For a small highland town, Karuizawa has an unusually rich education scene — it is home to one of Japan's best-known international schools and an English-medium school for younger children. But the options vary a lot by age, and "international school" means very different things here depending on whether you need a preschool, a primary day school, or a high school. This guide lays out the honest landscape for international families. If you are still planning your move, start with Moving to Karuizawa.
School programmes, age ranges, and admissions change year to year. Always confirm current details directly with each school before making decisions.
TL;DR
- UWC ISAK Japan — English-language IB boarding high school (~ages 15–18). Renowned, selective, residential.
- EtonHouse International School Karuizawa — English-medium day school for early years & primary, nature-based.
- Karuizawa Kazakoshi Gakuen — progressive Japanese-medium school (~ages 3–15).
- Local Japanese public schools — the default for most resident families; arranged via the town hall.
- Options are strongest at the early-years and high-school ends, and thinner in the middle.
Are there international schools in Karuizawa?
Yes — more than you'd expect for the town's size, but not a full international K–12 system. The strongest English-medium options sit at two ends: an international boarding high school and an English early-years/primary school. For the years in between, and for families wanting full immersion, local Japanese schools play a big role. Below is each option in turn.
UWC ISAK Japan (international boarding high school)
UWC ISAK Japan is Karuizawa's flagship international school and part of the global United World Colleges movement. Key facts:
- English-language, boarding high school for roughly ages 15–18 (Grade 10 pre-IB, Grades 11–12 IB Diploma).
- Highly selective and residential — students live on campus and come from dozens of countries, alongside Japanese students.
- Graduates can earn both the IB Diploma and a Japanese high-school diploma.
- Fees are substantial, but a majority of students receive need-based financial aid.
Because it is a boarding school, ISAK is not a local "drop-off" day school — it suits families specifically seeking an international IB high-school experience.
EtonHouse International School Karuizawa (English-medium, young children)
EtonHouse International School Karuizawa offers an English-medium programme for early years and primary, built around the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) with a strong nature-based, outdoor approach that makes good use of Karuizawa's forests. This is the most accessible English-language day option for younger children. Confirm current age ranges, class availability, and admissions directly, as these evolve.
Karuizawa Kazakoshi Gakuen (progressive, Japanese-medium)
Karuizawa Kazakoshi Gakuen (軽井沢風越学園) is a well-regarded progressive private school for roughly ages 3–15 — a kindergarten plus a compulsory-education school — known for exploratory, play-based, mixed-age learning. Note that instruction is in Japanese: it is not an English-medium international school. Even so, it draws many families who relocate to Karuizawa specifically for its educational philosophy, and it can suit children who will learn in Japanese.
What about local Japanese public schools?
For most resident families, local Japanese public schools are the default — and a strong route to language and community immersion. Foreign residents' children are welcome, and you arrange enrollment through Karuizawa Town Hall after registering your address. (A dedicated guide to public-school enrollment is on the way.) Local schools are free of tuition, close to home, and embed your child in the community, though they require building Japanese-language ability.
What if my child is "in between"?
The honest gap is English-medium day schooling for older primary and middle-school ages — between EtonHouse's early-years/primary range and ISAK's boarding high school. Families in that situation typically:
- choose a local Japanese school (often with extra Japanese-language support), or
- consider international schools elsewhere (for example in the Tokyo area, with the commute or boarding that implies), or
- plan timing around when ISAK becomes an option.
There is no single right answer — it depends on your child's age, language, and how long you plan to stay.
How to choose
- Match the option to your child's age and language first — that narrows the list fast.
- Decide how much you want immersion vs. an English-medium environment.
- Factor in how long you'll be in Japan and whether boarding is acceptable.
- Visit and confirm current admissions — places, ages, and fees change yearly.
How ERISA helps
ERISA (有限会社えり紗) helps international families navigate the choice and the paperwork: explaining how each school works, interpreting at school visits and interviews, and — for families choosing a local Japanese school — handling enrollment through the town hall and ongoing communication with teachers. We can also help you weigh immersion against an English-medium path for your child's situation.
Planning a move with children? See the Karuizawa Guide for the full picture, or get in touch.