Japanese Schools in Australia: Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and Supplementary Programs (2026)
Families looking for a Japanese school in Australia can compare the full-time schools in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne listed by Japan’s Ministry of Education, along with supplementary programs in several states. Australia is vast; schools in different state capitals are not part of one commuting network. Begin with the city and state where you will live, then compare Japanese-medium schooling, local curriculum pathways and weekend study.
Nijiiro is operated by NIJIN Inc. TOMODACHI JAPAN, introduced in this article, is also a NIJIN Inc. service. The schools and services below are included where their official information can be checked; the order is not a ranking.
1. Start with the region and commute in Australia
Regional fit:Families looking for a Japanese school in Australia can compare the full-time schools in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne listed by Japan’s Ministry of Education, along with supplementary programs in several states. Australia is vast; schools in different state capitals are not part of one commuting network. Begin with the city and state where you will live, then compare Japanese-medium schooling, local curriculum pathways and weekend study.
Options in Australia include full-time Japanese schools and supplementary programs that meet alongside another weekday school. The full-time schools in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne are in separate cities and states. Sydney is in New South Wales, Perth in Western Australia and Melbourne in Victoria. Moving between states may mean a school transfer and a different local education process, so include local and supplementary options in the state where you will live. Sydney’s weekend schools also serve different neighborhoods and suburbs; check age range as well as distance.
This guide separates school type, location, schedule and cost so your family can contact the right provider. Dates, admissions, fees and transport can change, so use the linked primary sources and confirm details directly before applying.
| Learning arrangement | Typical schedule | May suit families who |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time Japanese school | Weekdays | Want a Japanese school curriculum and daily school life |
| Japanese supplementary school | Often weekends | Want Japanese study alongside a local or international school |
| Local school plus home or online learning | Weekdays plus a family plan | Want the local curriculum while continuing Japanese |
2. A full-time school, a supplementary school and a local school serve different roles
School types:A name containing “Japanese School” does not always mean a Monday-to-Friday school. When comparing options in Australia, ask how many days children attend, which subjects are taught and whether the child needs a separate weekday enrollment.
A full-time Japanese school is an overseas school recognized by Japan’s Ministry of Education for a curriculum corresponding to Japanese elementary or lower-secondary education. A supplementary school usually supports Japanese language and subjects for children who attend a local or international weekday school. Its venue, schedule, age range and entry rules are set by the operator.
A local or international school can provide the main weekday education in another language or curriculum. Some families add a Saturday Japanese class, home study or an online language program. These arrangements do not automatically provide the same enrollment status or qualifications, so confirm attendance, progression and transfer records with the relevant schools.
Use one comparison sheet for: school type, address and weekly travel, languages and subjects, age and entry requirements, total annual cost, and documents needed for a future transfer. This prevents options with very different schedules from being compared as though they were the same kind of school.
3. Japanese-language schools and institutions in Australia
School options:The MEXT and official school listings reviewed for this guide include 3 full-time Japanese school campuses and 0 separately classified private overseas facilities. The table shows their locations and categories; it does not establish that a campus is reachable from your home or has a vacancy in your child’s grade.
The full-time schools in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne are in separate cities and states. Sydney is in New South Wales, Perth in Western Australia and Melbourne in Victoria. Moving between states may mean a school transfer and a different local education process, so include local and supplementary options in the state where you will live. Sydney’s weekend schools also serve different neighborhoods and suburbs; check age range as well as distance.
The supplementary programs are shown separately below. They have different schedules, purposes and admissions arrangements, so do not count them as extra full-time campuses.
| School / option | Region | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney Japanese International School | Sydney, New South Wales | Full-time Japanese school with Japanese and local curriculum streams |
| Japanese School in Perth | Perth, Western Australia | Full-time Japanese school (elementary and lower secondary) |
| The Japanese School of Melbourne | Melbourne, Victoria | Full-time Japanese school (Foundation to Year 9) |
4. School profiles and types in Australia
School profiles:Sydney Japanese International School is a full-time japanese school with japanese and local curriculum streams option to investigate in Sydney, New South Wales. The Sydney Consulate says the school has a Japanese curriculum class from Years 1–9 and an international class following the NSW curriculum from Kindergarten to Year 6. Families should confirm the current stream, year group, entry rules, transport and fees with the school. Confirm current age and grade eligibility, admissions, fees and transport directly with the school.
