Updated: August 2014
Below is a listing of various summer camps that are conducted in English and available on location in Japan:
Footy (British Football Academy) Summer kids soccer camp
British Football Academy is holding its annual Summer Soccer camps for kids at the BST Showa Campus (Leo field) from August 19th (Mon) – 23rd (Fri) – 5-day camp & August 26th (Mon) – 29th (Thur) – 4-day camp. Girls and boys ages 4 ~ 8 years old in the morning from 10am, Ages 9 ~14 in the afternoon from 1:30pm. Please sign-up ASAP to ensure your childs place by contacting: camp@footyjapan.com or visit: http://british-football-academy.com/e/pages/camp.html for all the details.
Camp Roadless Summer’s Performing Arts and Nature Camps
Camp Roadless Summer is a Performing Arts and Nature camp located at the base of Mt. Fuji. In the morning we will investigate the world around us. Then, it’s showtime! Your child can choose from dance, chorus, drama and visual art. Let them fine tune their skills or find new ones while they mix and mingle with other young campers. Your child can choose their focus and prepare a short presentation for our closing ceremonies. Our goal is to provide your child with the chance to strut his/her talent and enjoy nature. One of the best things about being outside of the city is the ability to appreciate nature. Your child will be able to do the traditional camp activities along with art. English speaking staff, with a few bilingual speaking staff. We hope to bring young people together to celebrate their talent and skill. Join us for our 3-day session (6-12 y.o.) or 6-day session (13-16y.o.).The 6 day camp will be able to attend Earth Embassy, an organic farm near Lake Saiko. Campers will be able to hike, canoe, fish, play games, as well as, sing songs around the campfire! Contact info@rsummercamp.com
Website: www.rsummercamp.com
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Children’s Creative Arts Camp in Shinjuku 7/23-8/9: Three weeks of painting, drawing, photography, crafts, Lego and more for elementary and junior high age kids. Sessions run Mon-Thurs 1:00-3:30 pm. Maximum six kids per session. Scholarships also available upon request to edn-in-jpn members so please call me to find out more. See http://www.genesiscards.com for details or call Liane Wakabayashi directly: Tel: 090-4122-6626.
Filmcamp at New York Film Academy
A hands-on film and acting school with an English-language program in Tokyo/Kyoto. Offers filmmaking, acting, screenwriting, directing, 3D computer animation workshops. Students write, direct, shoot and edit their own films in 16 mm, 35 mm and digital technology.
[P.S. The Tokyo studio link is down or else the studio may now be defunct.]
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Boy Scouts of America
Bldg. 2000, Yokota Air Force Base, Fussa-shi
Phone: 0425-52-2511 ext.58797 [contact Mr. Jack Daly]
Office of Cub Scouts [ages 6-10] and Boy Scouts [ages 11-18] of America in Japan. They accept children of any nationality. Summer Programs Camp; Children’s Organizations.
English Adventures offers Annual Summer Camps held in August. Nature Education, traditional camp activities, sports and games — all in English! English Adventure’s expert native-English staff bring the fun and learning of American Summer Camp to your child, without leaving Japan. More info here. Dave Paddock is the director of English Adventure, offering camps and outdoor programs for kids, families and organizations. Send comments, questions and suggestions to this email. Read more about Dave Paddock in the Japan Times news article “It takes a forest, a field and a stream to raise a child”
Evergreen Hakuba Summer Camps are run by Evergreen Outdoor Center. They specialize in canoeing, kayaking, sailing and fishing to overnight camping and and mountain biking activities. Based on Lake Aokiko (15 min from Hakuba) campers stay in lakeside cabins except for overnight camping trip which are spent in tents. The camp base. See their website for details of their facilities.
Gymboree, the global leader in classes for 0-5 year olds, was started by a San Francisco mom in 1976. We currently have over 700 sites in 50 countries around the world. Our programming experts have teamed up with the US research organization, “Zero to Three®” to develop age-appropriate programs which incorporate the latest research in early child development. All activities have been created with the child in mind and encourage children to learn as they play.
Whether your child enjoys playing on the equipment during our play classes, moving to various musical styles in our music classes or using paint and play dough in our art classes, you will enjoy watching him/her learn and grow at Gymboree. Families who are currently enrolled in classes can take advantage of our play gyms, a safe environment for children to release their energy and for parents to socialize with each other.
For those families staying in Tokyo, this will be a great opportunity to escape the heat and spend quality time with your little one. For parents with children 2-5 years old, we will also offer 1 to 3 hour drop-off options which will enable you to get some time to yourself during the long summer vacation.
Our “Summer Bubble Pass” will be available from 6/9(Mon) – 9/7(Sun) and we will start accepting reservations from 5/19(Mon). Families can choose the monthly pass (4-class, 8-class or 12-class) that best fits with their busy summer schedules. In addition to our age-appropriate programming, pass holders can take advantage of our air-conditioned PLAYGYMS on the days that their child attends classes.
Our “Summer School” will consist of 2.5 hour (Jiyugaoka) or 3 hour (Motoazabu) morning and afternoon drop-off sessions for 2-5 year olds. Customers will be able to choose which weeks they would like to participate in and pay per week. Each week will have a different theme which will incorporate all music, art and science activities.
Contact Info
Tel: Motoazabu 03-5449-2311
Jiyugaoka 03-3723-0651
LalaPort Yokohama 045-414-2719
Email: info@gymboree.jp
website: www.gymboree.jp .Please check the homepage and/or Facebook page in mid-May for details.
