Tokyo’s Top Summer 2019 International School Programs For Kids

Looking for fun, interactive and educational activities for your children this summer? These special summer programs based in Tokyo promise to keep the little ones entertained and equip them with new skills and a new friend or two over the summer holidays.

Summer holidays are time to play with friends in pools, be outside in the sunshine and take a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life. But summers are also a great time to acquire new skills and hands-on experience while still doing exactly the above — having tons of fun. If you’re a busy parent in Tokyo or are simply looking for ways to teach your kids that learning can be fun, the following summer-exclusive programs provided by several of Japan’s top international schools and clubs are the perfect solution. 

From learning how to code or make videos to taking field trips with other kids in the Tokyo outskirts, these activities look so much fun that we almost wish we were back in kindergarten once again!

Tokyo Coding Club’s Tech Education Summer Program

Just as non-native English speakers were told as kids that they should study English to land a more secure job a few generations ago, very soon our children and grandchildren will be advised to study coding and IT to secure a better future. Luckily, Tokyo Coding Club, a weekend and afterschool academic club based in Roppongi, has already figured this out. The Club offers programming, robotics, Minecraft modding, Scratch, gaming tournaments, and other tech, AI, design and even digital art classes for children aged 7-18.

Tokyo Coding Club’s teachers come from top universities and tech companies in Japan and around the world, and they are ready to share their knowledge with the next generation in a bid to prep them for living in the Matrix (or whatever else is coming their way!). The curriculum is inspired by the global center of technology, Silicon Valley, and class sizes are kept small to ensure the best learning outcomes and experiences. 

For its summer program, Tokyo Coding Club offers an intensive 1-week or 2-week tech boot camp, which can be booked based on parents and children’s’ preferences anytime between June 1 and August 31 by appointment. Weekly classes will be scheduled based on availability and subject interest, though one thing’s for sure, your kid will come out of this boot camp ready to take over the world digitally!  

Where: Tokyo Coding Club, Hirose Building 4F, Nishi-Azabu 3-24-17, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Program dates: Any one or two weeks between June 1 and August 31, 2019.
Cost: From ¥8,000 per hour to ¥189,000 for a 5-day boot camp. Actual cost depends on the class.
How to enroll: First, sign up for a free trial class to determine the child’s interests and goals. For more information, please email the school at info@tokyocodingclub.com. You can also find more information here.

Gymboree Play & Music’s Bubble Pass and Summer Camp

If you’re a parent staying around Tokyo this summer (and working, too!) while your kids are full of energy on vacation (not a great combination, we know!), Gymboree Play & Music has the perfect solution. The school’s popular “Bubble Pass,” a monthly pass for 4, 8 or 12 classes (for children between 0 and 6-years-old), allows families to choose which classes they participate in each week and includes use of the school’s air-conditioned open play gyms on all days they attend class. Classes for children 3-6 years old are drop-off optional.

Families with children between the age of 1.5-6 years old, can also take advantage of the drop-off English-only “Summer Camp” offered on weekdays between 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and 3 p.m.-6 p.m., with the latter session only being open to children aged between 3 and 6. Children 1.5-3 years old can extend to 3 p.m. and children 3-6 years old can stay all day from 9 a.m. through 6 p.m. The Summer Camp includes unlimited use of the school’s open play gyms on weeks the family participates in Summer Camp.

Where: Gymboree Play & Music Motoazabu (Hiroo) Site, Jiyugaoka Site.
Program Dates: Bubble Pass (June 3-September 8), Summer Camp (July 1-August 30) *Both locations will be closed between August 11-18 for the Obon holidays.
Application deadline: June 10, 2019.
Cost: Bubble Pass: 4 classes – ¥11,800, 8 classes – ¥18,800, 12 classes – ¥22,800. Summer Camp: Families can choose from 1-5 days a week. Once a week prices: Preschool (5hrs) ¥12,900, After School (3hrs) ¥7,800, and Full Day ¥16,800. *Prices are before tax.
How to Enroll: Contact the school directly at 03-5449-2311 (Motoazabu) or 03-3723-0651 (Jiyugaoka) or by email at info@gymboglobal.jp

Motoazabu (Hiroo) Site

Jiyugaoka Site

Tokyo American Club’s Camp Discovery 

If summer camp is about giving kids the space and support to grow, Camp Discovery at Tokyo American Club offers the perfect mix of fun-loving counselors and exciting activities! Even if you’re not a Tokyo American Club member, this camp is open to any families staying in Tokyo during the summer and offers tons of exciting events for the kids. 

