Japanese Schools in Germany: Five Full-Time Schools, Saturday Programs and How to Choose (2026)
Families searching for a Japanese school in Germany will find five full-time Japanese schools, plus supplementary schools in several regional hubs. Germany is large, and these campuses are spread across different parts of the country. Start with the city where your family will live and the actual weekday route, then compare the school type, age range, fees and language plan.
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 Germany
Regional fit:Families searching for a Japanese school in Germany will find five full-time Japanese schools, plus supplementary schools in several regional hubs. Germany is large, and these campuses are spread across different parts of the country. Start with the city where your family will live and the actual weekday route, then compare the school type, age range, fees and language plan.
Options in Germany include full-time Japanese schools and supplementary programs that meet alongside another weekday school. Think of Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich as separate regional hubs, not as one commuting network. They sit in different parts of Germany. Put likely homes and the school campus on the same map, then check the route at the real arrival and dismissal times before committing to a housing location.
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 Germany, 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 Germany
School options:The MEXT and official school listings reviewed for this guide include 5 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.
Think of Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich as separate regional hubs, not as one commuting network. They sit in different parts of Germany. Put likely homes and the school campus on the same map, then check the route at the real arrival and dismissal times before committing to a housing location.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Düsseldorf Japanese School | Düsseldorf | Full-time Japanese school |
| Japanese International School Frankfurt | Frankfurt | Full-time Japanese international school |
| Japanese International School Berlin | Berlin | Full-time Japanese international school |
| Japanese School Hamburg | Hamburg | Full-time Japanese school |
| Japanese International School Munich | Munich | Full-time Japanese international school |
4. School profiles and types in Germany
School profiles:Düsseldorf Japanese School is a full-time japanese school option to investigate in Düsseldorf. The school’s official site had an active new-enrollment and transfer application notice on October 14, 2026. Its stated educational aims include collaborative learning, international understanding and learning from German society. The school publishes curriculum, school life and admissions information on its own site; ask the office for current grade openings and fees. Confirm current age and grade eligibility, admissions, fees and transport directly with the school.
Japanese International School Frankfurt is a full-time japanese international school option to investigate in Frankfurt. The Consulate-General of Japan in Frankfurt describes the school as having elementary and lower-secondary sections and places the campus in the Hausen area of western Frankfurt. Its public consular listing does not provide a current 2026 tuition schedule, transport stops or vacancies, so request a written estimate and route details. Confirm current age and grade eligibility, admissions, fees and transport directly with the school.
Japanese International School Berlin is a full-time japanese international school option to investigate in Berlin. MEXT lists the school as a recognized overseas Japanese school. The Embassy’s recent notices place it in Lankwitz, but families should confirm the current campus address and any transport arrangements with the school before choosing housing. Confirm current age and grade eligibility, admissions, fees and transport directly with the school.
Japanese School Hamburg is a full-time japanese school option to investigate in Hamburg. MEXT’s current recognized-facility list includes the school. The list confirms the institution, not which neighborhoods it serves, current grade openings, a bus network or tuition. Use the school’s own current admissions and access pages for those details. Confirm current age and grade eligibility, admissions, fees and transport directly with the school.
Japanese International School Munich is a full-time japanese international school option to investigate in Munich. MEXT lists the school as a recognized overseas educational facility. The Consulate-General in Munich separately lists Japanese supplementary schools in Munich, Stuttgart, Heidelberg and Karlsruhe, which helps families compare full-time schooling with local Japanese-language study in southern Germany. 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 cities are far apart, so a school in another region is rarely a practical daily commute even when rail links look convenient. Compare Düsseldorf in the west, Frankfurt and Mainz, Berlin, Hamburg and Munich with the family’s likely home and work location. The Frankfurt Consulate’s education page lists both the full-time school and Saturday programs in Frankfurt and Mainz; the Munich Consulate lists Japanese learning options across several southern cities. Give each operator your likely address and ask whether school transport or public transit is realistic at the actual arrival time.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Berlin Japanese Supplementary School | Berlin | Embassy-listed Japanese supplementary program; current days, grades and fees must be confirmed with the operator. |
| Berlin Chuo Gakuen Japanese School | Berlin | A separate supplementary-school option in the Berlin area, listed by the Embassy. It is not a second full-time Japanese school. |
| Dresden Japanese Supplementary School | Dresden | An Embassy-listed local Japanese supplementary program; check its current operating format before applying. |
| Frankfurt and Mainz supplementary schools | Frankfurt / Mainz | The Frankfurt Consulate lists Saturday classes in Frankfurt and Mainz. Frankfurt’s public page describes Japanese-language and subject learning; Mainz’s public listing describes Saturday morning classes. |
| Munich and southern Germany Japanese schools | Munich / Stuttgart and other cities | The Munich Consulate lists Japanese-language options in Munich, Stuttgart, Heidelberg and Karlsruhe. Ask each operator about its current class schedule, age range and whether it is a supplementary school or a different community program. |
Embassy-listed Japanese supplementary program; current days, grades and fees must be confirmed with the operator. Official information
A separate supplementary-school option in the Berlin area, listed by the Embassy. It is not a second full-time Japanese school. Official information
An Embassy-listed local Japanese supplementary program; check its current operating format before applying. Official information
The Frankfurt Consulate lists Saturday classes in Frankfurt and Mainz. Frankfurt’s public page describes Japanese-language and subject learning; Mainz’s public listing describes Saturday morning classes. Official information
The Munich Consulate lists Japanese-language options in Munich, Stuttgart, Heidelberg and Karlsruhe. Ask each operator about its current class schedule, age range and whether it is a supplementary school or a different community program. Official information
6. Check whether the commute is sustainable
Commute:Good intercity rail connections do not automatically make a daily school commute workable. Include transfers, the walk from the station, delays, parent work hours and pickup responsibilities. A Saturday program reduces the number of trips, but the family still needs to account for lesson time and home study.
