High School Admission and Entrance Exams

After finishing junior high school in Japan, going on to high school involves procedures such as entrance exams and applications.

For children with foreign roots, the preparation needed differs depending on when they came to Japan, their level of Japanese study, and their school history so far.

Consult your junior high school teacher or the board of education as early as possible.

First, consult the school

Ask your junior high school homeroom teacher, career guidance staff, or Japanese language instruction staff about things such as:

• Which high school you want to attend
• Whether you are considering a public or private school
• When the entrance exam is
• What documents are needed to apply
• How much Japanese ability is needed
• Tuition and commuting costs
• Whether there is any special selection process or accommodation for foreign students

Public high school entrance exams differ by prefecture

The public high school entrance exam system is not the same nationwide.

Depending on the prefecture, there may be a special quota for foreign students, a selection process that takes Japanese ability into account, or accommodations such as extra exam time or simplified wording in questions.

The conditions for eligibility also differ by region.

Being able to have a conversation in Japanese can still leave you struggling

Even if you can hold everyday conversations, the Japanese used in textbooks and exam questions for subjects such as Japanese language, math, science, and social studies can be difficult.

Don't assume "they can speak Japanese, so they'll be fine" — check whether they actually understand the class content and exam questions.

If it hasn't been long since coming to Japan

Your school history abroad, when you came to Japan, and how long you have been enrolled in a Japanese junior high school can be relevant to application requirements and special selection conditions.

Consult the school and the board of education early.

Costs involved in high school

In addition to tuition, high school can involve costs such as:

• Costs at the time of enrollment
• School uniform
• Teaching materials
• Tablets, etc.
• Commuting costs
• Costs for school events

There are systems, such as the Tuition Support Fund for High Schools, that you may be able to use depending on conditions.

When choosing a high school

At school information sessions, cultural festivals, and on websites, also check things such as:

• What is taught
• Japanese language support
• Support for further education or employment
• Commuting time

What you can check next

• Japan's school system, and enrolling in elementary or junior high school
• Japanese language support for children with foreign roots
• Learning Japanese and local Japanese classes

Main places to check

• Junior high school
• Prefectural board of education
• Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
• The high school you're applying to