The Club offers the “Preschool Camp” (ages 3-5) and “Big Kids Camp” (ages 6-12) where campers quickly make friends while playing with bilingual, college-aged counselors from Japan and abroad. Tokyo American Club’s versatile amenities and facilities are at campers’ fingertips, including the rooftop Sky Pool, a multilingual library and nutritious lunches handmade daily by the Club’s acclaimed chefs.

Every Thursday, Big Kids campers set out on day-long field trips at Tokyo’s most exciting and educational destinations. Past field trips include the KidZania career theme park, where campers try their hands at being doctors, pilots or Shiseido beauticians and more, and Mother Farm, where Camp Discovery’s kids learn the importance of coexisting with nature. 

For campers with unlimited energy, Camp Discovery’s “Camp Plus and All-Star Sports” after-hours programs keep the fun going every afternoon when the main camp wraps up.

Where: Tokyo American Club, 2-1-2 Azabudai, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Program dates: Weekly sessions from June 10 to August 23:

• Preschool Camp (ages 3–5): 9:15 a.m.–2:45 p.m.
• Big Kids Camp (ages 6–12): 9 a.m.–3 p.m.; Field Trip Thursdays: 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
• Camp Plus (ages 3–12): 2:45 p.m.–5 p.m.
• All-Star Sports (ages 5–12): 3:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.; Field Trip Thursdays: 5–6 p.m.

Cost: Preschool Camp: ¥64,800 per week, Big Kids Camp: ¥70,200 per week, Camp Plus: ¥4,860 per day, All-Star Sports: ¥19,440 per week. (Non-Club member pricing).
How to enroll: Online via the Camp Discovery website for Preschool Camp and Big Kids Camp.

Tokyo Academics’ “Summer Academics Program”

With a diverse range of math, reading, writing, science, debate, critical thinking, and test prep classes, Tokyo Academics, based in Minato Ward, offers students a summer of intensive learning combined with the fun of making new friends and the joy of becoming savvier in a variety of vital academic subjects!

The specially designed curriculum based on international standards and local educational needs allows the school’s tutors (who come from an impressive background of Harvard and Yale-graduates) to teach and inspire children who want to know more about the world we live in through science. Classes are divided based on students’ age and cover a variety of subjects stretching from reading and writing to Macroeconomics, Advanced Pre-Calculus, World History and more. 

To better understand the needs of each student, Tokyo Academics invites families to first sign up for a free consultation and optional diagnostic test on the fundamentals of reading, writing, and mathematics. See our full list of summer classes and descriptions.

Where: Tokyo Academics, Hirose Building 3F, 3-24-17 Nishiazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Program Dates:

• Term 1 (5 days) – June 10 to 14, 2019
• Term 2 (10 days) – June 17 to 28, 2019
• Term 3 (5 days) – July 8 to 12, 2019
• Term 4 (10 days) – July 15 to 26, 2019
• Term 5 (10 days) – August 5 to 16, 2019
• Term 6 (5 days) – August 19 to 23, 2019

Cost: From ¥16,200 to ¥151,200 (some discounts apply, please inquire). Depends on the class and total duration. 
How to enroll: First, contact the school to set up a free consultation on the participating child(ren)’s academic needs and interests. For more information, see the school’s full list of summer classes, here or email at support@tokyoacademics.com to find out more.

Shinagawa International School’s Summer School

Shinagawa International School (SIS)’s Summer School runs for 4 weeks, with each week being dedicated to a specific topic. During each week children will have the opportunity to participate in games, drama activities, group projects and other activities thematically linked to that week’s topic. On the Friday of each given week, students will go on a group excursion out of the school to a park, a factory or other special facilities related to the activities they have been working on. This should be a fun way to complete a given topic, and also lets children link the themes they have been studying on the school premises with real-life situations. 

On top of a thematic week of learning, students will also be allocated a certain time in an enriching selection of other disciplines such as ICT, Arts & Crafts and Science. Classes are divided into two groups, the Junior Group (ages 4-6) and the Senior Group (ages 7-12) with a capacity of 20 students for each class. Instruction will be conducted exclusively in English. 

Where: Shinagawa International School (SIS), 4-8-8 Higashishinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
Program Dates: July 8-August 2, 2019. Session 1: Mon, July 8-Fri, July 12, 2019. Session 2: Tue, July 16-Sat, July 20, 2019. *No class on July 15. Session 3: Mon, July 22-Fri, July 26, 2019. Session 4: Mon, July 29-Fri, Aug 2, 2019. All sessions run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Cost: ¥50,000 per session. (SIS students: ¥40,000).
How to apply: Fill in SIS’s Summer School application form (download here) and send it to the school in person, by email, postal mail or fax.
Application deadline: The Wednesday before each session.

Make the most out of your children’s summer holidays (and give some time for yourself too while they’re learning!!!)