Japanese Schools in the UK: London Day School, Boarding Schools and Regional Programs (2026)
Families looking for Japanese-language schooling in the UK should distinguish the weekday Japanese School in London, the London Japanese Saturday School and regional weekend programs. Rikkyo School in England and Teikyo School UK are separately classified private overseas facilities with different age ranges and boarding arrangements. Compare each pathway with the child’s age and the family’s location.
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 the United Kingdom
Regional fit:Families looking for Japanese-language schooling in the UK should distinguish the weekday Japanese School in London, the London Japanese Saturday School and regional weekend programs. Rikkyo School in England and Teikyo School UK are separately classified private overseas facilities with different age ranges and boarding arrangements. Compare each pathway with the child’s age and the family’s location.
Options in the United Kingdom include full-time Japanese schools and supplementary programs that meet alongside another weekday school. Across the UK, the full-time Japanese School is in London, while supplementary programs operate in several regions. A Manchester or Wales Saturday school is not a commute option for a London home. In London, compare Acton, Brent and Croydon with the intended neighborhood; elsewhere, use the Embassy’s list to find the nearest local operator.
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 the United Kingdom, 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 the United Kingdom
School options:The MEXT and official school listings reviewed for this guide include 1 full-time Japanese school campuses and 2 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.
Across the UK, the full-time Japanese School is in London, while supplementary programs operate in several regions. A Manchester or Wales Saturday school is not a commute option for a London home. In London, compare Acton, Brent and Croydon with the intended neighborhood; elsewhere, use the Embassy’s list to find the nearest local operator.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| The Japanese School in London | Acton, London | Full-time Japanese school |
| Rikkyo School in England | Rudgwick, West Sussex | Private boarding school with a Japanese curriculum; a separate pathway, not a London day campus |
| Teikyo School UK | Buckinghamshire | Private overseas educational facility; separate from The Japanese School in London |
4. School profiles and types in the United Kingdom
School profiles:The Japanese School in London is a full-time japanese school option to investigate in Acton, London. MEXT lists the school as a recognized overseas Japanese school. The UK Department for Education lists it as an open independent school for ages 6–15 at 87 Creffield Road, Acton, London W3 9PU. An Ofsted report describes the Japanese national curriculum supplemented with parts of the English curriculum; request current fees, entry dates and grade vacancies from the school. Confirm current age and grade eligibility, admissions, fees and transport directly with the school.
Rikkyo School in England is a private boarding school with a japanese curriculum option to investigate in Rudgwick, West Sussex. MEXT lists Rikkyo School in England as a private overseas educational facility. The school’s summary describes primary grades 5–6 and lower- and upper-secondary education, with all pupils boarding. Its campus is in Rudgwick, West Sussex, so this is a boarding-school pathway rather than a daily London commute. Confirm current entry grades, fees and admissions dates with the school. Confirm current age and grade eligibility, admissions, fees and transport directly with the school.
Teikyo School UK is a private overseas educational facility option to investigate in Buckinghamshire. MEXT lists Teikyo School UK as a private overseas educational facility. It has a separate location and admissions route; do not count it as an additional London campus. Check the official site for current courses, residential options, tuition and eligibility. 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 Japanese School in London is at 87 Creffield Road in Acton. The London Japanese Saturday School’s Acton site shares that address, but it is a separate Saturday program. Brent and Croydon are different venues with separate catchments and 2026 term fees. Outside London, use the Embassy list to identify regional programs such as Manchester and Kent. Rikkyo is a boarding school in Rudgwick, West Sussex; Teikyo is a senior-high option in Wexham, Buckinghamshire. Neither is a London neighborhood day commute. Decide the child’s age, likely address and whether a boarding pathway is acceptable before comparing admissions, visits and total cost.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| London Japanese Saturday School, Acton | West London | The Saturday school shares the Acton address at 87 Creffield Road with the full-time Japanese School. Its 2026 fee page lists a £312 enrollment fee and £421 per term for Acton. It is a Saturday program for pupils enrolled in UK or international weekday schools, not the full-time school. |
| London Japanese Saturday School, Brent and Croydon | Northwest / South London | The school operates separate Brent and Croydon sites for Saturday lessons. The 2026 fee notice lists £399 per term at each, plus the enrollment fee. The school uses designated catchments, so ask which site serves the intended home address. |
| Manchester, Kent and other regional supplementary schools | Regional locations outside London | The Embassy lists supplementary schools in Manchester, Kent, Derbyshire, Telford, Wales and Yorkshire-Humberside, among others. These are local options for families living nearby; they are not practical daily alternatives for a London address. Check each operator’s age range, timetable and fee directly. |
The Saturday school shares the Acton address at 87 Creffield Road with the full-time Japanese School. Its 2026 fee page lists a £312 enrollment fee and £421 per term for Acton. It is a Saturday program for pupils enrolled in UK or international weekday schools, not the full-time school. Official information
The school operates separate Brent and Croydon sites for Saturday lessons. The 2026 fee notice lists £399 per term at each, plus the enrollment fee. The school uses designated catchments, so ask which site serves the intended home address. Official information
The Embassy lists supplementary schools in Manchester, Kent, Derbyshire, Telford, Wales and Yorkshire-Humberside, among others. These are local options for families living nearby; they are not practical daily alternatives for a London address. Check each operator’s age range, timetable and fee directly. Official information
6. Check whether the commute is sustainable
Commute:The official Acton site guide gives a walk of about ten minutes from West Acton on the Central line and twelve minutes from Ealing Common on the Piccadilly line. Brent and Croydon use different buildings and are not on the same route or catchment. Check Saturday travel, transfers, the school entrance and arrival time rather than relying on map distance alone.
