Elementary Schools/Junior High Schools for International Residents

International residents can enroll their children in Hiroshima municipal elementary or junior high schools, where they can receive the same education as Japanese students. We encourage you to enroll your child at municpal schools to give them the education they need for their future. Enrollment procedures can be completed at the School Affairs Division of the Hiroshima Municipal Board of Education, or at the Citizens Affairs Division of ward or branch offices.

• If you have any questions about school enrollment in Hiroshima municipal schools, please contact the School Affairs Division of the Hiroshima Municipal Board of Education (082-504-2975).
• The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has detailed information about beginning schools in Japan available in English, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, Spanish, Filipino, and Portuguese; click here＜外部リンク＞ for more.
• At Hiroshima municipal elementary and junior high schools, both classes and textbooks are provided free of charge, but payment for other school supplies and school lunch are required. For those who have difficulty paying for these costs, please contact your child's school for information on the School Expense Subsidy System.
• For students who need additional instruction in basic Japanese, a Japanese tutor (Japanese language instructor) will be sent to their school. For details, please contact your child's school.
• Interpreter services can be used if you need an interpreter when speaking with teachers (parent-teacher meetings); please contact your child's school.
• If you would like to enroll your child at a lower grade level than is standard for their age due to language difficulties, please consult the School Affairs Division of the Hiroshima Municipal Board of Education before you begin enrollment procedures (082-504-2975).

Elementary and Junior High School Enrollment Procedures

Elementary School

Children of international residents are not obligated to attend school by law; it is only when you apply for enrollment in a municipal elementary school will an Enrollment Notice for Elementary be sent to you.

Children ages 6 to 11 are eligible for elementary school; enrollment procedures can be completed at the Citizens Affairs Division of ward or branch offices. 

Around mid-September each year, the Hiroshima Municipal Board of Education will send Enrollment Application Forms for School to parents/guardians whose children (registered as residents of Hiroshima City) will reach elementary school age in the following academic year. Please fill out this form and submit it to the Citizens Affairs Division of your local ward or branch office, or the School Affairs Division of the Hiroshima Municipal Board of Education by the end of October; an Enrollment Notice for Elementary School will then be sent to you by the end of January of the next year.

Even if you do not submit the Enrollment Application Form for School by the designated deadline, or the children of international residents enter Japan or Hiroshima City after September, enrollment in Hiroshima municipal elementary schools is permissible if an Enrollment Application Form for School is submitted to the Citizens Affairs Division of your local ward or branch office, or the School Affairs Division of the Hiroshima Municipal Board of Education by March of the following year.

If your child, who has already attended a Hiroshima municipal elementary school, transfers to another school due to moving within Hiroshima City, you do not need to submit an Enrollment Application Form for School again. However, if your child transfers to a Hiroshima municipal elementary school due to moving from another municipality, you are required to submit an Enrollment Application Form for School to the Citizens Affairs Division of your local ward or branch offices when you file a Moving-in Notification.

Junior High School

Children ages 12 to 14 are eligible for junior high school; enrollment procedures can be completed at the Citizens Affairs Division of ward or branch offices. Parents/guardians will be provided with an Enrollment Notice for Junior High School,  which must be submitted to the school their children will attend.

If you already submitted an Enrollment Application Form for School for your child when they began or transferred to a Hiroshima municipal elementary school, you do not need to take any additional procedures when they go on to a Hiroshima municipal junior high school.

Night School

Night school refers to a junior high school that holds classes in the evening or at night; those aged 15 years or older who have not graduated from junior high school are eligible to attend.

• Higashi Ward: Futaba Junior High School
• Nishi Ward: Kanon Junior High School

Apply for night school by submitting an application at the School Affairs Division of the Hiroshima Municipal Board of Education (Naka Ward Office 6F). Applications can be made in April and October; applicant will be notified if they are accepted.

The following information will be necessary for application:

• Name of the student applying
• Name of parent/guardian (not necessary for those 20 or older)
• Student date of birth (to determine which grade they should be assigned to)
• Student address (school they will attend will be determined based on address)
• Parent/guardian address (if parent/guardian lives seperately from the student)

Inquiries about this page

School Affairs Division, Executive Office, Board of Education,
Tel: 082-504-2975 // Fax: 082-504-2328
Email: gakujika@city.hiroshima.lg.jp