Japanese School in Perth is a full-time japanese school (elementary and lower secondary) option to investigate in Perth, Western Australia. The school’s current profile places it about 10 km northwest of Perth city and says it offers Japanese elementary and lower-secondary courses. Its 2026 admissions page states that selection includes a principal interview and that tourist-visa enrollment is not accepted. Verify eligibility, route and current charges with the school. Confirm current age and grade eligibility, admissions, fees and transport directly with the school.
The Japanese School of Melbourne is a full-time japanese school (foundation to year 9) option to investigate in Melbourne, Victoria. The school’s official pages describe a Japanese-medium independent school serving Japanese children from Foundation through Year 9, with English language support. Confirm the current entry criteria, year placement, address, fee schedule and whether the program fits a family’s visa and return plans. Confirm current age and grade eligibility, admissions, fees and transport directly with the school.
A national or embassy list is a starting point for identifying a school’s category. It does not tell you whether a child’s grade has an opening, what the daily timetable looks like or which neighborhoods are served. If a page is dated or discusses a previous school year, ask the office for the current admissions guide and fee schedule.
5. Supplementary schools and weekend Japanese programs
Supplementary programs:When no full-time Japanese campus is practical, a local supplementary school may offer a way to maintain Japanese. The schools in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth are in different states, so Australia cannot be treated as one school commuting area. Sydney offers Japanese and NSW-curriculum streams; Melbourne describes Japanese-medium education with English support; Perth is northwest of the state capital. A state transfer can mean a different school system and holiday calendar. Focus on the destination city and verify bus stops, arrival times and weekend-school venues there.
Do not infer a program’s catchment from its name alone. Confirm the current building, day of the week, grade range, available places and admissions process. Some operators rent a host-school building, have moved sites or provide the precise address after an inquiry.
The table reports what public sources establish. A listing by an embassy does not mean that current fees or class availability have been confirmed. Ask whether you can observe a lesson, how Japanese-language readiness is assessed, what home practice is expected and whether parents have an operating role.
| Program | Region | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney Japanese Saturday School | Sydney, New South Wales | Listed in the NSW school and consular information. The Consulate says supplementary schools in NSW serve children from age three through Year 12, with schedules varying by operator. |
| JCS Japanese School (City, Edgecliff and Dundas) | Sydney, New South Wales | Three locations listed in the Australian Government’s supplementary-school directory. Confirm the current venue, grades, timetable and fees with the operator before choosing a suburb. |
| North Shore Japanese School | シドニー北部 | Listed as a supplementary Japanese school in the official designated-facility directory. Check the operator’s current address and class schedule; the national listing is not a guarantee of current vacancies. |
| Melbourne International School of Japanese | Melbourne, Victoria | A separate Saturday supplementary school, not the full-time Japanese School of Melbourne. The official government directory describes a kindergarten, elementary and lower-secondary schedule; confirm current availability and fees with the operator. |
Listed in the NSW school and consular information. The Consulate says supplementary schools in NSW serve children from age three through Year 12, with schedules varying by operator. Official information
Three locations listed in the Australian Government’s supplementary-school directory. Confirm the current venue, grades, timetable and fees with the operator before choosing a suburb. Official information
Listed as a supplementary Japanese school in the official designated-facility directory. Check the operator’s current address and class schedule; the national listing is not a guarantee of current vacancies. Official information
A separate Saturday supplementary school, not the full-time Japanese School of Melbourne. The official government directory describes a kindergarten, elementary and lower-secondary schedule; confirm current availability and fees with the operator. Official information
6. Check whether the commute is sustainable
Commute:In Australia, daily driving distances, school-bus coverage and public-transport schedules matter more than straight-line map distance. The Sydney school has different curricula in its Japanese and international streams, so compare eligibility as well as location. Perth’s official profile describes its position relative to the city and its admissions page provides a current bus-cost reference. In Melbourne, estimate the journey at school start time and check how Saturday travel interacts with weekday homework.