Facebook: https://ja-jp.facebook.com/pages/Gymboree-PlayMusic-Japan
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International Gymnastics Club (IGC) is run by a team led by founder Lance Lee and his staff, themselves gymnasts and fitness instructors. They feature a wide variety of levels and packages for kids aged 3 to 12. The team help empower kids achieving surprising results in tumbling, vault, balance beam, and uneven parallel bars. The weeklong camps usually run from mid-June through to mid-August. Location: International School of the Sacred Heart in Hiroo. Special weeklong evening classes (5 pm) are available at Nishimachi International School gym through Aug. 5. For details, contact ICG. Phone: 3440-0384, or visit the IGC website.
International Youth Association (Tokyo-based) holds its annual camps during August usually made up of about 100 plus Japanese participants and about 40 foreign participants. Various activities such as climbing Mt Fuji, cooking outdoors and playing games. The camp is open to children from fourth grade primary to third ear middle school. Phone: 03-3359-8421.
IZU OSHIMA is a great place for kids in a really pristine location! Camp director Dave Moodie (who is also Aquatics Director at St. Mary’s International School and Head Coach of the International Buccaneers Swimming Team) provides a great opportunity for international kids to enjoy outdoor activities & swimming in a beautiful island setting enhanced by local Japanese culture. Izu Oshima emphasizes the outdoor experince and the sporty side of things. One arrives by boat from Tokyo. The water is clear (like in Okinawa) and you can swim with turtles just a few meters off from land. There is also a hike up a small peak. There was one girl on the trip that just finished last week, who didn’t know how to swim yet, but she also really enjoyed her experience. Visit this webpage for camp details.
Kids-tech Camp is a three day camp for kids. Kids will learn about the wonderful world of electricity by crafting three cool projects. Day one will include the bare basics of electronic circuits and how to solder, along with a simple project to re-enforce skills. Day two, kids will learn about robotics by building their own bug bots. Day three, kids will learn about the Electro-luminescence by making cool EL projects that glow upon command. Website: http://tokyohackerspace.org/en/event/kids-tech-camp-2010-05-01 More details of the upcoming camp below:
* Kids-tech Camp is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (correction – INCLUDES MEALS! Please notify lauren.shannon@gmail.com of any special dietary requirements).
* The camp is for ages 10 to 15.
* The camp is 35,000 yen, which includes instruction, space rental, and all supplies.
(10,000 yen Deposit REQUESTED.) Lauren will contact you after registration to arrange deposit payment via bank transfer or cash in person. Please make your deposit by Friday, April 23rd. )
Class is limited to 8 students, so register now!
Sign up below!
(Please note: We need both email and an emergency contact number in the sign-up. Incomplete sign-ups will be deleted, and your reservation canceled. Please fill in the form completely. You will be contact shortly via email for additional information.) Register at http://tokyohackerspace.org/en/event/kids-tech-camp-2010-05-01
Krissman International Tennis School (KITS). Alan Krissman has been courting young players in Tokyo for over two decades. Junior Tennis Camp sessions (ages 5-17) serve out instruction at all levels, held usually in early June to late August. They take place at three locations: St. Mary’s International School in Setagaya, the American Embassy Housing Compound in Roppongi, and the Hanegi courts near Shibuya. Contact KITS at 3325-0924, or check out their bilingual website: http://www.tennisintokyo.com/.
Nanbo Discovery Camp /Discover Japan program emphasizes kids communing with nature. Nanbo Discovery camp operates full room and board camps located on the Boso Peninsula (Chiba Prefecture). They have both summer school sessions and camp sessions in English. They have bilingual counselors, outdoor activities, and academic enrichment to explore the lovely environs of the Minami Boso Peninsula, Chiba. The camp is geared to students entering grades 3 through 7, and is directed by David Green, science teacher at Nishimachi for nearly three decades, and his wife Yoshiko Kimura, 4th-grade teacher at St. Mary’s. Campers can snorkel, go hiking, collect specimens from tide pools, play on the seashore, and learn a great deal about marine biology from David Green. Campers spend nights at the Hakkakuso lodge in Tateyama, and/ in tents at the beach, with cookouts over a campfire. Location: 422-1 Sunomiya, Tateyama, Chiba; Phone: 0470-28-2824. For registration and further details, contact David Green: 1-3-3-202 Okamoto, Setagaya-ku; Phone: 3708-4012; Email: dgreen@gol.com (and if you request, David Green can help you arrange roundtrip transportation to and from Tokyo).
About David Green: For over 25 years, David Green and Yoshiko Kimura have been organizing outdoor activities for children and adults. They want people to discover the culture of the country outside of Tokyo, and they facilitate this through outdoor adventures. Some of the activities of Discover Japan include weekend bicycle tours, community ski/board trips, a children’s ski camp, and the Nanbo Discovery Camp and Summer School (residential summer programs). Nanbo Kokusai Mura is their lodge and seminar house, 200m from the beach in southern Chiba. It is the home for company retreats, children’s scouting trips, sports group’s team building trips, school outdoor education activities, family or club “getaways” and much more. Visit their website. See what our reviewers say below:
One reviewer says: Discover Japan is out in the Bozo Peninsula (Chiba prefecture). There is more emphasis on marine biology, a bit of “studying” and group meal cooking and so on. It is also an outdoor experience. My daughter went on an overnight school trip to this camp a few weeks ago and she loved it. For more details, visit their website: http://www.discoverjapan.co.jp/
Another reviewer says: The kids seem to really like David Green! This camp is about kids loving nature.The camp features bilingual counselors, outdoor activities, located in Minami Boso Peninsula Chiba. Aimed at kids into grades 3 through 7, directed by David Green, hiking, snorkeling, collecting specimens, collecting specimens from tide pools, playing on the beach,etc. Campers stay either at the Hakkuso lodge in Tateyama, and/in tents at the beach with cookouts over a campfire.
