Living in Tokyo with kids: schools, areas and costs

Last reviewed: November 2026 by David from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.

Many parents worry that a city this size will feel hard on children. In practice, living in Tokyo with kids is shaped less by the city than by three choices made early: which school, which neighbourhood and how much floor space you are willing to pay for.

This guide covers the areas families use, three international schools with their 2026-27 fees in yen, the free Japanese public school option, nursery places, rents from current market data, health cover for children and the residence paperwork.

Is Tokyo child friendly?

Tokyo is child friendly in the ways that cost money elsewhere: public schooling is free, licensed nursery is free for residents, and families receive monthly cash support for every child up to the end of high-school age. The trade-offs are smaller homes and high rents in the central wards.

Japanese public schools start in April, and children enter elementary school in the April after their sixth birthday, according to MEXT's school guide for foreign families. International schools follow a late-August to June calendar: Nishimachi International School's 2026-27 year runs from 26 August 2026 to 17 June 2027. Families moving in spring or summer can therefore choose either system without losing a year.

Where do expat families live in Tokyo?

Most international families cluster in four areas on the south-western side of the city, each tied to particular schools.

• Minato (Azabu, Hiroo, Roppongi): central and the most expensive. Nishimachi International School is in Moto-Azabu, The British School in Tokyo (BST) teaches Nursery to Year 6 at Azabudai Hills, and The American School in Japan (ASIJ) runs its Early Learning Center in Roppongi.
• Meguro and Ebisu: a quieter residential belt between Minato and Setagaya, practical for families with children at schools in both.
• Setagaya (Sangenjaya, Seta, Yoga, Futako-Tamagawa): larger flats and some houses. BST's Showa Campus (Years 7 to 13) is in Taishido, St. Mary's International School (boys) is in Seta and Seisen International School (girls) has been in Yoga since 1972, according to the schools.
• Chofu and the western suburbs: outside the 23 wards, with more space for the money. ASIJ's main campus is in Nomizu, Chofu, and the school runs buses for families on its routes.

Rents are At Home's September 2026 averages (asking rent plus management fees) by size band; expat-standard homes in Minato usually sit above them.

International schools in Tokyo for expat families

The American School in Japan

ASIJ teaches from Nursery to Grade 12, with its younger children in Roppongi and the main campus in Chofu. Tuition for 2026-27 is ¥3,143,000 for Nursery to Pre-K, ¥3,498,000 for Kindergarten to Grade 5, ¥3,699,000 for Grades 6 to 8 and ¥3,826,000 for Grades 9 to 12. New students pay a ¥50,000 application fee, a ¥300,000 registration fee and a ¥1,525,000 building maintenance fee, and every family pays a ¥250,000 annual capital assessment. The bus costs ¥390,000 a year, and the school says it is not obliged to serve homes outside its routes, so check the route map before you sign a lease.

The British School in Tokyo

BST splits its pupils between Azabudai Hills in Minato (Nursery to Year 6) and the Showa Campus in Setagaya (Years 7 to 13), and describes itself as an IB World School. For 2026-27 it charges ¥2,960,000 a year in primary, ¥2,980,000 for Years 7 to 9 and ¥3,070,000 for Years 10 to 13, plus a ¥100,000 capital development fee. New pupils pay ¥500,000 for enrolment and ¥680,000 for educational resources; lunches are extra and the school offers no sibling discount.

Nishimachi International School

Nishimachi, in Moto-Azabu, covers Kindergarten to Grade 9 and teaches Japanese language and culture to every student alongside an English-medium programme. Its 2026-27 tuition is ¥3,129,000, plus ¥200,000 each for the education enhancement and school growth fund fees. New families pay ¥30,000 to apply, a ¥300,000 registration fee and an ¥825,000 building maintenance fee. Because it stops at Grade 9, plan the move to a secondary school early if your child is 12 or older.

Can foreign children go to a Japanese public school?

Yes. Japanese public elementary and junior high schools accept foreign children free of charge, and tuition and textbooks are free, according to MEXT. Parents traditionally pay monthly for lunch and school supplies, but that is changing: since April 2026 the national government funds lunch ingredients for public elementary pupils at a base of ¥5,200 a month, and Minato has not charged lunch fees in its ward-run schools since September 2023, according to its Board of Education.

