The facility fee (where noted) is also non-refundable after payment. Parents are asked to register or notify changes by the deadlines noted by the school (for monthly billing changes the school asks for requests by the 15th of the previous month). - For some payments a bank/transfer handling charge may be applied (example: a monthly bank transfer handling/processing fee shown as JPY 165 per month). Timing for that fee is typically deducted the following month.
Boarding fees
- Boarding is not provided as a regular service of the school; no boarding fees are listed. ISN operates preschool, elementary and middle-school day programmes.
Other costs and common additional fees
- Uniforms and clothing: - Elementary / Middle: uniform set (imported from England) approximately JPY 40,000 per set (payable at enrollment). - Preschool items: T-shirt JPY 3,800; sweatshirt JPY 5,500 (half-zip) or JPY 6,000 (full-zip); class hat JPY 1,600. - School lunch: - Preschool: JPY 9,000 per month (if the child brings their own lunch for allergy reasons, a school lunch management fee of JPY 4,000 is applied). - Elementary: typical lunch fee shown as JPY 5,500 per month on some campus pages. - Shuttle / school bus: - Shuttle-bus fee example: JPY 9,000 per month (preschool and many elementary campuses list a JPY 9,000 monthly shuttle option; other campuses/routes may vary—route-based fees and schedules are charged separately). - Extended childcare and emergency pickup charges: - Extended childcare: JPY 7,000 per month or JPY 7,000 per session (preschool); emergency late pickup: JPY 1,000 per 10 minutes. - Afterschool and EAL (English Additional Learning) support: - Afterschool programme (Gojo example): JPY 2,500–4,500 per month depending on schedule. - EAL / individual English support: some campuses list JPY 2,500 per lesson for targeted EAL support; mid-year or intensive English support examples may be charged at higher monthly rates (e.g., the elementary mid-year English-support example of JPY 156,000 per month). - Equipment and devices: - Chromebook and some instruments are listed as items to inquire about and may be charged separately if provided by the school; prices for small items (polo shirts, recorders) are shown on campus pages. - Event and seasonal programme fees: - Summer school and other seasonal programme fees are charged separately; those programme fees are typically non-refundable after payment confirmation.
Refund information
- Registration (entrance) fees and the facility/system maintenance fee are stated as non-refundable once paid. Summer-school and many event/programme fees are also non-refundable after payment has been confirmed. Specific refund policies for individual programmes and one-off events are specified at the time of enrolment for those programmes.
Fee payment options and methods
- Regular tuition and recurring fees are collected by automatic bank-account withdrawal (direct debit) from the parent/guardian account; withdrawals occur on the 28th of the preceding month (or next business day). This is the primary indicated payment method for monthly school fees. - A bank transfer option is used for donations and one-off transfers to the school's accounts; some administrative/banking charges may apply when transfers are used. Example bank details are provided for donation transfers. A monthly bank-transfer handling fee (example JPY 165 per month) is shown for some campuses where bank processing is applied. - Credit-card payment is not listed among the standard tuition-payment methods shown for recurring school fees on campus admissions pages. (Automatic withdrawal / bank transfer are the listed methods.)
Sibling discount
- Sibling discounts apply to tuition (and facility fees in some cases). Example preschool discounts: second child 30% off tuition; third child onwards 40% off tuition. If a family has children in both elementary and preschool, discounts of 15% (second child) and 20% (third child onward) can apply across those levels; discounts generally do not apply to campaign-priced admissions or to non-tuition items.
Practical notes on timing and administrative rules
- For monthly billing changes or registrations, submit requests by the school deadlines (for example the 15th of the previous month for registration/changes; specific campus pages list these administrative timelines). For leaves of absence or transfers, payments are typically required through the month following the notification unless otherwise specified.
(End of fees overview.)
Academics
International School of Nagano teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), Japanese Curriculum for students aged 0 to 15.