New International School’s annual summer program is for kids aged 5 – 14. Children of any nationality and from outside of the school are welcome. A fun educational program is planned incorporating reading, math, science, and music activities. Parents may choose a program conducted only in English, only in Japanese, or a program conducted in English with one Japanese class per day. The final day of each program there will be presentations, performances and a picnic or potluck with the participating families. The school uniform will not be required, but parents will be expected to provide a box lunch and drinks for school.
Northstar Camp has both summer and winter camps that are highly recommended by our members. During summer they have river hikes, mountain bike, rock climbing activities. Winter camps have featured snowboarding at Northstar in Nagano Prefecture in the past. Busing from Tokyo is provided. Says an e-community member: “My daughter has been to the camp several times before (for skiing and snowboarding in the winter, and for hiking in the Alps during the summer), and she has had a great time. She has met other homeschoolers there, as well. The staff includes both Japanese and North American counselors. The cost is 29,800 yen including transportation from Shinjuku; the cost is less for people who get there on their own (about 22,800 yen). Incidentally, at other times Northstar is operated as a lodge. So if the camp doesn’t work out, you could always go as a family, rent a room at the lodge, and go skiing/snowboarding/snowshoeing/etc.” For more info, take a look at the Northstar webpage: http://www.ridenorthstar.com/whats-cool/camps/ and blog on past camps and 2013 Road Bike Training Camp
OIS in Okinawa’s summer day program places 1st grade through 6th grade kids in multi-aged beginners or advanced classes, and offer thematic programs. For more details, refer to their blog.
They have a summer program for kids aged 1 year – 12 years old (Gr 6) – held from July 26, 2010 – Aug 13, 2010:
Let’s enjoy and learn science of cooking in English!
Session 2 (Aug 2-6) SPORTS & MUSIC
Let’s harmonize rhythm of the music, songs and sports!
Session 3 (Aug 9-13) THEATER ARTS
Let’s express yourself through drama, musical and arts!
Okutama Bible Chalet
3-839 Yugimachi, Ohme-shi
Phone: 0428-76-0931 Hours: 9am-5 pm Closed: Sundays
Joy Bible Camp is held every year in June. Ages 8 to 14. Summer camps and skiing camps in the scenic Okutama Mountain area, with lovely Tama River just downhill from the camp and Okutama Lake area also nearby. Facilities are also for rent to Christian groups and churches.
Outward Bound Japan school, based in Tokyo, is part of the global Outward Bound chain of organizations famous for their delivery of outdoor experiential education and leadership camps. OBJ hosts a one-week program for children in March, August and December and occasionally holds weekend “Japanese Language Camps”, designed to teach participants the Japanese language and Japanese culture via outdoor activities. See their philosophy behind their challenging courses. Their diverse adventure programs cater mostly to high school students and college students but are also open to adult nature lovers of varying experience and preferences, including 21-day camping tour in which partici@pants traverse the Japanese archipelago from the Pacific Ocean to the Sea of Japan entirely by foot and mountain bike; a 10 day-trip featuring rock-climbing and stream-climbing (hiking along stream beds) in Nagano Prefecture’s Northern Alps; a five-day trekking trip on Mt Fuji; and various three-day rock climbing and mountain-bike rallies in Kanagawa, and other prefectures. All tours are led by experienced outdoor instructors who have the company’s special training program. Read more at Japan Times’ feature “How to escape the urban grind” here For details of their courses, see their website Outward Bound Japan for English speakers. Outward Bound website (for Japanese).
Right Brain Research Art Center (RBR)Kristin Newton offers activities that allow children and adults to learn how to use the creative power of the right brain hemisphere. RBR has just moved into a fresh, spacious facility in Moto Azabu, and features classes in all sorts of studio arts, as well as calligraphy, etching, jewelry-making, and sculpting. Pace method music instruction, improvisation workshops, and even a Daddy and Me class have been scheduled as past summer activities, many are conducted in both English and Japanese. Location: 1-5-15 Moto Azabu, Minato-ku; Phone: 5484-3719; The RBR facility is right across from the Korean Embassy and a mere 7 minutes from Azabu Juban station.
Sahoro Summer/ Fall Camp Club Medfor 1 individual adult/child (3-11 years) 9,899 yen package for 4 days. Camp includes the very popular English immersion camp, the Circus School, as well as nature challenge school, and many hands on activities including bread-making, milking cows, potato picking, fishing, T-shirt designing and making. Dates: Jun 4-Sep 10; Sep 17-Oct 15. Taking advantage of the beauty of Hokkaido’s country landscape, Club Med like all its other facilities elsewhere knows all about organized fun, and offers good value for money in terms of food and accommodation. The only thing is you have to blow your expenses on your airfare to the north country. – UPDATE: Sahoro is now closed for the summer.
North Osaka Senri International School’s has a Just for Kids summer program as well, for details please refer to:
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Aoba-Japan summer camp has a summer soccer skills camp for 5- 19 yr olds.
Sports Camp Of America (SCOA)SCOA’s aim is to give campers a total American camp experience. SCOA emphasizes team building and each camper will be a member of a team led by one of the American counselors. The teams come up with a team name, team chant and team banner and compete in relays and other fun activities throughout the camp against other teams. Each team also performs a short skit on the last night.Campers have the option each day of playing flag football or cheer dancing with skilled coaches or they can participate in other sports such as soccer or ultimate Frisbee.The campers also participate in other typical American camp activities such as potato sack races, capture the flag, water balloon toss and treasure hunts. On the last night, there is a campfire and the campers make their own S’mores.Camp activities include:
This summer’s camp counselors attended UC Berkeley, UC Davis, Louisiana State University and Chico State University.Philosophy:We want to bring international and Japanese students together so they can experience each other’s culture and expand their horizons through the universal language of sports and have a lot of fun while doing it!To see upcoming camp events, see their website for details: www.scoacamp.com
Tokyo Baptist Church have conducted in the past music day camps for English-speaking, elementary-age children, usually in mid-August. Location: 9-2 Hachiyamacho, Shibuya-ku; tel: 3461-8425
Tokyo YMCA, Wellness Center offers summer camps and ski camps during winter to spring.
