Japanese Schools in Singapore: Clementi, Changi, Secondary and Supplementary Options (2026)
When looking for Japanese schooling in Singapore, distinguish the Japanese School’s Clementi and Changi primary campuses, its secondary school, the Saturday supplementary school and the separate Waseda Shibuya Senior High School. The right option depends on grade, address and whether your family wants a full-time Japanese curriculum or Japanese study alongside another school. Check the latest school-zone and admissions notices.
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 Singapore
Regional fit:When looking for Japanese schooling in Singapore, distinguish the Japanese School’s Clementi and Changi primary campuses, its secondary school, the Saturday supplementary school and the separate Waseda Shibuya Senior High School. The right option depends on grade, address and whether your family wants a full-time Japanese curriculum or Japanese study alongside another school. Check the latest school-zone and admissions notices.
Options in Singapore include full-time Japanese schools and supplementary programs that meet alongside another weekday school. Singapore is compact, but Clementi and Changi are separate primary campuses and the school sets catchment zones. A nearby campus may not be the assigned one. Secondary and high-school options have different admissions paths, so provide your child’s grade and intended start year to the school before choosing a home or assuming a transfer route.
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 Singapore, 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 Singapore
School options:The MEXT and official school listings reviewed for this guide include 3 full-time Japanese school campuses and 1 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.
Singapore is compact, but Clementi and Changi are separate primary campuses and the school sets catchment zones. A nearby campus may not be the assigned one. Secondary and high-school options have different admissions paths, so provide your child’s grade and intended start year to the school before choosing a home or assuming a transfer route.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore Japanese School Primary School, Clementi Campus | Clementi | Full-time Japanese primary school |
| Singapore Japanese School Primary School, Changi Campus | Changi | Full-time Japanese primary school |
| Singapore Japanese School Secondary School | Singapore | Full-time Japanese lower-secondary school |
| Waseda Shibuya Senior High School in Singapore | Singapore | Private overseas educational facility at upper-secondary level, not a primary or lower-secondary Japanese school |
4. School profiles and types in Singapore
School profiles:Singapore Japanese School Primary School, Clementi Campus is a full-time japanese primary school option to investigate in Clementi. The school lists 95 Clementi Road, Singapore 129782 and telephone +65-6775-3366. Its official 2026 notices state that Clementi and Changi primary campuses have designated school zones. Confirm the current catchment for your address and how the school assigns incoming pupils before signing a lease. Confirm current age and grade eligibility, admissions, fees and transport directly with the school.
Singapore Japanese School Primary School, Changi Campus is a full-time japanese primary school option to investigate in Changi. The official campus page gives 11 Upper Changi Road North, Singapore 507657 and telephone +65-6542-9600. The school describes the Changi campus as an eastern site. The campus name alone does not determine eligibility; use the school’s current zone map and admissions office. Confirm current age and grade eligibility, admissions, fees and transport directly with the school.
Singapore Japanese School Secondary School is a full-time japanese lower-secondary school option to investigate in Singapore. MEXT lists the secondary school separately from the two primary campuses. Ask its office which grades and courses are currently accepting transfers, how transfer placement works and whether any course has additional examination or language requirements. Confirm current age and grade eligibility, admissions, fees and transport directly with the school.
Waseda Shibuya Senior High School in Singapore is a private overseas educational facility at upper-secondary level option to investigate in Singapore. MEXT categorizes Waseda Shibuya separately as a private overseas educational facility. It is a high-school pathway and should not be presented as another campus of the Singapore Japanese School. Check its own admissions, boarding, course and qualification information directly. 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 Clementi primary campus is at 95 Clementi Road in the west; Changi is at 11 Upper Changi Road North in the east. The school sets catchment zones, so families cannot assume they may choose whichever campus is closer. Check the 2026 admission notice and zone map with your postal code before signing a lease. Secondary school has a separate campus and process, while Waseda Shibuya is a distinct private overseas senior-high pathway. The supplementary school’s 2026 notice describes Saturday classes from 1:25 to 4:25 p.m. for about 40 days a year, alongside a local or international weekday school. Map school hours, activities and home study across the full week and confirm age-appropriate travel.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore Japanese Supplementary School | Singapore | Its 2026 admissions notice describes Saturday lessons, about 40 days per year, from 13:25 to 16:25. It lists Japanese language, Japanese studies for older pupils and cultural events, with basic eligibility conditions and Japanese-language expectations. It is designed alongside a local or international weekday school, not as a replacement for a full-time school. |
| Japanese kindergarten, local and international schools | Across Singapore | The Embassy’s education page links Japanese kindergarten and international-school information as separate choices. Their curriculum, language, admissions and fee structure differ from the full-time Japanese School; contact each provider for current intake details. |
Its 2026 admissions notice describes Saturday lessons, about 40 days per year, from 13:25 to 16:25. It lists Japanese language, Japanese studies for older pupils and cultural events, with basic eligibility conditions and Japanese-language expectations. It is designed alongside a local or international weekday school, not as a replacement for a full-time school. Official information
The Embassy’s education page links Japanese kindergarten and international-school information as separate choices. Their curriculum, language, admissions and fee structure differ from the full-time Japanese School; contact each provider for current intake details. Official information
6. Check whether the commute is sustainable
Commute:Check the school zone and transport options before narrowing your housing search. Compare the campus address, school-bus or public-transport arrangements and arrival time with the parents’ commute. Confirm the primary-school zone for the relevant year and ask whether a later move to secondary school or a transfer changes the process.