Enrolment goes through the education office of the ward where you are registered, and children are usually placed in the grade that matches their age. Public school suits younger children and longer stays; teenagers with little Japanese may find an English-medium school easier.

Nursery and childcare in Tokyo

Licensed nurseries (hoikuen) have been free since 1 September 2025 for every household that uses them, regardless of the child's age or household income, under a Tokyo Metropolitan Government scheme that funds the wards and cities offering it. Meals for children aged 3 and over are still charged separately, as Machida City's 2026 nursery guide shows. Nationally, kindergarten and nursery for children aged 3 to 5 have been free since October 2019. If you choose an unlicensed setting, such as an English-language preschool without a licence, the national scheme covers up to ¥37,000 a month for 3 to 5 year olds, once the ward certifies that the child needs care. Apply for licensed places through your ward office.

What does a family spend in Tokyo?

Housing and school fees dominate. A family flat of 50 to 70 m² in the 23 wards at the September 2026 average costs about ¥3.2 million a year (twelve times the monthly average), and a home over 70 m² about ¥5.1 million.

Worked example: the first-year school bill. One child joining Year 3 at BST in August 2026 would pay:

• Application fee: ¥40,000
• Enrolment fee: ¥500,000
• Educational resources fee: ¥680,000
• Tuition: ¥2,960,000
• Capital development fee: ¥100,000

That is ¥4,280,000 in the first year, before lunches and trips. Against it, a registered family receives ¥10,000 a month in child allowance for a child aged 3 or over (¥30,000 from the third child), paid from the month after you apply at the ward office, according to the Children and Families Agency, plus ¥60,000 a year from Tokyo's 018 Support. Our guide to international school fees in Tokyo compares more schools stage by stage.

Health insurance and residence for children

Every resident joins either the employer's health insurance or National Health Insurance at the ward office. Children who have not yet started compulsory education pay 20% of medical costs and older children 30%, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. When you register, ask the ward office whether it offers a children's medical subsidy on top.

Children of foreign workers normally hold the Dependent status of residence, granted to the spouse or child supported by a holder of a work status such as Engineer, Specialist in Humanities and International Services or Intra-company Transferee, for periods of up to five years, according to the Immigration Services Agency. The employer usually applies for a Certificate of Eligibility before you travel. After arrival, register your address at the ward office within 14 days of settling; a relative aged 16 or over who lives with a younger child files for them. For entry tests and documents, see our international school admissions guide for Tokyo.

Compare schools across Tokyo

Once you have a shortlist of areas, compare curricula, fees and locations in the best international schools in Tokyo, then book visits before you commit to a lease.

Sources: The American School in Japan, The British School in Tokyo and Nishimachi International School 2026-27 fee pages; MEXT school guide for foreign children and school lunch page; Children and Families Agency; Tokyo Metropolitan Government; Machida City; Minato City Board of Education; At Home rent survey, September 2026; Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare; Immigration Services Agency of Japan.

More guides to schools in Tokyo

• International school admissions in Tokyo
• Bilingual schools in Tokyo
• How to choose an international school in Tokyo
• International school fees in Tokyo
• Best international schools in Tokyo
• best international schools in Tokyo

Frequently asked questions

Is Tokyo kid friendly for expat families?

Yes, in practical terms. Licensed nurseries have been free for Tokyo residents since September 2025, public schools charge no tuition, and registered families receive ¥10,000 a month per child from age 3 plus ¥5,000 from Tokyo's 018 Support. The main drawbacks are small, expensive homes in the central wards and long commutes to some international schools.

How much rent does a family pay in Tokyo?

At Home's September 2026 survey put the average asking rent for a 50 to 70 m² flat in the 23 wards at ¥264,597 a month, management fees included, and ¥426,822 for homes over 70 m². Outside the 23 wards, in areas such as Chofu, the same size bands averaged ¥145,338 and ¥206,627.

Can my child attend a Japanese public school for free?

Yes. Public elementary and junior high schools accept foreign children without tuition, and textbooks are free, according to MEXT. Since April 2026 the state also funds elementary school lunches at a base of ¥5,200 a month. Register your address first, then ask the ward education office for a place in the grade matching your child's age.