7 Kanda Midoshirocho, Chiyoda-ku. Phone: 03-3293-7015
Hours: 10 am – 9 pm Closed: Sundays and public holidays.
UNESCO International Children’s Camp is held every summer. Children ages 10 to 15 of different nationalities gather in the nature.
This two-week Tokyo-based camp consists of discussion groups, classes and visits to companies that define the Japan film industry. Through these activities, the young Japanese and American actors will share their most common passion: acting.
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Full-day camps are usually offered by a great many international schools, there are just too many to list them all here. Check it out with the international school nearest to your home – try our very comprehensive list of international schools for info to begin with. Some of those that have offered camps in the past include:
ABC International School in Moto-Azabu has an annual summer school program. It has expanded its program to an Extended Day Enrichment Program for children aged 15 months to 6 years. Email abcintl@gol.com.
Aoba-Japan summer camps by AJE for 5 – 9 year olds.
AJE English Summer Camp: “English Unites the World”
Choose from 1 to 5 weeks from July 21 to August 22. Classes run Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. 2 weeks: 150,000, 3 weeks: 200,000, 4 weeks: 250,000, 5 weeks: 300,000 Registration 15,000. Buses are available.
Experience, Collaborate, Share, and Enjoy.
Communicate in English. Internationalize. Become a Leader. Dance. Get new soccer skills. Learn about engineering. Make models. Build bridges. Race cars. Launch rockets. Learn pottery. Compete in an Olympiad. Showcase your work. Climb Mount Takao. Make new friends.
Try indoor climbing. Learn to orienteer. And MORE.
And most of importantly, have FUN!
The AJE English Summer Camp provides excellent programming, fun, and memorable experiences that students in each age group will thoroughly enjoy. With the exception of weekly field trips, the camp is held on the safe and gated campus at Aoba-Japan International School in Hikarigaoka. The campus sports and outdoor facilities include a full gymnasium, an outdoor swimming pool, basketball courts, and a baseball/soccer field. The indoor facilities provide air- conditioned classrooms, a computer lab, science and art labs, a theatrical stage, a cafeteria, and a full library.
Qualified teachers provide English instruction.
The English curriculum is delivered each morning of the program from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm with an approach designed to improve confidence in communication and interaction in English. The afternoons are devoted to a variety of activities in an English-speaking environment and run from 1:00 to 4:30 pm. In the afternoons, activities and field trips are carefully selected to balance educational, historical and cultural, sports and leisure, and outdoor experiences. They are selected to be interesting, to capture the imaginations of the students, to be educationally relevant and fun.
From ages 5 to 19
1 to 5 weeks in July and August
Qualified teachers
Swimming, Soccer, and Sports
Confidence in communication
Electronics and robotics
Models and Rockets
Hip Hop and Capoeira
Educationally relevant and fun
Summer camp Olympics
International Ambassadors
Global leadership skills building
Internationalization
Contact information
Address: 7-5-1 Hikarigaoka, Nerima, Tokyo 179-007 Phone: 03-6904-3102
Website: http://www.aobajapan.jp/aj-extension/summer-camp
The American School in Japan has offered outstanding theme-based programs designed for native speakers, as well as several ESL-based camps in the past. Phone: 0422-34-5300 or access their website: English summer camps for Japanese children or camps for fluent English speaking children.
Update: ASIJ’s program approaches summer learning through a wide variety of courses. These range from art and music to physical activities such as basketball, volleyball, tennis, soccer, Futsal and swimming. There are also more academically rigorous courses in the Academy Strand that prepare students for the SAT, AP History, AP Chemistry, and have the opportunity to learn Google Apps or participate in a Model United Nations class.
Creative, hands-on science activities encourage students to question, hypothesize and experiment—whether it is working on an engineering problem, building a robot or solving a forensic mystery. Students can choose to learn the logic of math or the illogic of English grammar or how to become a dynamic.
Readak, a world-renowned study program from New Jersey, continues to be a powerful class for students in grades 5 -11. Readak provides students with techniques for test taking, note taking and reading for meaning, all with the purpose of securing strong lifelong study skills in each student.
For younger students we are pleased to offer a Language Development class in kindergarten and grade one that will develop English ability through song, literature and art all related to zoo animals. For those fluent in English, a kindergarten class will focus on the ocean and first graders will experience the thrill of digging up bones that may have belonged to a dinosaur! This summer, students in our 2-4 grade English program will include art, music, literature and some exciting science discoveries. We also offer a full-day Japanese class for students in grades 2-4.
This is just a taste of what students will enjoy this summer. Please visit our website and download the brochure to learn more about all the courses, our bus service and how to apply. The dates of the 2014 program are June 16-July 4, from 8:30am to 3pm five days a week for three weeks.
