MEES International School - Hakusan Campus

MEES Hakusan Campus is in Bunkyo Ward, central Tokyo, Japan. The address is in Hakusan, Tokyo 112-0001, and the campus is a short walk from Hakusan Station (about 5 minutes). The campus sits in a dense urban area with easy access to Tokyo's public transport network. The school markets its Hakusan site as the Bunkyo campus for Preschool and Elementary.

MEES Hakusan Campus comprises two levels: Preschool (ages 1–6) and Elementary School (grades 1–6, roughly ages 6–12). Preschool is organized into Lower Preschool (ages 1–3) and Upper Preschool (ages 3–6). The campus is explicitly described as hosting Preschool and Elementary on its Hakusan site.

MEES Hakusan Campus is a co-educational international day school. English is the primary language of instruction. The school offers afterschool programming but does not list boarding facilities.

MEES reports about 120 students in the Hakusan campus community, with an international, multicultural profile. Publicly published nationality breakdowns are not provided. The school presents itself as an international community with English as the primary language of instruction.

MEES provides an Elementary English Language Support Program (ES) for students needing language support, with sessions from 15:00–16:00 and monthly fees listed for different weekly cadences. The school also references safeguarding practices aligned with JCIS standards. There is no publicly listed, school-wide SEN program beyond language support on the site.

MEES Hakusan is based in Tokyo, Japan, with a Tokyo address and Japanese location. The school does not publish a country-specific affiliation beyond its operation as an international school in Japan.

Religious affiliation is not indicated in MEES's program or admissions materials. The school presents a secular, project-based, English-language program for ages 1–12.

Preschool runs from 9:00 to 14:00 (with Nursery 9:00–18:00; see Preschool page for details). Elementary Full Day is 8:30–15:00, with an English Language Support option and a lunch included. After-school activities run 14:00–18:00, including immersion, PBL/design thinking, MakerSpace, Tasty Lab, Tech, and more. Lunch is included for elementary students in the standard program.

MEES offers bus service for both morning/full-day and afternoon programs; for Elementary, bus service is optional with published monthly costs. Preschool/Nursery also offers a bus option with separate fees listed in the Preschool and Afterschool program pages. Routes are provided by the school and details are available upon inquiry.

MEES International School – Hakusan Campus in Bunkyo, Tokyo serves Nursery through Grade 6 (Preschool to Elementary). MEES Preschool blends Montessori and Reggio Emilia, with hands-on, project-based learning, English as the primary language of instruction, and mixed-age classrooms focusing on five core areas: language, motor, sensory development, social growth, and academic readiness. MEES Elementary uses Project-Based Learning with strong STEM integration, a Makerspace, and a full-day schedule from 8:30 to 15:00; an English Language Support Program is available after school if needed. The curriculum emphasizes digital literacy and technology across disciplines, including programming and AI-informed learning, while The Forest program provides regular outdoor learning and mixed-age cohorts to foster resilience and collaboration. Practical details include Preschool 9:00–14:00, Nursery 9:00–18:00, Elementary 8:30–15:00, with optional bus service and published 2025–2026 tuition/fees.

MEES Hakusan Campus prioritizes social development and collaborative learning; its core beliefs emphasise peer interactions that respect individual differences over competition, and learning is organized around project-based, mixed-age cohorts to build communication, collaboration, and confidence, with MEES The Forest outdoor education further developing social skills and resilience.

The school does not publicly disclose information regarding Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision, types of SEN supported, or whether it operates as a specialist SEN institution; the School Handbook exists in English and Japanese but content is hosted on Google Drive and requires login to view.

English is the primary language of instruction at MEES Hakusan, with Preschool explicitly stating English as the main language of instruction, and EAL support available through an English immersion program for Preschool and an English Language Support Program for Elementary, plus English-language afterschool clubs.

Mental wellbeing is supported through MEES Forest & Outdoor Education, offering regular outdoor experiences that build physical fitness, social skills, and resilience, alongside wellbeing-oriented clubs and programs.

MEES is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every child, guided by Japan Council of International Schools standards, with staff following a strict code of conduct, clear reporting protocols, and regular training to address risks.