The schools in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth are in different states, so Australia cannot be treated as one school commuting area. Sydney offers Japanese and NSW-curriculum streams; Melbourne describes Japanese-medium education with English support; Perth is northwest of the state capital. A state transfer can mean a different school system and holiday calendar. Focus on the destination city and verify bus stops, arrival times and weekend-school venues there.
A school bus may not serve every address, grade or day. Ask for its current service area, stops, ride duration, price, seat availability and procedures after a move. For public transport, check age-appropriate transfers and whom to contact if a service is delayed.
A weekly supplementary class can still create a long weekend trip. Record the door-to-door journey for the real class day, then see how it fits with local-school homework, sport, family plans and rest. If travel is burdensome, compare a nearer Japanese-language activity or online study.
7. Admissions, grade placement and required documents
Admissions:Entry ages, streams, visa conditions and selection differ by school. Sydney’s Japanese and NSW-curriculum streams cover different year groups; Perth publishes an interview and visa requirement; Melbourne’s current admissions guide is controlling. Supplementary schools are separate weekend programs and do not enroll a child in an Australian weekday school. A ministry or consular listing does not guarantee application acceptance, a grade opening or bus access.
Sydney’s streams serve different year ranges, so contact the school with the child’s age and intended curriculum. Perth publishes interview, selection and visa conditions; Melbourne has its own enrollment policy. Supplementary programs have distinct venues and class days and may ask about local weekday enrollment and Japanese literacy. Verify grade openings and application dates in each school’s current guide.
Prepare your child’s date of birth, current grade, previous school, Japanese literacy, expected arrival date, likely address and intended start term. Transfer procedures can differ from new entry, and a school may not have a place in the requested grade midway through the year.
Ask about application windows, age ranges, grade placement, interviews or Japanese assessments, school reports, textbooks, trial visits, catchment rules and parent duties. Do not treat an embassy or MEXT listing as confirmation of a current opening or admission eligibility.
Families choosing a local school should contact the relevant school or education office after the likely address is known. Applying to a Japanese school or supplementary program does not complete local enrollment. Follow the receiving school’s instructions for translated records, health forms and residency documents.
8. Compare tuition and the full annual cost in Australia
Total cost:Use each school’s current-year fee schedule. Add tuition, enrollment, facilities, books, uniform, insurance, transport, meals and excursions in Australian dollars. Perth publishes 2026 admissions information, but current fees for Sydney, Melbourne and supplementary programs are not presented in one comparable document. Ask about billing dates, refunds after a move and any parent contribution for weekend schools.
Ask whether tuition is charged by month, term or school year, how long the year lasts, what the enrollment fee covers, and what happens if you leave or return to Japan. Supplementary-school tuition may be only one part of the cost; materials, insurance, events, travel and home-study resources can be additional.
Two prices in the same currency may still cover different periods. Keep annual recurring costs separate from first-year charges and one-time costs. Add transport, required uniforms and any activity fee, then compare the total rather than tuition alone.
If the public source does not establish a current fee, mark it as “confirm with the school.” Do not reuse a figure from an older academic year as today’s price. Once you receive a written estimate, add tuition, enrollment, facilities, books, uniform, transport, activities, insurance and any donation or parent contribution to the family budget.
9. When local school options do not fit: online Japanese study
Online learning:Families far from a full-time campus, unable to fit a state supplementary school’s day or grade, or seeking more Japanese-speaking peer contact can compare Tomodachi Japan online. Its official site describes eight-student small classes, current Japanese teachers, dialogue and inquiry-oriented lessons, morning meetings and an online place to connect after class. Multiple time slots are planned for different time zones, with about 100 live sessions per month and a pilot opening planned for December 2026. These are pre-opening plans; ask for the actual Australian timetable, age range and fees. It does not replace Australian school enrollment or a recognized Japanese day school.