The cities are far apart, so a school in another region is rarely a practical daily commute even when rail links look convenient. Compare Düsseldorf in the west, Frankfurt and Mainz, Berlin, Hamburg and Munich with the family’s likely home and work location. The Frankfurt Consulate’s education page lists both the full-time school and Saturday programs in Frankfurt and Mainz; the Munich Consulate lists Japanese learning options across several southern cities. Give each operator your likely address and ask whether school transport or public transit is realistic at the actual arrival time.
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:Admissions rules, grade placement, documents and application windows differ by school. For a midyear move, ask whether the intended grade has a place, what language level is expected, and which records from the current school are needed. Being listed by MEXT or an embassy confirms a school’s presence or category; it does not guarantee admission or a vacancy.
Families considering a Japanese school can contact the intended campus before signing a lease with the child’s grade and expected transfer date, then ask about catchment, midyear entry and school records. Local-school enrollment follows the relevant state or municipal process after an address is known. Supplementary schools may assume the child already attends a weekday school and may assess Japanese-language readiness or parent participation. Confirm these conditions separately from those for a full-time school.
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 Germany
Total cost:Public pages do not provide a consistent, current fee comparison for all German schools. Ask for an itemized annual estimate covering tuition, enrollment, facilities, materials, meals, transport, activities, insurance and refund rules. Confirm payment dates in euros and how charges are handled if your family moves or returns to Japan midyear.
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:If the nearest full-time Japanese school is too far away, a supplementary school’s schedule does not fit, or your child wants more Japanese-speaking peers, Tomodachi Japan is another option to compare. Its official plan describes eight-student small groups, current Japanese teachers, dialogue and project-based learning, morning meetings and an online after-school space. The school says families will be able to choose from about 100 live class sessions each month, and a pilot opening is planned for December 2026. It is still pre-opening, so ask for the latest timetable and regular tuition. It is an online Japanese-language program, not a recognized full-time school that replaces enrollment at a German or Japanese day school; confirm any local attendance and qualification requirements separately.
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:Decide where your child will practise Japanese literacy and school subjects beyond family conversation. Full-time schools offer daily lessons and school life in Japanese; supplementary schools fit around another weekday school and use a limited number of hours. Share your child’s grade, reading and writing level, and possible return-to-Japan timeline with each school.
Put the weekday school in Germany, 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 Germany
Combining programs:Families considering a German local or international school should coordinate the teaching language, local enrollment steps and the day of any Japanese supplementary class. A full-time Japanese school and a few hours of Saturday instruction provide very different amounts of Japanese and school life. When combining two settings, plan homework and rest days first.
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 |
13. Preparing before a move to Germany
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 Germany
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 Germany?
This guide identifies 5 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?
Public pages do not provide a consistent, current fee comparison for all German schools. Ask for an itemized annual estimate covering tuition, enrollment, facilities, materials, meals, transport, activities, insurance and refund rules. Confirm payment dates in euros and how charges are handled if your family moves or returns to Japan midyear.
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
- Embassy of Japan in Germany: ベルリン等の在外教育施設
- Embassy of Japan in Germany: ベルリン日本人国際学校の所在情報
- Consulate-General of Japan in Frankfurt: 教育機関
- Consulate-General of Japan in Munich: 日本人学校・補習授業校
- デュッセルドルフ日本人学校：公式サイト
- Tomodachi Japan: 学びのしくみ・料金・FAQ
- Japanese International School Berlin: official information
- Japanese School Hamburg: official information
- Japanese International School Munich: official information
- Berlin Japanese Supplementary School: official information
- Berlin Chuo Gakuen Japanese School: official information
- Dresden Japanese Supplementary School: official information
- Tomodachi Japan: Pricing
- Tomodachi Japan: FAQ