Preschool Enrollment Process (Hakusan Campus): Step 1 — Schedule a visit. Prospective families are encouraged to arrange a school tour to experience the Hakusan campus's learning environment firsthand. For families contacting from abroad, an online meeting can be scheduled to discuss the program and any questions you have about the approach. The visit is a practical opportunity to observe classrooms and daily routines and to gather initial information about programs available for 1–3 year olds and older. Step 2 — Submit the application form. After you have had a chance to tour or speak with the team, submit the preschool application form to begin the formal review process. Be prepared to provide basic information about your child and family and to specify desired days per week (2–5 days) for younger children; MEES notes the need to align attendance with program requirements. Step 3 — Enrollment invoice issued upon approval. If the application is approved, MEES issues an enrollment invoice to confirm the next steps toward enrollment. This invoice initiates the financial portion of the process and outlines the payment method. Step 4 — Finalized upon payment. Enrollment is considered final once the payment is processed. Families should ensure timely payment to secure placement and confirm start dates. Step 5 — Additional policy notes and attendance details. MEES reserves the right to decline applications and may do so without providing reasons. For 1–3 year olds, attendance options range from 2 to 5 days per week; from age 3, students typically start the new school year at 5 days a week to support peer relationships and progress. Elementary and afterschool options at Hakusan may also be explored during the same admission period; information on demo days and program availability is provided during outreach.

Elementary Enrollment Process (Hakusan Campus): Step 1 — Schedule a visit. Prospective families are encouraged to schedule a school tour to experience the learning environment firsthand. For elementary admissions, an assessment meeting with your child is requested, and online meetings are available for families living abroad. Step 2 — Submit the application form. Complete and submit the elementary application form to begin the formal review. Step 3 — Application fee invoice and schedule demo day. An application fee invoice is issued and a demo day for the child is scheduled to assess fit with MEES' program. Step 4 — If demo day is successful, enrollment invoice will be issued. A successful demo day leads to an enrollment invoice detailing the next steps toward enrollment. Step 5 — Finalized upon payment. Enrollment is finalized after payment is received and processed. Step 6 — Admissions cautions. MEES reserves the right to decline applications and may do so without providing reasons.

Afterschool programs (Hakusan campus) note. Afterschool program applications are handled via the APPLY link provided for MEES Hakusan and Sendagi campuses; there is an Enrollment Fee for afterschool programs, and options include a Preschool Immersion Program (14:00–18:00) with varying weekly frequencies. Other offerings include an English class and project-based afterschool activities with separate fee schedules; details are updated in the public materials. This information is relevant for families planning care beyond the standard school day.

Fees context (related to admissions and enrollment at Hakusan Elementary): The Elementary program charges include: Application fee 20,000 JPY (one-time), Enrollment fee 180,000 JPY (one-time), Material Fee 40,000 JPY (annual), School Growth Fund 50,000 JPY (annual). Tuition for the 2025-2026 school year is divided by terms (1st term 551,250 JPY; 2nd term 413,438 JPY; 3rd term 551,250 JPY; Annual total 1,515,938 JPY) with an optional Bus Service (two-way) priced per term and annually (e.g., 80,000 JPY first term, 60,000 JPY second term, 80,000 JPY third term; annual 220,000 JPY). Lunch is included with tuition, and tuition and bus fees are subject to 10% consumption tax. Prices are subject to change without prior notice.

MEES Hakusan does not publish a scholarship program in its public materials. The fee structure lists one-time and annual fees (application, enrollment, material, and school growth fund) and tuition terms, with no scholarship discounts or tuition waivers described. There is no explicit scholarship or financial aid option described in the published admissions or fees content; for current, verifiable options, please contact the admissions team.

There is no published waitlist or pool system described for MEES Hakusan in public admissions materials. The available process details a direct application review, with an enrollment invoice issued upon acceptance and a right for the school to decline applications without providing reasons. There is no explicit step for placing applicants on a waiting list. This conclusion is based on the admissions steps published for Preschool and Elementary programs and the absence of any waitlist description in those materials.