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Kobe Bilingual School

Japan, Kobe

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· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

Independently researched by doris.
Not yet claimed by the school
The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Japanese
Fees ¥756,000 - 882,000
Ages 3 - 12 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 2005
Bus Service Yes
Availability Not shared by this school
Academic offering
Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum, Japanese Curriculum
Taught languages Japanese
Typical class size 13
Strengths Performing Arts, Outdoor Education, Service and Sustainability
Clubs Community and Service, Leadership and Professional, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Infant/Toddler Care, Early Years, Primary School
Introduction

Kobe Bilingual School (KOBILS) is a bilingual international school in Momoyamadai, Tarumi Ward (west Kobe), offering full-time programs for Kindergarten (ages 3–6) and Elementary (ages 6–12). The school describes its approach as English immersion with Japanese also taught, including Kokugo, and support for Japanese as a Second Language (JSL) for some students. KOBILS states that its curriculum blends Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence with elements of Japan’s education guidelines as a KOBILS original curriculum. Class sizes are about 13 students, up to a maximum of 20. Distinctive features include a life skills curriculum that teaches practical finance (including budgeting and banking) and an annual Careers Week with visiting professionals.

655-0854 Hyogo, Kobe, Tarumi-ku, Momoyamadai, 7 Chome−１−25

Vibes and Culture
The school has not added this information
The Essentials

Kobe Bilingual School has typical class sizes of 13, instruction in English, Japanese.

Location
KOBILS operates across two campuses in Kobe's Tarumi Ward. The Elementary and Kindergarten programs are housed at Momoyamadai 7-1-25, Tarumi, Kobe, with a separate Momoyamadai Nursery School at 4-4-13 Momoyamadai in Tarumi. The Tarumi area is on the west side of Kobe, and maps are provided for both campuses to help with arrival and access.

Stages
KOBILS offers a full-time bilingual program for children aged 3–12, split into Kindergarten (ages 3–6) and Elementary (ages 6–12). The Kindergarten site runs on weekdays (Monday–Friday) with age-appropriate English immersion and some Japanese instruction, while the Elementary program follows a CfE/Japanese curriculum mix for students aged 6–12.

Type
KOBILS is a co-educational day school. It provides afterschool/daycare options and related programs, with no boarding facilities mentioned.

Pupil Nationality Mix
The majority of students are local residents, including Japanese nationals, mixed-race families, and long-term foreign residents. The school states its curriculum is developed with local residents in mind and aims for a bilingual environment, reflecting a diverse community. Exact numbers or nationalities are not published.

Additional learning support
The school uses mixed-grade classes and level-specific learning in English and Japanese, supporting diverse learning needs within the bilingual framework. There is no explicit, publicly listed SEN program, but in-house differentiation and level-based groups are described as part of the curriculum features.

Country affiliation
There is no formal country affiliation. The curriculum blends elements from Scotland's Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) with Japan's Kokugo and other components.

Religious affiliation
No religious affiliation is indicated in the school's program and materials.

School day structure
The school day runs 9:00–15:30, Monday to Friday. Kindergarten and Elementary have similar daily schedules with incorporated language and subject blocks and a lunch period.

Bus service
A school bus service is available. For kindergarten routes, a monthly bus fee is listed at ¥6,000; Akashi routes are ¥9,000 per month. Families may also arrange other transit options (walking or car) as part of daily arrival.
Diving Deeper
The school has not added this information
Fees

Annual tuition at Kobe Bilingual School ranges from JPY 756,000 to JPY 882,000 for 2026/27.

Application and one‑time fees
- Application and Interview Fee: ¥20,000.
- Entrance (one‑time) fee: Kindergarten ¥100,000. Elementary ¥200,000 (credit applied if entrance fee already paid for Kindergarten).

Tuition and recurring fees — Kindergarten (age 3–6)
- Tuition: ¥63,000 per month; billed as ¥63,000 × 12 = ¥756,000 per year. Equivalent per school term (annual ÷ 3) = ¥252,000 per term.
- Kyushoku (school lunch): ¥6,500 per month; ¥6,500 × 12 = ¥78,000 per year.
- School bus (standard routes): ¥6,000 per month; ¥6,000 × 12 = ¥72,000 per year. Akashi route: ¥9,000 per month; ¥9,000 × 12 = ¥108,000 per year.
- Annual materials fee: ¥24,000.
- Annual facility fee: ¥60,000.
- Summer school (two weeks) costs are included in Kindergarten tuition.
- Many Kindergarten families use a monthly payment plan.

Tuition and recurring fees — Elementary School (age 6–12)
- Tuition: ¥73,500 per month; billed as ¥73,500 × 12 = ¥882,000 per year. Equivalent per school term (annual ÷ 3) = ¥294,000 per term.
- Kyushoku (school lunch): ¥8,500 per month; billed over 11 months = ¥93,500 per year.
- School bus (standard routes): ¥6,000 per month; billed over 11 months = ¥66,000 per year. Akashi route: ¥9,000 per month; billed over 11 months = ¥99,000 per year.
- Annual facility fee: ¥60,000. Annual materials fee: ¥60,000. Trip fee: ¥35,000.
- Summer school (optional): ¥70,000. Japanese as a Second Language (JSL) program (where taken): ¥300,000.
- One‑time requirement: Students must purchase an iPad. (Cost borne by the family.)
- Application and Interview Fee: ¥20,000 (one‑time). Entrance fee: ¥200,000 for Elementary (less any entrance fee already paid at Kindergarten). Tax is not included in the fees listed.
- Tuition payment plans are available for Elementary families.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Published fees are shown as monthly rates with annual totals; many families are billed or pay on a monthly plan. Specific term invoicing or exact invoice dates are not published with the fee schedule. The school operates on three academic terms (Term 1, Term 2, Term 3) with term date ranges published in the school calendar.

