Full Breakdown
Japan Times Prep School Fair Offers Global Boarding-School Options to Japanese Families
By Drooid · · How we work
Event Overview
The Japan Times, Ltd. will host its fourth annual Prep School Fair in Akasaka, Tokyo, inviting boarding and international schools from Japan and abroad. The free-admission event runs from mid-morning to late afternoon and includes panel discussions with parents who have sent their children to overseas prep schools, as well as sessions featuring schools from the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Japan. Attendees can also arrange one-on-one consultations with school representatives, though advance reservations are required for these meetings.
Purpose and Context
Organizers frame the fair as a response to growing interest in international education as globalization reshapes Japanese schooling choices. By showcasing institutions that have been personally visited by a Japan Times staff member who is an alumnus of a Swiss boarding school, the fair aims to give families direct insight into campus life and educational approaches abroad. The event therefore serves as a marketplace for parents seeking an internationally focused learning environment for their children from an early age.
Participating Schools and Schedule
A roster of schools—listed in Japanese alphabetical order—includes Epsom College Tokyo (set to open in 2027), Culford School, The Downs Malvern, Cheltenham Prep, Jinseki International School and La Garenne International School. The program begins with registration at 10:30 a.m., followed by a series of panel sessions: a parent-perspective discussion at 11 a.m., a UK-school overview at noon, a Switzerland-school overview at 1 p.m., and a Japan-school overview at 2 p.m., with consultation slots running throughout the day.
Official Statements & Sponsorship
The event is organized by The Japan Times, Ltd. and sponsored by Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited, which supports the initiative financially.
Looking Ahead
The fair is scheduled for a Saturday in late October 2026 at the Akasaka Intercity Conference Center. Organizers note that the program may change without notice, and they encourage interested families to register early to secure consultation slots.