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Japanese Curriculum International Schools in China

Edited by · B2C Marketing Manager

About international schools in China

Japanese-curriculum international schools in China are usually either full-time nihonjin gakkō (Japanese day schools) recognised by Japan’s Ministry of Education or schools that follow the Japanese Courses of Study in a Japanese-language track; they are designed to keep children aligned with schooling in Japan while families are posted overseas. Instruction is delivered primarily in Japanese, with English and Mandarin commonly offered as foreign-language classes alongside the core Japanese programme. Fees for full-time Japanese K - 9 tracks in China are often lower than premium IB or Western international schools; published school summaries typically show domestic-track tuition in the tens of thousands of RMB per year, while any international or special-track programmes can be substantially higher. Admissions usually follow the Japanese academic rhythm (an April start and three-term year in many nihonjin gakkō), require school records and identity/nationality verification, and operate on annual cycles with assessments or interviews for placement, so relocating families should start enquiries several months before a planned move.

Compare 5 Japanese Curriculum international schools in China. Filter by curriculum, fees (average RMB 68,500), location, and more to find the right international school now.

At a glance 5 schools · avg fee RMB 68,500
Schools listed
5
Curricula
37
Average annual fee
RMB 68,500
Fee range
RMB 30,000 – 150,000
Most common curriculum
Cambridge IGCSE (6 schools)
Average school size
1,793 pupils
Largest by enrolment
Shanghai Gold Apple School
Oldest
Shanghai Japanese School (SJS) (1987)
With boarding
1

Read our parent's guide to the Japanese Curriculum →

2 international schools in Shanghai

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Shanghai Gold Apple School — international school in Shanghai, China
Shanghai Gold Apple School logo

Shanghai Gold Apple School

American Curriculum, Australian Curriculum · Ages 3 to 18

Fees not listed
Ages 3 to 18 years
American Curriculum, Australian Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum, British Curriculum, BTEC Qualification, Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, Canadian Curriculum, Catholic Curriculum, Chinese National Curriculum, French Curriculum, German Curriculum, Indian Curriculum, Japanese Curriculum, Korean Curriculum, Malaysian Curriculum, Montessori Curriculum, Pearson Edexcel IGCSE, Reggio Emilia Approach, Singapore Curriculum, Swiss Curriculum, Thai Curriculum, Vietnamese Curriculum, Waldorf Steiner Curriculum
Instructs in English and Mandarin
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Shanghai Japanese School (SJS) — international school in Shanghai, China
Shanghai Japanese School (SJS) logo

Shanghai Japanese School (SJS)

Japanese Curriculum · Ages 6 to 18

RMB 30,000 - 32,400
Ages 6 to 18 years
Japanese Curriculum
Instructs in Japanese
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1 international school in Hangzhou

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Hangzhou Entel Foreign Language School — international school in Hangzhou, China
Hangzhou Entel Foreign Language School logo

Hangzhou Entel Foreign Language School

Australian Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE · Ages 11 to 18

RMB 61,600 - 150,000
Ages 11 to 18 years
Australian Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, Chinese National Curriculum, German Curriculum, Japanese Curriculum
Instructs in English and English
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1 international school in Chongqing

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Chongqing Fudi Yew Wah International Education Kindergarten (YWIEK) — international school in Chongqing, China
Chongqing Fudi Yew Wah International Education Kindergarten (YWIEK) logo

Chongqing Fudi Yew Wah International Education Kindergarten (YWIEK)