The Japanese School in London is at 87 Creffield Road in Acton. The London Japanese Saturday School’s Acton site shares that address, but it is a separate Saturday program. Brent and Croydon are different venues with separate catchments and 2026 term fees. Outside London, use the Embassy list to identify regional programs such as Manchester and Kent. Rikkyo is a boarding school in Rudgwick, West Sussex; Teikyo is a senior-high option in Wexham, Buckinghamshire. Neither is a London neighborhood day commute. Decide the child’s age, likely address and whether a boarding pathway is acceptable before comparing admissions, visits and total cost.
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 London Saturday School’s 2026 guidance describes requirements including UK residence, weekday enrollment at a UK or international school, Japanese ability appropriate to the course, an information meeting and interview, and home learning support. The full-time Japanese School has its own admissions procedure. Read each school’s current guide rather than applying one set of rules to both.
The UK Department for Education record gives an age range for the Japanese School in London, while the school’s own admissions guide determines current grade openings. The Saturday School has separate conditions concerning UK residence, weekday enrollment, Japanese proficiency and information meetings. Rikkyo and Teikyo have their own entry ages, day or boarding arrangements, selection and deadlines. A listing by an embassy or MEXT does not mean the same age group can enter every school under the same conditions.
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 the United Kingdom
Total cost:For 2026, the London Saturday School lists a £312 enrollment fee and term tuition of £421 at Acton and £399 at Brent or Croydon. Its notice says charges still apply during long absences and are not discounted or refunded for a midterm start or departure. Full-time tuition and regional-school fees are separate. Add travel, books and any facility charges using the current fee notice.
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 travel to a London campus is difficult, your family wants to keep weekends for local activities, or your child wants weekday contact with Japanese peers, compare the online school Tomodachi Japan. Its official plan describes eight-student classes with current Japanese teachers, dialogue and project-based lessons, morning meetings and an online after-school space, with a pilot opening planned for December 2026. Ask for UK-time session options, regular tuition and age eligibility. It does not replace enrollment at a UK weekday school or full-time 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 UK inspection report describes the full-time Japanese School as following the Japanese national curriculum with parts of the English curriculum added. The Saturday School’s primary and secondary courses focus on Japanese language to support a return to Japanese schooling; its Japanese-language course is a separate route for learners of Japanese as an additional language. Choose based on your child’s proficiency and weekday curriculum.
Put the weekday school in the United Kingdom, 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 the United Kingdom
Combining programs:Families using a Saturday school alongside a UK weekday school should compare the Japanese-language course with the primary, secondary and high-school sections, then include the assigned campus, homework and home study. If Saturday travel across London is difficult after a full weekday schedule, compare a closer regional school or online Japanese learning. A full-time Japanese school requires a separate review of weekday curriculum, admissions and fees.
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 the United Kingdom
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 the United Kingdom
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 the United Kingdom?
This guide identifies 1 full-time Japanese school campuses and 2 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?
For 2026, the London Saturday School lists a £312 enrollment fee and term tuition of £421 at Acton and £399 at Brent or Croydon. Its notice says charges still apply during long absences and are not discounted or refunded for a midterm start or departure. Full-time tuition and regional-school fees are separate. Add travel, books and any facility charges using the current fee notice.
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 the UK: 各地の補習授業校
- UK Department for Education: The Japanese Schoolの登録情報
- Ofsted：The Japanese School inspection report
- London Japanese Saturday School: 2026年度募集・費用
- Tomodachi Japan: 学びのしくみ・料金・FAQ
- The Japanese School in London: official information
- Rikkyo School in England: official information
- Teikyo School UK: official information
- London Japanese Saturday School, Brent and Croydon: official information
- Tomodachi Japan: Pricing
- Tomodachi Japan: FAQ