Website: http://community.asij.ac.jp/passport Email: passport@asij.ac.jp
The American School in Japan, 1-1-1 Nomizu, Chofu-shi, Tokyo, 1820031 Phone: 0422-345300 ext 520
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Grace International Learning Center runs summer camps for aged 3-8 kids. Location: 2-13-11 Seta, Setagaya-ku; Phone: 5716-3100. Website: http://www.grace-learning.com
Global Kids Academy (GKA) has run in the past full-day camps with two summer sessions for school-age kids. Founded by alumni of Nishimachi International School and ASIJ, GKA痴 strength is in dual language immersion education. Location: Townhouse Moto Azabu, 1-5-24 Moto Azabu, Minato-ku; tel. 5447-1913; Website: http://global-kids-academy.jp.net/ They have featured in the past creative and challenging field trips, neighborhood scavenger hunts, recorded music CDs with famous singers; trips to Kasai Sea Life Park, and tea ceremonies. See their summer school program
International School of Asia’s Karuizawa Summer Camp (currently held on July 19-July 30, 2013)
4-9-34-404 Minamiazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-0047 JAPAN / Website: http://isak.jp/programs/summerschool.html/ Email: info@isak.jp Phone: 0800-600-9758. For current camp brochure, download this document The fully residential boarding school for 3 yr high schoolers will be opening in 2014.
International School of Sacred Heart The ISSH 2014 Summer School Program at the Hiroo campus is now accepting applications! Choose from an engaging selection of 49 educational, athletic, artistic and IT classes for boys and girls aged 8 to 18. Pre-K to Grade 2 students, will also enjoy both fun and challenging age-appropriate, educational activities.
Dates: June 16th – 27th, 2014
Time: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m
Who can attend? All students/children aged 3-18 living in the International Community are welcome. The Kindergarten to Grade 2 program is also open to ESL students.
The deadline for applications is Friday, May 30th. Payment must be made in full by Tuesday, June 6th.
Program Information
Students must enroll in the grade level that they completed as of June 2014. Pre-K students must be 3 years of age by September 1st, 2014.
Kindergarten to Grade 2:
For students in pre-K to grades 2, there will be a set program each week that consists of a variety of well-balanced activities designed to stimulate children’s minds and bodies. Kindergarten students will explore nature through creative play, stories, artwork and outdoor activities. With “Mystery” as the main theme, students in Grades 1 and 2 will develop their language, imaginations and mathematics skills. In addition, students will be taught by numerous specialists in the areas of art, sports and music.
Grades 3 to Grade 12:
We are offering a wide range of courses in the areas of mathematics, sciences, language, arts, music, technology and sports. For full details and course descriptions, please visit the Summer School brochure http://www.issh.ac.jp/page.cfm?p=494.
Contact Information
E-mail: isshsummerschool@issh.ac.jp Telephone: 81-3-3400-3951 Fax: 81-3-3400-3496
Address: 4-3-1 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0012
Website: http://www.issh.ac.jp/page.cfm?p=494
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ISSHTokyo
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International Secondary School has held short summer camps (4-days) for students from grade 6-12 at Lake Shirakabako – a mountain resort three hours from Tokyo. Students took part in outdoor activities including horse riding, hiking, fishing and cycling. They also experienced life in a rural farmyard setting: milking cows, making butter, picking and planting vegetables, and preparing outdoor meals. They also visited local attractions including Lake Suwa geyser and the Suwa Shrine. Phone: 03-5730-1331 or email iss@isstokyo.com Their website is at URL: http://www.isstokyo.com.
J’s International School targets tots from 2.5 to 6, and their camps focus on various language-related activities, including conversation, reading, writing, cultural traditions, and games. The Summer Fun Program runs in early August, half-day camps featuring crafts, weekly themes. Location: 1-16-2 Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku; Phone: 03-3452-2078; Website: http://www.js-international-school.com
Joy to the World American International School operates a four-week summer program that allows children (aged 2 years to 4th graders) not enrolled in international schools to experience an international school atmosphere. Choose from half-day to full day programs. For their 2010 Summer Safari program in English that includes crafts, games, songs, outdoor water activities, see their 2010 summer program flyer
Kobe Bilingual School‘s summer program – message from Janina Ueda Tubby, owner and director of KOBILS:
“We have a summer school in August in Kobe in which the kids ONLY speak English both at playtime and in organized events, yet we are not an international school. For summer school, we only accept kids who can operate in an English only environment. In practice that means some international kids and some returnees and some of our own homegrown students, typically but not always, who have graduated from our or another “international preschool” ; there are also some EFL kids who attend summer school who generally have good listening skills but are a lot quieter than they would be in Japanese! It’s hugely fun and educational too! We don’t have accommodation but some students have expressed an interest in hosting kids, so it may be possible to stay.
Summer School July 21- August 1(2), 2014
Artists and Inventors
Join us for two weeks this summer as we travel through time visiting artists and inventors and crafting and building their art and inventions. We’ll learn about Leonardo Da Vinci, Monet, the Wright Brothers, Hiroshige and many more. Registration is open now! Come in and see us to find out more. Kids new to KOBILS are required to attend an interview before being accepted. Reserve your spot early! Sign up or more info? Mail: info@kobils.com or call 078-766-5795. For more, see this page
Leonardo Da Vinci Academy’s summer school in Uesu, Okinawa -their summer program is run by a small friendly school with multinational children operated by a foreign couple.
Komazawa Park International Preschool/Kindergarten offers summer school for children ages 3 onwards from July too August. Phone / Fax: 03-5707-0979 Email: Located in Setagaya-ku.
St. Mary’s International School (summer camps are now co-ed, feature a full-range of studies with activities such as swimming, baseball, drama, karate, science, as well as crafts and games. Directed by Mike Dimuzio. Location: 1-6-19 Seta, Setagaya-ku. Phone: 3709 3411 see write-up of Izu Oshima above. Update:
St. Mary’s International School’s summer program is open to boys and girls from age 5 and up. Conveniently located in Setagaya Ward, just a 10-minute walk from Futakotamagawa and Kaminoge Stations, St. Mary’s is a short train-ride from Shibuya, Hiroo, Ebisu and Roppongi. Our 11 school-buses travel throughout the city of Tokyo to transport our boys and girls to and from summer school.