Tomodachi Japan has a different role from a full-time local or Japanese school. It may be relevant to a family whose closest full-time campus is too far away, whose supplementary-school day does not work, or whose child wants more contact with Japanese-speaking peers while continuing another school. A family that needs daily campus life, local school enrollment or a recognized curriculum still needs a separate weekday school.
There is no single scale that ranks a Japanese school, supplementary program, local school and online class. First decide whether your priority is daily Japanese-language schooling, the local curriculum, a weekly literacy class or a flexible way to speak Japanese with peers. Then compare age fit, lesson time, friendships, travel and total cost.
In a consultation, explain the current school and grade, languages used, Japanese goals, preferred time zone, address and likely return date. Treat opening dates and fees as current plans rather than guarantees, and verify them through the official guide.
| Question | Full-time Japanese school | Supplementary school | Online Japanese learning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Every weekday | Often one weekend day | Based on the available timetable |
| Main role | Japanese-language school education | Japanese study alongside another school | Flexible dialogue and learning |
| Travel | Daily route and bus | Weekly venue and route | Internet access and time zone |
| Enrollment status | Check recognition and entry terms | Often used with another weekday school | Does not replace a recognized day-school enrollment |
| Confirm | Grade, vacancies, fees, transport | Age, Japanese level, day, materials | Opening plan, timetable, cost and fit |
10. Keep Japanese and the local language in balance
Japanese continuity:The family’s choice between an Australian curriculum and a Japanese curriculum changes the teaching language and progression path. The Sydney Consulate describes the international stream as following the NSW curriculum and the Japanese class as using Japanese textbooks and curriculum. Melbourne’s school describes Japanese as its main language of instruction with English support. Share the child’s languages and possible return date with the school, and ask which records will be issued.
Put the weekday school in Australia, any supplementary class, online learning and home reading on one weekly calendar. A plan should leave room for local-language learning, friends and rest rather than simply adding more Japanese hours.
A child may have grade-level reading and writing in Japanese but a different vocabulary or subject pace after schooling abroad. If a return to Japan is approaching, ask the current school about reports, textbooks, lesson records and enrollment certificates, then ask the receiving school which documents it needs.
If your child resists Japanese homework or seems tired, review the learning partner, topic, timing and rest before adding more assignments. Ask what the child wants to continue and separate required work from activities the child can choose.
11. Combining a local school with Japanese learning in Australia
Combining programs:Families combining an Australian local school with Japanese supplementary lessons should first map the state’s year levels, term dates and holidays. Weekend or after-school programs support Japanese and selected subjects within limited hours. The Sydney Consulate notes that NSW programs may meet on Saturdays, Sundays or Wednesdays and vary by age and grade. Add local homework and sport to the schedule before deciding how much home Japanese practice is manageable.
Two schools can mean two sets of calendars, absence procedures, health information, learning materials and family messages. Ask which school needs which information, and compare holidays, exam weeks and major events at the start of the year.
For Saturday programs, plan Friday homework, Saturday transport and Sunday rest as one weekend routine. If online lessons are added on a weekday, check whether the child would spend too long on a screen after school and extracurriculars. Try the schedule for a few weeks and review it together.
The right balance changes with age and plans. Families may prioritize Japanese textbooks, the local language, peer relationships or a smoother transition back to Japan. Narrow the goals to two or three, then share them with the school so the advice can address your actual situation.
12. A checklist for comparing schools
Decision checklist:Travel: confirm campus address, bus zone, nearest station, normal arrival and dismissal, and the plan for delays.
Fit: confirm grade placement, teaching language, Japanese reading and writing level, group setting and visit or trial options.
Cost: include tuition, enrollment, facilities, materials, transport, uniform, activities, insurance and refund rules.
Family routine: map work hours, siblings, supplementary-school homework, rest days and time-zone constraints across a full week.
