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Zagdim Reader Desk · Japan school enrolment

School enrolment in JapanPublic schools, transfers and school records

If you are bringing children to Japan, or moving home within Japan, you first need to confirm the enrolment procedure for public elementary and junior high schools and how a school is assigned. The Zagdim Reader Desk first establishes your children’s ages and your address, then shortlists suitable support providers where needed.

Book a free 20-minute callSee what the service covers
Interior of a Japanese apartment
Who it is forFamilies arriving in Japan or moving within it
Handled byEducation and school liaison support providers; lawyers for disputes
LanguagesEnglish or Japanese; other languages on request
Reader Desk feeFree of charge

Information checked: 29 October 2026

01 · ABOUT

Where does public schooling in Japan start for your children?

Enrolment at a public elementary or junior high school starts with the board of education (教育委員会) of the municipality where you live. The parent applies to the board of education, then contacts the assigned school as notified. Children of foreign nationality may also attend.

Tuition and textbooks are free in principle; other costs are separate. The year group and language support are confirmed from the previous school’s records.

JapanJapan

  • A guide in your language is not teaching in your languageOfficial enrolment guides are published in several languages; that does not mean every school has teachers who speak them.
  • Costs by itemLook at tuition and other education costs separately.
  • School recordsHave reports and a certificate of enrolment from the previous school ready first.

Which situation are you in now?

Closest to your situation:

Arriving in Japan for the first time

  • Where to applyThe board of education where you live; the school district depends on your address.
  • What to prepareAddress, identity documents for the child and guardian, the child’s age and previous school records.

Next steps

  1. Tell the Reader Desk your children’s ages and where you plan to live

Transferring within Japan

  • Where to applyThe board of education for the new address; confirm the handover procedure at both the old school and the new one.
  • What to prepareCertificates from the previous school, transfer-out documents and the new address.

Next steps

  1. List the old and new addresses and the expected transfer date

Language or learning support needed

  • Explain firstJapanese level, translation needs and any special educational needs.
  • What to prepareLearning history and a summary of any necessary professional assessment.

Next steps

  1. Gather your child’s learning records and the support needed

High school, kindergarten or private school

This page covers enrolment at public elementary and junior high schools only. The procedures and costs for high schools, kindergartens, private schools and international schools are different; do not apply the rules on this page to them.

Next steps

  1. Tell the Reader Desk your children’s ages and the type of school you have in mind

02 · SERVICE

What do the support providers do?

Who charges what

What the Reader Desk does at no charge

Establishes what you need, sets it out in a written brief and, where needed, introduces a support provider.

Support service fee

Quoted by the support provider handling the matter once they understand your situation.

How payments flow

Zagdim does not charge readers a matching fee and does not handle payments for professional services. Providers quote case by case, and you contract with and pay the provider directly.

  1. 01Setting out enrolment needs

    Age, educational background and expected start date are set out.

  2. 02Checking the official procedure

    The board of education for your address and the documents required are identified.

  3. 03Documents and translation

    Previous school records and translations are prepared as actually required.

  4. 04Support with enrolment communication

    Helps the family and the school communicate about language and day-to-day needs.

03 · CASES

When is an engagement not needed?

In every caseThe school district, year group and support arrangements are decided by the board of education and the school; no admission or year group can be promised in advance.

You may not need this service: if a parent can deal with the board of education in Japanese, you can handle it yourself. If you only want to find somewhere to live, see “Renting a home in Japan”.

04 · SERVICE PROCESS

Who handles each step?

Who does each step is shown within the step.

English or JapaneseOther languages on request

  1. Confirm age, address and learning needs

    You and the Reader Desk

  2. Apply to the board of education

    The guardian in person, accompanied or interpreted for by a support provider where needed

  3. Prepare previous school records and contact the school

    As set out in the notice

  4. Confirm the enrolment arrangements

    The year group and support are confirmed as notified

Not included

  • Promises of school admission or a place
  • Deciding the year group in place of the school
  • Tutoring, guardianship or accommodation not agreed in advance

What you need to prepare

  • Identity documents for the child and guardian
  • Proof of where you actually live
  • Reports and a certificate of enrolment from the previous school
  • Language and learning support needs

05 · TIME

How soon can your child start, and what decides the pace?

The start date depends on where you live, the child’s age and the school’s procedure; there is no nationwide timetable.

