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Deutsche Schule Tokyo Yokohama (DSTY) — Japan's Only Path to the German International Abitur

Kanagawa, Japan

A foundation-run German school spanning Kindergarten through the Abitur.

Researched by William Prep from published sources. Not yet verified by the school. — Last reviewed by William Prep: 2026-09-24

DSTY is a German-curriculum school in Yokohama's Tsuzuki-ku, run by a foundation (Stiftung DSTY). It spans three divisions — Kindergarten, Grundschule (elementary), and Sekundarstufe (secondary) — and describes itself as the only school in Japan offering the Deutsches Internationales Abitur.

At a Glance

Governance	Foundation (Stiftung DSTY)as of: 2026-09-24
Qualification	Reportedly Japan's only Deutsches Internationales Abitur schoolas of: 2026-09-24
Language of Instruction	German (Japanese, English, French also offered)as of: 2026-09-24
Est. First-Year Cost (G1-4)	≈¥2.43M2026-27 · as of: 2026-09-24

The Abitur Is a Formally Recognised Eligibility Route Too

MEXT's published list of routes to Japanese university eligibility names the German Abitur alongside the IB Diploma, the French Baccalauréat, and GCE A-Levels. A student earning the Abitur at DSTY qualifies via the individual-credential route.

William Prep’s Analysis

DSTY doesn't offer the IB, but that isn't a disadvantage for Japanese university eligibility. For families oriented toward German or European university admission, the Abitur itself is the actual goal — whether the school also offers the IB often isn't the relevant question for them at all.

Fees: A Real First-Year Total of About ¥2.43M (Grade 1-4)

DSTY's own 2026-27 fee schedule lists two one-time charges: a ¥75,000 service fee (at registration) and a ¥650,000 admission fee. On top of that, an annual ¥500 foundation membership fee applies alongside grade-banded tuition (¥1,700,000 for Grade 1-4), for a genuine first-year total of roughly ¥2,425,500. The school bus, if used, adds ¥380,000/yr. Four-instalment payment is available for a 1% processing fee.

University Entrance Eligibility in Japan

School-accreditation route	No not publicly confirmedWhether DSTY holds any of the six MEXT-recognised institutional accreditations was not confirmed this session.
Student-qualification route (IB, etc.)	Yes

An Abitur holder qualifies for Japanese university eligibility via the individual-credential route, per MEXT's published list. The school's own accreditation status wasn't confirmed this session.

Fees & Estimated First-Year Cost

academic year: 2026-27

Service Fee (at registration)	¥75,000
Admission Fee	¥650,000
Foundation Membership (annual)	¥500
Tuition (Kindergarten, base)Kindergarten	¥1,870,000
Tuition (Grade 1-4)G1-G4	¥1,700,000
Tuition (Grade 5-12)G5-G12	¥1,840,000
School Bus (annual)	¥380,000
Estimated First-Year Total	¥2,425,500

Includes: application, enrolment, other, tuition — Excludes: Excludes the school bus (only for those using it, ¥380,000/yr). This uses Grade 1-4 tuition as the base.

What Makes This School Distinctive

Japan's only Deutsches Internationales Abitur school

A continuous path from Kindergarten through the Abitur

Stated directly by the school itself.

The only domestic option in Japan for families targeting German or European university admission via the Abitur.

Admissions

Cycle

未確認（8月31日を過ぎた出願は追加手数料3%） (not independently confirmed)

What Japanese Families Should Know

Who Might Find This School a Good Fit

Might suit — Families oriented toward German or European university admission

Might not suit — Families planning around the IB Diploma (DSTY does not offer the IB)

William Prep’s Analysis

Researching DSTY reinforced something worth stating plainly: judging a school purely by whether it offers the IB is too narrow a lens for evaluating university eligibility. Confirming, school by school, that the Abitur, the Baccalauréat, and A-Levels are each their own independently recognised routes has been one of the more useful outcomes of this research.

Questions to Ask the School

1.Does DSTY itself hold a WASC or other MEXT-recognised institutional accreditation?
Why this matters: Not confirmed this session.
2.What support exists for students entering without prior German (i.e., Japanese-only or English-only backgrounds)?
Why this matters: Not confirmed this session.

Sources & Verification

Schulgebühren — Deutsche Schule Tokyo Yokohamaprimary source · as of: 2026-09-24Fetched directly. 2026-27: service fee ¥75,000, admission fee ¥650,000 (both one-time, per child). Annual tuition: Kindergarten ¥1,870,000 (base) to ¥1,960,000 (with extensions), Primary (G1-4) ¥1,700,000, Secondary (G5-12) ¥1,840,000. School bus ¥380,000/yr, foundation membership ¥500/yr.
Home — Deutsche Schule Tokyo Yokohamaprimary source · as of: 2026-09-24Fetched directly. Organised as a foundation (Stiftung DSTY); states it is the only school in Japan offering the German International Abitur. Structure: Kindergarten, Grundschule (elementary), Sekundarstufe (secondary), plus co-curricular offerings.
大学入学資格について — 文部科学省 (MEXT)official source · as of: 2026-09-23Sets out the routes to 大学入学資格: MEXT-designated schools; graduates of 12-year programmes at institutions accredited by WASC, CIS, ACSI, NEASC, Cognia or COBIS; holders of the IB Diploma, Abitur, Baccalauréat, GCE A-Level, International A-Level or European Baccalaureate; 高等学校卒業程度認定試験 (age-18 gated); and individual university review at 18+.

Last reviewed by William Prep: 2026-09-24

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