Boarding fees
- Boarding is not provided as part of this school's programs; no boarding fees apply. The school is organized as day programs for ages 3–12.

Other costs and typical additional charges
- Uniforms: No mandatory uniform fee is published for the Kindergarten or Elementary programs. If a uniform or optional school clothing is introduced, cost is not listed in the published fee schedule.
- Consumables and incidental costs: Materials fee, facility fee, trip fee, lunch, bus, and device (iPad) purchase obligations are listed above and are the main additional costs to budget for. Tax is not included in the listed amounts.

Refund information
- No separate, detailed public refund policy for tuition, entrance fees, or other fees is published alongside the fee schedule and admissions pages. No specific refund terms (for example, for withdrawal, cancellation, or unused services) are listed in the published fee material.

Fee payment options
- The published materials list monthly billing and note that payment plans are available, but do not list specific payment methods (credit card, bank transfer, etc.) or payment processing providers in the publicly posted fee pages. No explicit payment method list is published on the contact or fees pages. Families should expect common methods (bank transfer or school invoicing arrangements) to be used, with formal options confirmed by the school.

Summary of missing or unpublished details
- The published fee schedule provides clear monthly and annual amounts, one‑time entrance and application fees, lunch and bus rates, and listed annual/optional program charges. The published materials do not state an explicit refund policy for tuition/fees, do not provide exact invoice dates for term billing, and do not list accepted payment methods. For billing dates, refund terms, and specific payment instructions, there is no detailed public statement accompanying the fee schedule.
Academics

Kobe Bilingual School teaches Bespoke Curriculum, Japanese Curriculum for students aged 3 to 12.

Curriculum
Kobe Bilingual School (KOBILS) provides a full-time bilingual program for children aged 3–12, with Kindergarten (ages 3–6) and Elementary (ages 6–12) located in Kobe; English immersion is the primary language of instruction, with Japanese Kokugo taught at the same grade level and cross-curricular discussion in Japanese. The Elementary program blends Scotland's Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) with Japan's Kokugo and Social Studies/Ethics, using mixed-grade classes and level-specific learning in English, Japanese, and mathematics to support progression at different paces. The CfE/KOBILS curriculum covers eight subject areas—English (Languages A), Japanese (Languages B), Mathematics, Health and Wellbeing, Expressive Arts, Sciences, Social Studies, and Technologies—with Ethics embedded as a cross-cutting religious/moral education component. KOBILS places emphasis on language balance, with English immersion prioritized in early years and language balance decisions made from Grade 4, supported by level-specific English and Japanese instruction and cross-curricular projects. The school operates as a free school and seeks accreditation with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) within a multi-year plan; it is currently listed as unapproved in comparative materials. The curriculum is designed for progression to international schools by Grade 7/Year 8/S2 after Grade 6, aligning CfE outcomes with Japanese pathways and project-based learning.
Wellbeing
The school has not added this information
Parent Experience
The school has not added this information
Facilities
The school has not added this information
Extra-Curricular Activities
The school has not added this information
Languages
The school has not added this information
Reputation
The school has not added this information
Admissions

Admissions
1. Program options. Kobe Bilingual School offers a Kindergarten program for children aged 3 to 6, and an Elementary program for children aged 6 to 12. A Saturday School program is also available as part of its offerings. The school is located at 7-1-25 Momoyamadai, Tarumi, Kobe.

2. Application periods. For Kindergarten, there are two application periods: Period 1 (Open Application) from September 8 to September 30, 2025, and Period 2 (Rolling Application with restricted entry) from October 1, 2025. For Elementary, the periods mirror Kindergarten: Period 1 (Open Application) from September 8 to September 30, 2025, and Period 2 (Rolling Application with restricted entry) from October 1, 2025. The application windows are listed on the New Student Application Process page.

3. Application forms and guidelines. Kindergarten applicants can download the Kindergarten application form and guidelines; Elementary applicants can download the Elementary application form and guidelines. There is also an Enquiry Form available for general inquiries.

4. Application fields and submission. The application form collects basic contact information, including Name, Email, and Phone. A CAPTCHA is present on the form to verify entrants.

5. Fees at application. The application requires an Application and Interview Fee of ¥20,000. Kindergarten Entrance Fee is ¥100,000.

6. Interview and admissions steps. An interview is part of the admissions process as indicated by the Application and Interview Fee.

7. Enrollment and initial payment. If admitted, the Entrance Fee and other one-time charges are due at enrollment (Kindergarten Entrance Fee: ¥100,000; Elementary Entrance Fee: ¥200,000, less any Kindergarten entrance fee paid).

8. Ongoing costs and payment options. Kindergarten tuition is ¥63,000 per month for 12 months, with Kyushoku (lunch) at ¥6,500 per month and a School Bus option at ¥6,000 per month (Akashi routes may be ¥9,000). Annual Fees include Materials ¥24,000 and Facility ¥60,000. One-time fees include Entrance ¥100,000 and an Application/Interview Fee ¥20,000. Tuition payment plans are available.

Scholarships
No scholarships are listed on the Kobe Bilingual School site. The 2025 Admission Materials include an application and brochure with no scholarship information, and the Fees page lists standard charges (tuition, lunch, bus, materials, facility, entrance, and application/interview fees) without mentioning scholarship programs.

Waitlist
The site does not publish a formal waitlist or pool policy. Application periods include a Period 2 Rolling Entry with restricted entry, indicating capacity controls. There is no publicly described waitlist process beyond the rolling-entry approach.
School Events
The school has not added events
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