Curriculum
ISN implements the International Baccalaureate (IB) program with a continuum from preschool through high school. Preschool and Elementary follow the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) alongside the Japanese National Curriculum. Middle School uses the Japanese Junior High curriculum with IGCSE options. The Gojo Campus hosts the PIC Program, a four-year middle school pathway beginning in Grade 6 that blends Project-based Learning, Inquiry-based Learning, and Concept-based Learning in English and Japanese, and aligns with the Japanese National Middle School curriculum. The Diploma Programme (DP) is conducted in English, French, or Spanish, providing an internationally recognized university entrance qualification. The Educational Roadmap shows a progression from IB PYP in the early years to elementary IB-PYP, then to middle school, with pathways to high school and university abroad, including overseas and Japanese options for high school and university admissions.
Higher Education Progression
The Roadmap identifies pathways to high school and university abroad, including overseas high schools and Japanese high schools with admission support to overseas universities.
Gifted and Talented
Full or partial scholarships available for students with exceptional English or other academic skills.
Wellbeing
The school has not added this information
Parent Experience
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Facilities
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Extra-Curricular Activities
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Languages
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Reputation
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Admissions
Admissions
1. Learn about ISN admissions and attend information sessions. ISN offers Elementary School Information Sessions and Middle School Information Sessions to inform families about ISN's approach to learning and campus options. Regular information events provide details on ISN's programs and admissions processes. These sessions help families understand how ISN blends an international curriculum with the Japanese national curriculum and how classes are structured.
2. Review admission windows and prepare to apply. For the 2026 school year, the application period runs from September 1 to October 30, 2025, with applications for Nakano Campus Elementary Division or for families currently attending ISN Nagano Preschool submitted to the Nakano Campus Office. The Nakano Campus can supply the application form. ISN's education roadmap also indicates separate windows for Elementary admissions (April–November) and Middle School admissions (April–September).
3. Submit the application and provide required information. Applications are submitted to the appropriate ISN campus (Nakano Campus Elementary Division or Nagano Campus Office). ISN operates an English-language international program complemented by Japanese-language and mathematics instruction led by certified Japanese teachers. The program combines an international curriculum with the Japanese national curriculum to prepare students for future academic and life opportunities.
4. Attend Open Campus or School Information Sessions to learn more and plan next steps. ISN Nakano Campus hosts Open Campus events and School Information Sessions with campus tours and Q&A opportunities to discuss the school, its learning environment, and tuition. Attending provides a firsthand view of ISN's learning approach and helps families understand the admissions process and what comes next.
Scholarships
ISN offers two scholarships: scholarships for English speakers and scholarships for children of ISN staff. The scholarship program provides partial tuition exemption during enrollment in Preschool, Elementary and Middle School, and does not cover the admission registration fee, facility maintenance costs, evening after-school program snack fees, event fees, shuttle bus fees, ISN T-shirt costs, or other charges.
Eligibility for English-speaker scholarships includes at least one parent from a country where English is a native language and/or English is the primary home language; availability is two students per class; eligible grades run from Preschool (3-year-old class) through Middle School Grade 9. The application period opens with the acceptance of admission forms and closes once capacity is reached, with final eligibility determined through an interview. To apply, families should contact the campus with the subject line “Application for the 2025-2026 ISN Scholarship Program”; sibling discounts are not applicable if multiple siblings apply.
Eligibility for Scholarships for ISN staff children requires at least one parent to be a full-time ISN employee; availability is two students per class; eligible grades run from Preschool through Middle School Grade 9. The application period opens with the acceptance of admission forms and closes once capacity is reached, and final decisions are made by the school on a 1-by-1 basis.
School Events
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FAQs
Where is International School of Nagano located and how many campuses does it operate?
ISN operates across multiple campuses in Nagano Prefecture, including Gojo Campus in Matsumoto (Elementary and Middle), Shimauchi Preschool, Minami Matsumoto Preschool, Nagano Preschool, Nakano Preschool, Nakano Elementary and Nakano Middle, and Saku Kirihara Campus Preschool. The network has grown since 2012, with Gojo Middle School opening in 2025 and Saku Kirihara Campus opening in 2026.
What age range does ISN serve and what is the school type?
ISN serves children from 0 to 15 years old, covering Preschool through Middle School. It is a co-educational private international school offering an international curriculum with local language integration.
Who is the Head of School at ISN?
The Head of School at ISN is Rie Kuribayashi. She leads the network of campuses and oversees the school's IB program and growth.
What are the tuition fees for Preschool, Elementary, and Middle School for 2026/27?