With a longstanding tradition of fun and excellence, our course offerings are diverse and engaging. Offerings range from academic enrichment courses aimed at preparing boys and girls to tackle their next grade-level to a wide variety of arts, sports and activity camps to help balance the day. Our newly rebuilt campus and facilities are among the best in all of Tokyo, and include a state-of-the art soccer field, a 7-lane 25-meter swimming-pool that can accommodate all levels of swimmers, a large, dividable gymnasium, 4 tennis courts and a multi-purpose facility. We offer tennis, baseball, soccer, camps for morning, day and afternoon, basketball, intramurals, swimming, wrestling, and tumbling and gymnastics for children looking to have fun, get active, compete, and work in a team setting. Our enrichment classes allow boys and girls to learn, explore, and challenge themselves in arts, crafts, creative writing, reading, mathematics, speech, learning English as a second language, vocabulary development, hands-on science experiments, cooking, SAT and ACT prep, computer animation, computer tech camp, drama, public speaking, and much, much more.
St. Mary’s Summer School runs from Monday, June 9 to Friday June 27. Summer School students may choose to attend for the morning, afternoon, or the entire day. Registration closes on May 23.
For information on course offerings and to register for St. Mary’s Summer School, please visit our website at http://summer.smis.ac.jp.
Mitsui Gardens International Preschool’s Summer Camp Adventure features weekly fieldtrips, swimming, drama events, an outdoor BBQ party, and young camp counselors from the states. You can pick and choose from any of the nine weeks the program runs, but some weeks fill quickly and US Embassy kids are given priority with non US Embassy kids filling up remaining quota. Open to ages 3 to 12. Location: 2-1-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku; phone: 3224-6796 The U.S. Embassy Housing Compound, through EWA Children’s Garden.
PAL International School in Azabu organizes a multicultural summer intensive program. 2010 summer’s program will run for 8 weeks from June 21st (except July 12–16 July). Full- or half-day sessions are available to children aged 12 months and upward. Hot lunches are provided three times per week. Contact the school here.
Seta International School offers different summer programs for Japanese kids as well as international school kids. See this page for 2010 summer camps.
Treehouse Montessori School in Yokohama has been running its summer school program for ten years. Excerpted from Japan School News: “Running for eight weeks from June 28th until August 20th, the summer program is divided into four themed sessions, each lasting two weeks, and can accommodate 20 children. Head of School Jenny Vyvial says, “The highlight of our summer school is when we set up a huge pool in our backyard where children can splash and have great fun playing in the water.” ” For enquiries, email the school.
We have also created a dedicated page for Hokkaido Island-specific list of summer camps and other programs, see this page.
For a listing of recommended summer programs and camps held overseas, see this page “Summer schools and camps abroad“
Japanese language summer and camp programs
KEEP camp in Yamanashi lets kids milk cows and hike and more. Says one of our e-community members: “I sent my kids twice on their own. The camp did make attempts to separate groups and siblings (to avoid bullying), to be fair, and the leaders were well-trained. For more info see their website: http://ackeep.org/keep/lodging/
For a listing of local Japanese summer nature programs, refer to our listing of local nature organizations and their nature programs.
EDUCATION IN JAPAN COMMUNITY Blog 
Wow! I can’t wait to share this info with my students and their parents. Thanks to my facebook friend who share this sight with me. These camps sound like a great alternative for kids who can’t live overseas but want the experience and to use the English they’ve learned or to Retain the level of English they have achieved in English speaking countries.
Always glad to hear positive feedback, yes, by all means, DO spread the word!
Cheers,
Aileen Kawagoe
Would anyone know of any Suzuki Violin Camps in Osaka region? We are visiting Japan this Summer and my daughter who is 9 years old would like to join a Suzuki Camp…She speaks little Japanese….
This page lists this year’s Suzuki Method summer school event – http://www.suzukimethod.or.jp/topics/years/category1/2010_8386.php – it gives you the contact number and online query form.
Sorry, this may be of more help… you should follow the links from this page in English: http://www.suzukimethod.or.jp/topics/years/category1/2010_8386.php Inquiries may be sent to
Talent Education Research Institute at
teri@suzukimethod.or.jp
Fascinating Camps! We wish you the very best success this summer.
~~Friends at Allegro
Can you suggest summer camp for my daughter 17 year old in Tokyo. I am looking for Leadership, creative or educational camps.
Operation Roland Japan (featured above) is all about building leadership in youths (I am a former participant of the international chapter). Camp Roadless comes highly recommended by our community, and I think the relatively new Karuizawa IS summer camp is expected to be excellent as well and Kyoto International School is known in the past to have organized very exciting expedition type summer programs. Good luck in search!
I should add that the Kodomo Alps organization has excellent camps, both summer and winter in which both my children have participated with great enthusiasm, and these camps seek to promote independence and provide opportunities for leadership. They are however, Japanese camps (look under the menu header “Resources” if interested).
Thanks for the information. Here is some information on acting camps in new jersey for the summer 2012.
This is great!..thank you for this information. To respond to the need of learning English among young Japanese citizens, some private agencies created a program of teaching-learning the English language through the internet.
Hi I am looking for information about Music Camps in Japan for my bilingual son. He plays the contra bass. He has done the whole outdoors and sports type camps growing up. Now that he is 14 he is very much into his music.
Any suggestions. Japanese only environment would be fine as well. He doesn’t mind to speak only in Japanese.
