Photograph pending
Makuhari International School (MIS) — an Article 1 School, but Only Through Elementary
Chiba, Japan
An Article 1 kindergarten/elementary school in Chiba's Mihama-ku, running an English-immersion programme within the regular Japanese framework.
Researched by William Prep from published sources. Not yet verified by the school. — Last reviewed by William Prep: 2026-09-24
MIS is an Article 1 school in Chiba's Mihama-ku, with kindergarten (K1-K3) and elementary (Grade 1-6) divisions only — no junior or senior high. It reportedly runs an English-immersion (bilingual) programme within the regular Article 1 curriculum.
At a Glance
| Legal Status | Article 1 school (kindergarten/elementary only)as of: 2026-09-24 |
| Grade Range | Kindergarten (K1-K3)-Grade 6as of: 2026-09-24 |
| Junior/Senior High | None (a transfer is required)as of: 2026-09-24 |
| Est. First-Year Cost (K1-K3) | ≈¥1.98M2024 · as of: 2026-09-24 |
An Unusual Combination: Article 1 Status Plus English Immersion
MIS is a relatively unusual combination — an Article 1 school (a regular school under Japanese education law) that runs an English-immersion programme. Unlike Hiroo Gakuen's model (an international course inside an Article 1 school), MIS is entirely English-immersion at the kindergarten/elementary level. But with no junior or senior high division, a transfer to either a Japanese or international junior high is required afterward.
William Prep’s Analysis
Like Nishimachi (ends at Grade 9), Yoyogi International School (ends at 15), and OWIS Osaka (ends at Grade 8), all researched in this batch, MIS fits the recurring "ends partway through" pattern. Because it's an unusual combination — Article 1 status plus English immersion — a family choosing it needs to think more carefully than usual about the junior-high destination afterward: back into the regular Japanese system, or toward an international junior high?
Fees: A Real First-Year Total of About ¥1.98M (K1-K3, as of 2024)
MIS's own fee page lists two one-time charges: a ¥200,000 entrance fee and a ¥400,000 maintenance fee. On top of that, grade-banded tuition (¥1,380,000 for Kindergarten K1-K3) applies in three instalments, for a first-year total of roughly ¥1,980,000. This is dated to the school's own PDF document (April 2024), and the school states fees are revised annually — confirm the current exact figure separately.
University Entrance Eligibility in Japan
| School-accreditation route | No not publicly confirmedSince this school ends at elementary level, the university-eligibility question only becomes relevant after a student has moved on to junior high. |
| Student-qualification route (IB, etc.) | No not publicly confirmed |
Since this school ends at elementary level, the university-eligibility routes don't directly apply to this school itself. Whichever junior high the student transfers to afterward will determine the eligibility route.
Fees & Estimated First-Year Cost
academic year: 2024
| Entrance Fee | ¥200,000 |
| Maintenance Fee | ¥400,000 |
| Tuition (Kindergarten K1-K3)K1-K3 | ¥1,380,000 |
| Tuition (Grade 1-6)G1-G6 | ¥1,740,000 |
| Estimated First-Year Total | ¥1,980,000 |
Includes: enrolment, facilities, tuition — Excludes: Excludes lunch and school bus (only for those using them). This uses Kindergarten (K1-K3) as the base. Dated to the school's own PDF document (April 2024) — may not reflect current (2026-27) amounts. The school itself states fees are revised annually.
What Makes This School Distinctive
An Article 1 school running full English immersion
An Article 1 kindergarten/elementary school, fully English-immersion
Both the legacy William Prep directory and the school's own site consistently show this structure.
Requires careful thought about the junior-high destination — back to the Japanese system, or toward an international school.
Admissions
| Cycle | 未確認（通年募集と報告） not publicly confirmed |
What Japanese Families Should Know
Who Might Find This School a Good Fit
Might suit — Families wanting English immersion from an early age within the Article 1 framework
Might not suit — Families wanting one school from kindergarten through high school graduation
William Prep’s Analysis
Researching MIS marked the fourth confirmed instance of the "ends partway through" pattern in this batch. Despite recurring this often, many legacy directory entries didn't flag this structural constraint explicitly — this research consistently filled that gap wherever it appeared.
Questions to Ask the School
1.What are the current 2026-27 fees?
Why this matters: The data confirmed this session is dated 2024, and the school itself states fees are revised annually.
2.Where do graduates typically go on to junior high — back into the Japanese system, or an international school?
Why this matters: Not confirmed this session.
Sources & Verification
- Fees — Makuhari International Schoolprimary source · as of: 2026-09-24Fetched directly (referencing the school's April 2024-dated fee PDF). Entrance fee ¥200,000, maintenance fee ¥400,000 (both one-time, non-refundable). Annual tuition: Kindergarten (K1-3) ¥1,380,000, Grade 1-6 ¥1,740,000, both paid in three instalments. School states fees are revised annually. Confirms the school covers Kindergarten through Grade 6 only — no secondary division, matching the legacy directory's "Article 1 primary only" description.
Last reviewed by William Prep: 2026-09-24
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