Foreign families living in Tokyo can enroll their children in local Japanese public elementary and junior high schools, where tuition and official textbooks are provided free of charge. Enrollment procedures are handled directly at your local municipal office—such as a ward office or city hall—and applications can be submitted at any time during the year. Although tuition costs nothing, parents are responsible for paying for school supplies, though financial assistance grants are available through local municipal support programs.
Who is eligible for public elementary school in Tokyo?
Children of foreign nationality residing in Tokyo are entitled to receive education in local public schools on the same basis as Japanese citizens. Children become eligible to enter elementary school (*shogakko*) in the April following their sixth birthday. Primary education lasts for six years, after which students can advance to public junior high school (*chugakko*) for an additional three years of compulsory education.
For adults or older students who were unable to finish elementary or junior high school due to special circumstances, Tokyo also operates eight public junior high school night classes.
When does the Japanese school year start and how is it structured?
The Japanese school year begins in April. Depending on the municipality and specific school, the academic year is organized into either semesters (two terms) or trimesters (three terms).
Foreign students living in Tokyo who complete junior high school and wish to enter high school can also take advantage of special arrangements, including specific metropolitan high school entrance examinations designed for foreign residents.
What does public school cost and what expenses should parents expect?
Attending a public elementary or junior high school in Tokyo incurs no charge for tuition, and all standard textbooks are provided completely free. However, parents must pay out of pocket for student school supplies and related educational items.
If a family faces financial challenges that make school attendance difficult, local municipalities provide financial assistance grants to help cover the cost of school supplies and related expenses. These grant options can be explored via resources from MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) and the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education.
What steps are required to enroll your child at a municipality office?
To enroll a child in a local public school, parents or guardians must visit their local municipality office in Tokyo, such as a ward office, city hall, town hall, or village office. These administrative procedures can be initiated at any point throughout the year.
To assist non-Japanese parents, MEXT publishes a "Guidebook for Starting School," available in several foreign languages including English, Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Teachers and schools also utilize supplementary teaching tools such as the Japanese textbook "Tanoshi Gakko" (available in 23 languages including English, French, Hindi, Spanish, and Vietnamese) and the "Handbook for Teaching Japanese" to help foreign students adjust to school life.
Where can foreign parents find education counseling and interpreter support?
The Tokyo Metropolitan Education Consultation Center provides guidance for foreign parents and students. General education inquiries and a bullying hotline can be reached free of charge at 0120-53-8288 (available 24/7, conducted in Japanese).
For face-to-face assistance, on-site consultations are conducted on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., as well as on the third Saturday of each month from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (shifted to the fourth Saturday in August). Appointments must be reserved in advance by calling the hotline.
Additionally, an interpreter for English, Chinese, or Korean is available on Fridays from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (registration closes at 4:00 p.m.) specifically for school guidance and counseling concerning foreign elementary and junior high school students. Further details on school enrollment are published by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
Finding a place to stay
When preparing to move to Tokyo with school-aged children, arranging your accommodation is an essential step to complete before arrival and prior to visiting the local municipal office. Your residential address determines which municipal ward office processes your paperwork and which neighborhood public elementary school your child will attend. Many newcomers stay in a furnished monthly apartment first while completing local registration steps. OHAYO Stay offers furnished monthly apartments and rooms in Tokyo, with most homes having a minimum stay of 30 nights. The monthly price includes electricity, gas, water and Wi-Fi, which helps families manage initial living expenses smoothly without separate service setups. Booking is online with a passport or ID and a credit card, allowing you to secure your home address early.