Continuity: ask what report cards, enrollment certificates, textbooks and learning records are available if the family moves.
| Family priority | Options to review first | Question for the school |
|---|---|---|
| Daily schooling in Japanese | Nearby full-time Japanese school | Grade, place, route and total fee |
| Japanese study beside a local school | Regional supplementary program | Day, subjects, language level and home study |
| Fewer trips and more peer contact | Online Japanese learning | Time zone, class size, opening date and qualification limits |
A location-specific comparison: When comparing full-time schools in Australia, record curriculum differences alongside geography. A school with Japanese and state-curriculum streams, such as Sydney, may have different grade transitions and English provision from schools centered on Japanese curriculum. Ask which curriculum the child completes, how reports are issued and where to discuss grade placement after a return to Japan. For a local school plus supplementary classes, overlay state term breaks, sport and weekend lessons across the year, and ask how missed work can be made up.
Planning after enrollment: Compare curriculum, commute and total cost as separate decision factors. School years differ by state and school, so ask how the child’s Japanese grade maps to the Australian year and which materials are used for a midyear transfer. For a supplementary program, check whether classes continue during local-school breaks and whether home assignments are provided during an absence; this makes family planning more realistic.
13. Preparing before a move to Australia
Before you move:Once a move is likely, write down possible neighborhoods, the child’s age and grade, Japanese reading and writing, and the expected start date at a local school. Use the embassy and MEXT pages to identify the school type, then check each operator’s current-year admissions page.
Several months before the intended start, ask about places, selection, catchment, transport, fees and visits. If the move is soon, contact the school immediately rather than waiting for a standard window. Supplementary schools may have grade-specific limits and trial dates that do not match weekday-school admissions.
Before departure, request the current school’s transcript, enrollment certificate, health records and textbook paperwork, and ask the receiving school whether translations are required. After arrival, verify the address and travel plan, then check in with the child after the first weeks to review homework, fatigue and friendships.
14. Frequently asked questions about Japanese schools in Australia
Where to confirm:Use current school and consular notices for the final decision. If a school’s page and an embassy list differ, check the publication dates and contact the operator directly.
What Japanese-language school options are listed in Australia?
This guide identifies 3 full-time Japanese school campuses and 0 separately classified private overseas facilities. Supplementary programs are a separate category. Confirm current vacancies, entry rules and service areas with each operator.
What is the difference between a Japanese school and a supplementary school?
A full-time Japanese school meets on weekdays and provides a Japanese school curriculum. A supplementary school usually offers Japanese or subject study alongside a different weekday school, often on weekends.
How much does tuition cost?
Use each school’s current-year fee schedule. Add tuition, enrollment, facilities, books, uniform, insurance, transport, meals and excursions in Australian dollars. Perth publishes 2026 admissions information, but current fees for Sydney, Melbourne and supplementary programs are not presented in one comparable document. Ask about billing dates, refunds after a move and any parent contribution for weekend schools.
Can Tomodachi Japan replace a local school?
Tomodachi Japan is an online Japanese-language school. It is not a recognized full-time Japanese or local school, so families should confirm local enrollment and qualification requirements separately.
What should I ask before applying?
Share the child’s grade, Japanese level, intended address and move date. Ask about vacancies, documents, transport, tuition, additional costs and refund rules.
Primary sources
Use current official guidance: Admissions, fees and availability can change; confirm them directly with the school or public authority.
- MEXT: 認定した在外教育施設の一覧
- 在シドニー日本国総領事館：子女教育・日本人学校・補習校
- 外務省：指定した補習授業校の一覧
- パース日本人学校：学校概要・入学案内
- メルボルン日本人学校：公式サイト
- メルボルン国際日本語学校：公式サイト
- パース補習授業校：公式サイト
- Tomodachi Japan: カリキュラム・1週間
- Sydney Japanese International School: official information
- Japanese School in Perth: official information
- Tomodachi Japan: Pricing
- Tomodachi Japan: FAQ