The Clementi primary campus is at 95 Clementi Road in the west; Changi is at 11 Upper Changi Road North in the east. The school sets catchment zones, so families cannot assume they may choose whichever campus is closer. Check the 2026 admission notice and zone map with your postal code before signing a lease. Secondary school has a separate campus and process, while Waseda Shibuya is a distinct private overseas senior-high pathway. The supplementary school’s 2026 notice describes Saturday classes from 1:25 to 4:25 p.m. for about 40 days a year, alongside a local or international weekday school. Map school hours, activities and home study across the full week and confirm age-appropriate travel.
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:The Japanese School’s annual admissions notices specify application dates, birth-date ranges, documents, school fees and bus procedures. Some 2026 intake windows have already closed, so families moving later should use the transfer guidance. The supplementary school has separate rules, including requirements linked to the child’s weekday school and Japanese proficiency.
For the Singapore Japanese School, check the annual zone map and intake notice for the Clementi or Changi primary campus; secondary school has its own admissions guidance. Some 2026 intake windows have closed, so families planning a later move should ask about transfer dates. The supplementary school sets separate conditions related to weekday enrollment and Japanese ability. Waseda Shibuya has its own high-school admissions, boarding and qualification information; do not use the Japanese School’s transfer process for it.
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 Singapore
Total cost:The Singapore Japanese School publishes 2026 school fees and describes an admission-donation system in addition to tuition and entrance fees. Details can depend on the parent’s employer or organization, so review the official fee page and ask the school office for the amount that applies to your family. Add transport, uniforms, materials and school activities to the annual estimate.
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 assigned Japanese-school campus or available place does not fit, or your child will stay in a local or international school but wants Japanese-speaking peers, compare the online program Tomodachi Japan. Its official plan includes eight-student classes, teacher support, about 100 live sessions each month, morning meetings, projects and an online after-school space. A pilot opening is planned for December 2026; ask for a timetable that works across time zones and for regular tuition. It does not replace enrollment or qualifications from a local school or recognized Japanese 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 Singapore Japanese School’s primary program is built around the Japanese curriculum, while its secondary school publishes separate course information. The supplementary school covers Japanese language and Japanese studies in a limited weekly schedule. Consider a possible return to Japan, continuation in a local or international curriculum and high-school plans together, then decide which languages and subjects need priority.
Put the weekday school in Singapore, 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 Singapore
Combining programs:If your child attends a local or international school, discuss what the three-hour Saturday class can cover and how reading, kanji and writing will continue during the week. The supplementary school’s 2026 admissions notice states weekday-school and Japanese-language expectations. If eligibility is unclear, contact the school before applying and describe the child’s grade, current Japanese level and home support.
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 Singapore
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 Singapore
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 Singapore?
This guide identifies 3 full-time Japanese school campuses and 1 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?
The Singapore Japanese School publishes 2026 school fees and describes an admission-donation system in addition to tuition and entrance fees. Details can depend on the parent’s employer or organization, so review the official fee page and ask the school office for the amount that applies to your family. Add transport, uniforms, materials and school activities to the annual estimate.
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 Singapore: シンガポールで子供を教育したい
- Singapore Japanese School: 2026年度入学案内・校納金
- Singapore Japanese School: 2026年度新入学手続き
- Singapore Japanese Supplementary School: 2026年度募集要項
- Tomodachi Japan: 学びのしくみ・料金・FAQ
- Singapore Japanese School Primary School, Clementi Campus: official information
- Singapore Japanese School Primary School, Changi Campus: official information
- Singapore Japanese School Secondary School: official information
- Waseda Shibuya Senior High School in Singapore: official information
- Singapore Japanese Supplementary School: official information
- Tomodachi Japan: Pricing
- Tomodachi Japan: FAQ