Japanese Curriculum, German Curriculum · Ages 2 to 6

Fees not listed
Ages 2 to 6 years
Japanese Curriculum, German Curriculum, Korean Curriculum, French Curriculum, Dutch Curriculum, British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge A Levels, Canadian Curriculum, American Curriculum, Australian Curriculum, IB (DP), IB (MYP), IB (PYP), IBCP (International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme), IEYC (International Early Years Curriculum), IPC (International Primary Curriculum), IMYC (International Middle Years Curriculum), Pearson Edexcel IGCSE, Reggio Emilia Approach, Montessori Curriculum, SEN focussed, Singapore Curriculum, Swiss Curriculum, Waldorf Steiner Curriculum, British Curriculum, American Curriculum, Chinese National Curriculum, Korean Curriculum, French Curriculum, German Curriculum, Indian Curriculum, Dutch Curriculum, Islamic Curriculum, Japanese Curriculum, Malaysian Curriculum, Malaysian Curriculum, Pearson Edexcel IGCSE, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, Bespoke Curriculum, Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge (Primary), British Curriculum, British Curriculum, Canadian Curriculum, Canadian Curriculum, IB (DP), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge IGCSE, British Curriculum, IEYC (International Early Years Curriculum), IPC (International Primary Curriculum), IMYC (International Middle Years Curriculum), Montessori Curriculum, Singapore Curriculum, Waldorf Steiner Curriculum
Instructs in English, Mandarin and Spanish
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1 international school in Dalian

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Japanese School of Dalian — international school in Dalian, China
Japanese School of Dalian logo

Japanese School of Dalian

Japanese Curriculum · Ages 6 to 15

Fees not listed
Ages 6 to 15 years
Japanese Curriculum
Instructs in English and Japanese
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FAQs for China

What exactly is a Japanese-curriculum (nihonjin gakkō) school in China?
A nihonjin gakkō is a full-time Japanese school abroad that follows the national Courses of Study approved by Japan’s Ministry of Education and is intended primarily for Japanese children living overseas; many such schools cover elementary and lower-secondary (K - 9) education and use Japanese as the language of instruction. These schools are staffed partly by teachers dispatched from Japan and typically include English and the host-country language in their programme.
Which ages and stages do these schools usually cover?
Most nihonjin gakkō provide elementary and junior-high education (grades 1 - 9), which corresponds to compulsory schooling in Japan; high-school (senior secondary) provision outside Japan is uncommon and only offered by a very small number of overseas Japanese institutions. Families with older children commonly look for alternative international or returnee pathways for senior high.
What language(s) are lessons taught in, and how much English or Mandarin will my child get?
The primary medium of instruction in Japanese-curriculum schools is Japanese, with English taught as a foreign language across stages and the host-country language (Mandarin in China) usually offered as an additional subject or activity. The amount and depth of English or Mandarin teaching vary by school and by whether the school also runs an international or bilingual track alongside the domestic Japanese programme.
How much should we expect to pay for tuition and other school costs?
Published fee summaries for Japanese-curriculum tracks in China commonly show domestic K - 9 tuition in the range of tens of thousands of RMB per year (for example, roughly CNY 28,000 - 31,000 per semester in some reported listings), while any international or special-track programmes are typically priced higher and can double those figures. Expect additional compulsory charges for meals, materials, uniforms and occasional boarding or activity fees; ask schools for a full, itemised schedule and the billing cadence.
When should we apply and what does the admissions process look like?
Many nihonjin gakkō operate on the Japanese school calendar with an April intake and three terms, so parents aiming for the new school year should begin enquiries several months ahead; schools typically require prior school records, proof of identity/nationality, and an assessment or interview for placement. Some schools also accept mid-year entries if space permits, but availability and exact timelines differ by city and school so you should contact admissions early to confirm dates and any entrance testing.
What should relocating families check for when comparing Japanese-curriculum schools in China?
Look for whether the school is recognised by Japan’s MEXT (which indicates alignment with the Japanese Courses of Study), the balance of Japanese versus host-country language teaching, the level of English provision, and the school’s policy on admitting non-Japanese or returnee students if that matters for your family. Also compare total cost of attendance (tuition plus mandatory extras), intake dates and seat availability, pastoral and language-support provisions, and practical matters such as transport, boarding options and visa documentation guidance.