Preschool fees on the Nagano campus are 70,000 JPY per month for the 2-year-old class and 88,000 JPY per month for the 3-year-old class and older. Elementary and Middle School standard tuition is 98,000 JPY per month (1,176,000 JPY per year if paid annually), with some students' English support adding to the cost (up to around 156,000 JPY per month). Additional costs such as transport, lunch, and uniforms are charged separately.
Are scholarships available and who qualifies?
ISN offers two scholarships: English-speaker scholarships (two students per class) for families with at least one English-native language parent, and staff-child scholarships (two students per class) for children of ISN employees. Scholarships provide partial tuition exemption and do not cover admission fees or other non-tuition charges; eligibility is confirmed after an interview.
What is the admissions timeline and which fees are non-refundable?
For 2026 admissions, applications run from September 1 to October 30, 2025. Elementary admissions typically run April–November and Middle School admissions from April–September. Non-refundable fees include the Elementary registration fee (30,000 JPY) and Preschool entrance fees (35,000 JPY for the 2-year-old class; 150,000 JPY for 3-year-olds and older), plus a yearly facility/system maintenance fee.
What IB programs are offered at ISN?
ISN offers the IB continuum: PYP for Preschool and Elementary with the Japanese National Curriculum, MYP for Middle School aligned with Japan's Junior High curriculum, and the Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP) in English, French, or Spanish. The Gojo Campus also hosts the PIC Program, a four-year middle school pathway blending project-, inquiry-, and concept-based learning in English and Japanese.
Is IGCSE available in the middle school?
Yes. Middle School uses the Japanese Junior High curriculum with IGCSE options.
What pathways exist to high school and university abroad?
ISN's Educational Roadmap shows pathways to high school and university abroad, including overseas high schools and Japanese high schools with admission support to overseas universities.
Which campuses exist, and what notable facilities do they have?
ISN's campuses include Shimauchi Preschool, Minami Matsumoto Preschool, Gojo Campus (Elementary & Middle) in Matsumoto, Nagano Preschool, Nakano Preschool, Nakano Elementary and Nakano Middle, and Saku Kirihara Campus Preschool. The Gojo Campus library was renovated into a Sustainable Library in August 2023 with donor and builder support, and ISN holds IB accreditation across campuses.
What sports and outdoor activities does ISN offer?
ISN emphasizes outdoor and nature-based activities through Activities in the Nature of Shinshu, including river, lake, and mountain-based experiences. A Sports Day is held in October, and a Hakuba bus trip is included as part of autumn activities.
What academic and language resources support the IB program?
The school implements the IB framework (PYP, MYP, DP, CP) across campuses, with lessons in English during mornings and Fridays and Japanese language study available. The National Geographic Lift Curriculum is used to develop academic language and literacy.
What extracurricular activities or programs are available?
Gojo Campus offers year-round extracurricular events. Summer School runs across Nakano, Nagano, and Gojo campuses with activities such as dance, crafts, water play, and art. Seasonal programs include a Study Abroad Experience in Nagano and a Sydney Study Tour, along with afterschool options.
How does the Gojo Campus House System work?
The Gojo Campus uses a House System for Grades 1–9, with each house consisting of six students. Houses participate in assemblies, lunch, and bus trips to foster cross‑grade collaboration and leadership.
Are there leadership or international experiences beyond regular classes?
Yes. Leadership development is supported through the House System and student agency, and ISN offers study-abroad experiences such as a Nagano study trip and a Sydney study tour, in addition to the school's summer program.
Is EAL support available at ISN?
Yes, EAL support is available across campuses, with English-language instruction and Japanese language support offered on request.
How does ISN address wellbeing and safeguarding?
ISN prioritizes a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment to support students' social, emotional, and mental wellbeing, with safeguarding as a core focus of its approach.
Are there wellbeing activities embedded in the school day?
Wellbeing is supported through nature‑based outdoor activities designed to reduce stress and build focus, teamwork, resilience, and confidence.
Is boarding offered at ISN?
No. ISN operates day programs for preschool, elementary, and middle school.
What does the Gojo Campus uniform look like?
The Gojo Campus Middle School uniform includes a dark blue jacket and sweater, with a navy striped necktie; the navy polo shirt is optional in summer, and students may choose their own shoes and school bag.
