Lifestyle · School in Japan
School in Japan
How the Japanese school system works, from daycare to high school: the stages, the April school year, and which class a child belongs in. For curious readers and for families moving to Japan.
Which grade would my child be in?
Enter a birthday to see the class a child joins in Japan. Japan groups children by school year, which starts in April, so this can differ from the grade at home.
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The system at a glance
Japan follows a "6-3-3-4" system: six years of elementary school, three of junior high, three of high school and four of university. The first nine years are compulsory.
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Optional
Daycare
保育園 · hoikuen
Ages 0–2
Nurseries for babies and young children of working parents, open long hours and through the year. Many continue to age 5. Run under the Children and Families Agency.
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Optional
Kindergarten
幼稚園 · yōchien
Ages 3–5
Three years of preschool from age 3, with shorter days. Kindergarten and daycare for ages 3 to 5 have been free since October 2019, within set limits.
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Compulsory
Elementary school
小学校 · shōgakkō
Ages 6–11
Six years from age 6. Children walk to school in groups, carry a randoseru backpack, eat school lunch together and clean their classrooms.
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Compulsory
Junior high school
中学校 · chūgakkō
Ages 12–14
Three years from age 12, usually with uniforms, subject teachers and after-school clubs (bukatsu). It ends with entrance exams for high school.
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Optional
High school
高等学校 · kōtō gakkō
Ages 15–17
Three years from age 15. Not compulsory, but around 99% of students go on to it. Places are won by entrance exam.
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Optional
University and beyond
大学・専門学校 · daigaku / senmon gakkō
Age 18 and up
Four-year universities, two-year junior colleges and vocational schools (senmon gakkō), again usually by entrance exam.
Grade by grade
What children learn each year, from elementary grade 1 to the end of high school, with subjects, class hours and school events.
Elementary school
Junior high school
School culture and parenting
Guides to everyday school life in Japan and practical help for families: school lunch, cleaning time, clubs, enrolment, daycare and the support available.
School culture
The daily rituals that make Japanese schools different: children serving lunch, cleaning their classrooms, and the events that mark the year.
- School lunch (kyūshoku) Children serve each other a hot, nutritionist-planned lunch and eat it in the classroom.
- Cleaning time (sōji) Every day, students sweep and wipe their own classrooms, corridors and often toilets.
- The randoseru and school supplies The famous leather backpack, indoor shoes, a yellow cap and a name on absolutely everything.
- School events through the year Ceremonies, sports day, school trips and festivals that mark the Japanese school year.
- Club activities (bukatsu) After-school clubs that shape junior high and high school life, and the reform moving them to the community.
Parenting in Japan
Practical guides for families: getting a child into school or daycare, the money and support available, and what schools expect from parents.
- Enrolling a child in a Japanese school How foreign families get a child into a public school, which grade they join and the language support available.
- Daycare and kindergarten Hoikuen, yōchien and kodomo-en: how they differ, how to get a place and what is free.
- Costs and support for families The birth grant, child allowance, free preschool and help with school and high school fees.
- Parents and school: PTA, contact books and after-school care Walking to school, the daily contact book, PTA duties and after-school clubs for working parents.
The school year
The Japanese school year starts in April, when the cherry blossoms are out, and ends in March. Most schools split it into three terms.
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April – July
First term
Entrance ceremonies (nyūgakushiki) in early April, health checks and a spring school trip.
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Late July – August
Summer break
About six weeks, with homework, a diary and often a summer project. Shorter in Hokkaido.
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September – December
Second term
The busiest term: sports day (undōkai), the school festival and school trips.
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Late December – early January
Winter break
About two weeks over New Year. Longer in snowy regions.
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January – March
Third term
Entrance exams for the older years, then graduation ceremonies (sotsugyōshiki) in March.
Some schools use two semesters instead of three terms, and dates vary by area.
Grades by date of birth, 2026 school year
Children born between 2 April and 1 April the next year are in the same class. A 1 April birthday joins the older group, because in Japanese law a person turns a year older on the day before their birthday.
| Class | Born between |
|---|---|
| High school, year 3 | 2 Apr 2008 – 1 Apr 2009 |
| High school, year 2 | 2 Apr 2009 – 1 Apr 2010 |
| High school, year 1 | 2 Apr 2010 – 1 Apr 2011 |
| Junior high school, year 3 | 2 Apr 2011 – 1 Apr 2012 |
| Junior high school, year 2 | 2 Apr 2012 – 1 Apr 2013 |
| Junior high school, year 1 | 2 Apr 2013 – 1 Apr 2014 |
| Elementary school, grade 6 | 2 Apr 2014 – 1 Apr 2015 |
| Elementary school, grade 5 | 2 Apr 2015 – 1 Apr 2016 |
| Elementary school, grade 4 | 2 Apr 2016 – 1 Apr 2017 |
| Elementary school, grade 3 | 2 Apr 2017 – 1 Apr 2018 |
| Elementary school, grade 2 | 2 Apr 2018 – 1 Apr 2019 |
| Elementary school, grade 1 | 2 Apr 2019 – 1 Apr 2020 |
| Kindergarten, oldest year (nenchō) | 2 Apr 2020 – 1 Apr 2021 |
| Kindergarten, middle year (nenchū) | 2 Apr 2021 – 1 Apr 2022 |
| Kindergarten, youngest year (nenshō) | 2 Apr 2022 – 1 Apr 2023 |
| Daycare, age-2 class | 2 Apr 2023 – 1 Apr 2024 |
| Daycare, age-1 class | 2 Apr 2024 – 1 Apr 2025 |
| Daycare, age-0 class | 2 Apr 2025 – 1 Apr 2026 |
Common questions
What age do children start school in Japan?
Children start elementary school in the April after they turn six. A child born between 2 April 2019 and 1 April 2020 started grade 1 in April 2026.
Is school compulsory in Japan?
Nine years are compulsory for Japanese children: six years of elementary school and three of junior high school, from age 6 to 15. High school is optional, but almost everyone attends.
When does the school year start in Japan?
On 1 April. Entrance ceremonies are held in early April, and the year ends in March with graduation ceremonies.
Can foreign children go to a Japanese public school?
Yes. Compulsory education is not legally required of foreign nationals, but foreign children can attend public elementary and junior high schools free of charge, the same as Japanese children. Families apply through their city or ward office.
Do public schools charge tuition?
Public elementary and junior high schools charge no tuition, and textbooks are free. Families still pay for things like school lunch, materials and trips.
School life on e2japan
- Sports Day: why schools hold undōkai in autumn →
- Children's Day: carp streamers and family traditions →
Based on Japan's School Education Act and guidance from the Ministry of Education (MEXT). Local rules and dates vary, so check with your city or school.