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Japanese International School (JIS)
Image Source: Japanese International School
Institutional Overview
Curriculum:
Primary:
IB Primary Years Programme (PYP); authorised IB World School since 2007. Named Primary School of the Year at the 2021 Hong Kong Education Awards.
Languages:
English medium; every child studies Japanese or Mandarin daily from Reception.
Outdoor Learning:
Inquiry-based units make regular use of the adjacent Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve.
Levels:
Reception (age 3) to Year 6 (age 11).
Student Body:
Approximately 160 students from 18 to 25 nationalities; British families among the most represented.
Campus
4663 Tai Po Road, Tai Po Kau, Tai Po, New Territories. (English Section; the Japanese Section is a separate operation in Happy Valley.)
Founded:
Parent school 1966; Tai Po Kau English Section opened 1997; IB PYP authorised 2007.
Website:
Academic Profile
Curriculum Framework:
IB Primary Years Programme; classes capped at 26.
Facilities:
Heated indoor pool, gym and sports field, generous for a school of 160.
Language & Stream:
English medium; daily Japanese or Mandarin as an additional language from Reception.
Notable Strengths:
Guaranteed Year 7 priority transition to ICHK Secondary; Primary School of the Year 2021; warm, small-school pastoral culture.
Admissions and Matriculation Statistics
Feeder Secondary:
ICHK Secondary (Hong Lok Yuen / Sha Tau Kok). JIS is one of three partner primaries feeding ICHK 88 annual Year 7 places, with priority placement.
Assessment Pathway:
Inquiry-based PYP; no external exams at primary level.
Reputational Standing:
A small school with a big heart: known for warm pastoral care, outdoor learning and one of the safest Year 7 pathways in the territory.
Financials (2025/26 Academic Year)
Annual Tuition:
Reception to Year 6 (single rate):
HK$156,420
Capital Levy:
Not separately published; confirm with admissions
Debentures:
Not applicable
Reservation Deposit:
Not published; confirm with admissions.
Other Fees:
Notes:
No debentures or capital notes are charged.
More information:
Fee details beyond tuition are not published; confirm with admissions.
Application Fee:
HK$600.
Admissions & Application Windows
Admission Difficulty:
Moderate. The small intake keeps places limited, but admissions run year-round and the school welcomes families new to Hong Kong.
Application Window:
All year groups:
Rolling admissions; apply at any time.
Main entry:
Reception (age 3); occasional places in higher years.
Feeder pathway:
Year 7 priority transition to ICHK Secondary for JIS graduates.
Assessment Format:
Confirm the current visit and observation format with admissions.
The Consultant’s Take
Best Fit For:
Families who want a small, nurturing, nature-rich IB primary with a secured secondary pathway, and who value language breadth over big-school facilities. A natural fit for Japanese-heritage families wanting an English-medium education that keeps the language alive.
The “Insider” Tip:
The ICHK priority transition is the strategic asset: a JIS place effectively converts into a 15-year runway at a fraction of the fee level of the big through-train schools.