  1. Settle where you will live

    Where to apply is decided by your address

  2. Apply to the board of education

    According to the local procedure and document requirements

  3. Receive the notice and contact the school

    As arranged by the school

What you can do in advance: have identity documents for the child and guardian ready, together with reports and a certificate of enrolment from the previous school. Prepare translations beforehand where needed.

06 · FEES

What costs come with public schooling?

Taxes and official fees

  • Tuition and textbooks at public elementary and junior high schools¥0(Limited to public compulsory education.)
  • School meals, school supplies and transportDepends on the school and location(The share parents pay after the 2026 reduction in public elementary school meal fees is counted separately.)

Professional and service fees

  • Enrolment document and translation supportQuoted once your situation is understood(Excludes private school tuition and examination fees.)
  • Zagdim Reader DeskFree of charge(Consultation, clarifying what you need and shortlisting professionals)

Budget in three parts: meals, school supplies and transport; whether school expense assistance applies; and a support fee that arises only if you choose to engage someone.

The support fee is quoted by the support provider handling the matter once they understand your situation, and depends on the volume of documents and translation and on whether they accompany you. If you decide to engage them, you contract with, pay and receive receipts from them directly.

07 · EXPERTS & PROFESSIONALS

Who helps with enrolment and communication?

Depending on the case, different Japanese professionals are involved.

Education adviser and school liaison support

Helps confirm the procedure, prepare previous school documents and communicate your needs. Admission and year group are decided by the board of education and the school.

Lawyer

弁護士 · bengoshi

Gives legal advice where guardianship, parental authority or an education dispute is involved.

MATCHING

How Zagdim shortlists the right professionals

What you need
Zagdim Reader Desk
  • Clarifying the need
  • Matching providers
  • Follow-up at key points
The right professional

Zagdim Reader Desk

Establishes what you need · sets out a written brief · introduces a support provider where needed

No charge to readers

Professionals in Japan

Professional advice and handling

Quote · contract · payment · receipt

Tell the Reader Desk where you live first

  1. You tell the Reader DeskThe city where you live and your children’s ages
  2. The Reader Desk checksWhether document, translation or communication support can be arranged locally
  3. The Reader Desk repliesIf no suitable provider is available, we say so plainly

08 · CONSULTATION

What to have ready before you get in touch

Zagdim Reader DeskFirst understand the situation, then shortlist the right professionals

Have the points below ready, then arrange a time by WhatsApp or email.

  • Your children’s ages and expected start date
  • The municipality where you live
  • Previous school records and any language or learning support needs
WhatsAppEmail the Reader Desk

The Zagdim Reader Desk handles contact and follow-up.

Send us your details

The more you tell us, the better the Zagdim Reader Desk understands your situation before we speak.

Four steps after you get in touch

  1. Contact the Reader DeskYou explain your children’s ages, your address and the expected start date.
  2. A written briefWhere to apply, the documents and the language needs are listed; you confirm them.
  3. Introduced by locationBefore the introduction, the written quote, out-of-pocket costs and conditions for extra charges are confirmed with the provider.
  4. Quote and engagementYou decide whether to engage, and contract with and pay the provider directly.

09 · FAQ

Public school enrolment in Japan: common questions

Can children of foreign nationality attend public schools?

Yes. Children of foreign nationality who wish to attend a public elementary or junior high school can have enrolment arranged through the local board of education.

Is public elementary and junior high school entirely free?

No. Only tuition and textbooks are free; confirm other costs with the school.

Do you apply to the school or to a government office first?

The government office first. Once the local board of education accepts the application, it tells you which school to contact. A guardian can handle this without assistance.

Is official enrolment information available in other languages?

Yes. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) publishes enrolment guides in several languages, Chinese among them.

Are all school lunches free in 2026?

No. The national measure from April 2026 is aimed at meal fees in public elementary schools. Amounts above the standard may still be charged, and junior high schools and private schools need to be checked separately.

Are school supplies and transport also waived?

Not necessarily. School supplies, transport and school expense assistance are confirmed with the municipality and the school; free tuition does not mean every cost is waived.

Confirm your address and your children’s ages first, then apply to the board of education.

Book a free 20-minute call

Official fees follow the current notices of the Japanese authorities. Quotes, contracts, payments and receipts for professional services are handled by the professional concerned; neither the Zagdim Reader Desk nor the professionals guarantee that any application or review will succeed. This page is general information and is not legal or tax advice. Information checked to 29 October 2026.

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