We’re located in the beautiful Hakuba Valley in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, near the site of the 1998 Winter Olympics. Our campus is surounded by natural beauty and opportunities for adventure in every season of the year, from skiing to river rafting and hiking.

During the 2024-25 school year, HIS will serve grades 7 through 10. We will add one new grade per year until we reach Grades 7-12 in the 2026-27 school year.

HIS is small by design, based on research and our experience that smaller schools generate more positive and engaged student cultures. In the 2023-24 school year we serve 30 students in grades 7 through 9, growing to 40-50 students in the 2024-25 school year.

HIS follows a typical international school calendar. The 2024-25 school year starts on September 1, 2024 and concludes on June 14, 2025. See 2024-25 calendar here.

We have a fantastic team of 9 faculty and two assistants (more here), bringing expertise from exceptional schools on four continents.

Building on excellent curricula from around the world, we have created our own university-preparatory curriculum. It offers all the core academic content expected in middle and high school years for university entrance, alongside a greater focus on the skills for human flourishing and environmental sustainability.

HIS believes in deeper learning methods to create more engaging, memorable and advanced academic experiences. We use Project-Based Learning, Socratic Seminar, and Social-Emotional Learning, and place a strong emphasis Outdoor Education & Environmental Sustainability.

English is our core language of instruction, and all students must have at least intermediate English to enter HIS. We offer extra support for those working toward English fluency. All students also learn Japanese at a level suitable to their abilities, and have the option to study additional world languages.

HIS was founded by Tomoko Kusamoto, who envisioned a school that would offer more innovative learning methods while taking advantage of the beautiful Japanese countryside. She began in 2015 by operating summer programs, which quickly became popular as a combination of project-based learning and outdoor education. HIS opened its doors to full-time boarding and day students in August 2022.

Our first graduating class will complete HIS in 2027. We expect them to attend a wide range of excellent universities around the world, and our curriculum will ensure they are ready. With two university counselors on-staff, we have a robust support program to help them navigate to the right next step of their education.

HIS is accredited by the Japanese government, and is currently in the accreditation process with WASC, the Western Association of Schools & Colleges. WASC is a leading global accreditor and currently accredits many of the best international schools in Asia. With WASC accreditation, HIS diplomas will be accepted at universities and other institutions globally.

Hakuba International School is a not-for-profit school, governed by a Board and supported by a combination of tuition and donor support.