Thanks
I would suggest locating the nearest music & arts college/university to you, going into the office and a) asking about the chamber orchestras available; b) contacting the contra bass teacher at the college to ask him. c) checking notice bulletin boards at music shops and community centres/public libraries. My son once got invited to join a local amateur chamber orchestra via the music professor at the music college in our town, though at the moment he plays with school orchestra. Such groups practise more during the holidays. The contra bass/double bass(?) teacher would know about up-coming specific master workshops/camps. However, it may not be the double bass teacher who organizes such outfits (since conductors are usually violin or multi-instrument professors) so you may have to ask around a bit more.
I am looking for the camp in Japan for my son Teoh Zi Nean who is 11years old during his school holiday on 15 July 2012 – 31 Aug 2012. We are living in Malaysia.
Could you please send me your course asap.
Thanks
Best Regards,
Irene Teoh
Irene, this blog provides only a listing of the various camps in Japan provided by different parties. We are unaffiliated with any camp provider so please write to the individual parties hosting the camps you are interested in or check their websites for further information.
I am looking for a summer camp for my 8th grader 2013 in Japan or surroundings. I am having a hard time trying to find something that will feed him more than 2 times a day : )
Hello, We are an American family offering a great week of fun in an immersion English setting. One week of crafts and out door activities in beautiful Hokkaido. Can you please contact me and tell me how I can add our summer home stay programs to your list. Thank you!
Please email me with details of your camp and contacts at heritageofjapan@gmail.com, Aileen K.
This is a good structure fro a summer camp. I think it looks interesting. Thanks for sharing
I came across your website as I am looking for some sort of Japanese language immersion program for my 16-yr-old daughter for next summer, a combination of outdoor adventure would be ideal. Any recommendations you may have of local organizations would be greatly appreciated. She is currently studying Japanese as her foreign language in high school. Many thanks, Machi
She should try the websites of local universities, some of which are courting high school students for their college programs. Some of those part of the global5 or G5 initiative are looking for prospective non-Japanese students for their programs, so I would say investigate some of their websites:
Ritsumekan – Asia Pacific University (APU)
Akita International University (AIU)
Sophia University
International Christian University (ICU)
Waseda- School International Liberal Studies (SILS
More: A taste of college life
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) in Beppu, Oita Prefecture, will hold mock lessons for high school students to get a taste of the real classes held at the university. The mock lessons will take place on June 23 in Tokyo and Osaka.
The APU campus is a multicultural and multilingual environment with nearly half of the student population made up of international students from around the world and an equally diverse faculty.
The unique Japanese/English bilingual education system allows students to develop high levels of language proficiency while also removing the language barrier and making it possible for outstanding young people around the world to study and earn degrees in Japan that can be applied to the world of international business and academia.
The mock lessons will be held in English to give participants a feel of studying in a challenging environment. The lessons will be held at Ritsumeikan University’s campuses in Tokyo and Umeda in Osaka.
To apply, visit survey.apu.ac.jp/surveyja/entry.jsp?id=1365129111309 and for more information, visit http://www.apumate.net
thanks for your reply. I will look into the college websites as you suggested.
Another alternative to look into …I should also add that it is pretty easy to write into one of the many private schools of Japan, they (especially at high school level) usually take in exchange students and state so, on their websites. If you do your homework, you can have your pick of which city/prefecture to visit…we have a listing of private schools at this website that you can check out. Another route is to phone the Embassy of Japan in the U.S. and check in to see if your daughter can try for one of the summer scholarship programs. The summer before last, I met a high school student from Texas who was visiting my daughter’s school and being hosted by my neighbor whose daughter was the host exchange high school student, with whom the girl would attend the classes. She came all expenses paid, via the scholarship program and there are cultural trips and activities all hosted as well. She told me it was pretty easy to clinch and there wasn’t too much competition.
Thanks for sharing useful post. Appreciate your work.
Hi. Looking for somewhere in Hokkaido, or at least with temps below 30 degs, where my 6 year old son can join an English Summer Camp between now and 24th Aug. I want to stay in the vicinity and do some activities for myself, too.
Any suggestions would be welcome.
Thanks, Paul
Hi Paul,
I am in Hokkaido and have run several English Summer Camps.
If you are still looking for an option this summer please email me:
sjbd_2000(at mark)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks, Stephanie
Stephanie would you post your program details here with a link and I will add your program to the listing
http://ameblo.jp/d-homestay/
That is the link for my program last year.
The dates do not apply to this year. I do not have an English version up as I mail pdf’s directly to those who contact me from the link above or to my email address. This year I am working summer day camps as well.
Would you like me to post details in this “reply” area or do you have an address I can email those to you?
Thanks!
I offer immersion type programs directed at various age levels. I can work
directly with small groups or families looking for an immersion English learning experience in either day long or home stay programs. I have many years of experience working in a variety of specialty program settings. From pre-school through college age (not at the same time of course 🙂 Fun, English, great summer weather, wonderful winter snow, all in the beautiful countryside of Hokkaido!
Paul, and for others as well reading this.
Please see this page
https://educationinjapan.wordpress.com/resource-room/camp-programs-in-hokkaido/
I looked up many webpages, summer camps mostly seem to be conducted in the month of July in Hokkaido when temps are still cool, beyond those dates you probably need to head for the mountains or go up north to Daisetsuzan, Yoteizan and Shiretoko and Rebunto.
I been on many many trips to Hokkaido with the kids, and one summer’s heat wave happened to have hotter temps than back in Kanto!
Anyway, I made up a list either for your future reference, or if you still want to go, try Sahoro which is a resort package that will take care of both your and your kid’s needs, and they go on through to September (think info is still up-to-date). Steven’s Stables on the list sounds like really really good fun, has activities still ongoing till late, but it seems pretty full by now. It is easy to get to end of the line on the subway, so you could stay in accommodation in Sapporo, or go together elsewhere to Otaru, etc. Or else, just go out there the two (three?) of you, on your own and have an adventure, using the links to kid-friendly places. It’s hard to go wrong holidaying in Hokkaido.
Anyway, remember to try to plan ahead for summer camps, but you can still go on a family thing, please check out our suggestions for activities and places, see https://educationinjapan.wordpress.com/resource-room/camp-programs-in-hokkaido/
Please add my information, blog link, and email address to the Hokkaido camp programs as well. Thanks!
Any updates to this? Also, are there any Japanese immersion summer programs for elementary school kids?
Hi,
I have a summer camp I’d like to share with you guys.
We only started last year, but RISE Japan does a yearly summer camp around the Obon vacation. Our website is here, https://www.risejapan.com/summer-day-camp-2017 and is currently mostly in Japanese, but we are working to change that.
This year’s camp is called RISE Onto The Stage and is an English drama day camp in the Ebisu/Daikanyama area.
RISE Japan Summer Day Camp is a carefully structured English language immersion day camp. Through a combination of theatre and exciting activities students will become comfortable communicating with their peers and adults in English.
Students will focus on learning their lines, dramatic reading, getting into character and acting. Students will also learn the songs and dances for each weeks production. Students will design and create costumes, backdrops, and even puppets for the plays. Each week we will master and perform a different play, from Jack and the Beanstalk to Chicken Little. In the afternoons students will have physical activity time which includes everything from races to dodgeball.
During each week we will have a field trip outside the center. Field trips include the Tokyo puppet theatre and some traditional Japanese theatre venues.
The English curriculum is delivered each morning of the program from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm with an approach designed to improve confidence in communication and interaction in English. The afternoons are devoted to a variety of activities in an English-speaking environment and run from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. On Friday, we will have a performance that parents will be able to attend.
Age
①Kindergarten Students (Nensho, Nenchu, Nencho)
②Elementary Students (First to Sixth grade)
Date
Week1: July 24(Mon) – July 28(Fri)
Week2: July 31(Mon) – August 4(Fri)
Week1: August 7(Mon) – August 11(Fri)
Week1: August 21(Mon) – August 25(Fri)
Monday to Friday : 9am to 3pm
If you have any other questions, or things that you would like to know, please don’t hesitate to contact me at wf@risejapan.com.
Thank you!
Oh! also here is our website for more information:
https://www.risejapan.com/summer-day-camp-2017
Hi all!
Cross Education has come to Japan to establish its fully cultural and communicative immersive international summer camp experience to Japanese and offshore students.
The directors’ have a long heritage in both Canada and Japan offering English-based experiential camps for international students. Through Cross Education, Japan, they proudly bring an exciting new brand of education to Japan to create a venue for people from all corners of the planet.
The 2019 Cross Summer Academy, a multi-locational program based in the Tokyo and in the Kanto region, brings a community of children and teenagers (from 5 to 18 years old) together from around the world, and from around Japan.
Together they engage in up to six weeks of challenge and discovery in the Cross Summer Academy:
Overall Theme: “Open Minds Change the World”
Weekly Sub-themes:
*Eco-Environmental Studies
*Mechatronics & Technology Design,
*Online Media & Design,
*Photography, Videography, & Production
*International Awareness
*Remote, Virtual, & Real Flight
Program Contents
(Applied weekly and thematically integrated into daily learning experiences.)
*Technology: 3D, Mechatronics, Artificial Intelligence, Renewable Energy
*Blockchain Innovation Theory and Application
*Agriculture and Environmental Studies
*Photography, Videography, and Digital Production
*Aeronautics, Aviation, and Rocketry
*Fine and Performing Arts
*Sports and Athletics
*Architecture and Design
*Animation and Design
*Outdoor Learning (Urban, Mountain, and Ocean)
*Full native English speaking environment and focus.
*International Social and Cultural Awareness
*Japanese Cultural and Language Studies
*Integration and interaction between all ages.
*Specialized focuses within age groups.
*Collaborative Learning
*Coaching, Mentoring, and Leadership Education
*Weekly Social and Family Events that Include:
*Performances, Parties, Presentations, and Park Barbecues
Cross Education Japan believes that children and young adults should participate together in a relationship that helps both learn. Older children help younger, and younger children are inspired to learn by the examples set by their older peers.
Equally so, Cross believes that in order to become inspired, at any age or level, inspirational figures and role models are essential. That’s why we tie professional in their fields into everything we do. Each theme and category of learning throughout the camp is tied to international professionals and organizations who are impacting the world with what they do.
We bring in the best, from organizations such as Siemens, Platinum, Line, MIT, an more.
Cross Education Japan, and the Cross Summer Academy, is a program based in Japan where ideas and people from around the world come together:
*to inspire each other,
to learn from one another, and
*to impact their lives each in ways that may later help each of them impact the world.
Check us out at http://www.cross.education and send us a note should you want more details: basecamp@cross.education.
All the best,
The Cross Team
Hi, I came across your blog searching for a japanese language immersion camp or school located anywhere in Japan for my 6 and 9 year old kids. We usually come to Japan in the winter or summer and I’d love to put my kids in a language camp that is either full immersion or at least teaches Japanese to beginner learner. Thank you so much for all these resources.
Hi Rachel. We are based out of Taiwan. Our 5 year old daughter is interested in learning Japanese. So I was wondering whether you found a good summer school / camp program for your children where they can learn Japanese (and ideally also do some fun activities for them). Please share any recommendations. Thanks!