When a family moves to Japan, school arrangements are easier if the local education office hears from you early. The Ministry of Education publishes a multilingual guidebook for foreign families starting school. Use it to understand the system and then contact the municipality responsible for your address. A national overview cannot determine your child's assigned school, available language support or the documents requested locally.

Prepare a short family record

Write down your address, intended moving date, child's date of birth and previous schooling. Gather recent school records and any useful information about subjects studied, languages and support needs. Ask the local office which documents it requires and whether translations are needed. Avoid paying for a particular certification before the receiving office confirms what it accepts.

Ask the education office

  • Which office handles enrolment for this address?
  • What is the next appointment or application step?
  • How will the school and starting date be decided?
  • What Japanese-language learning support can be discussed?
  • How should health, accessibility or other support information be shared?
  • Is interpretation available for the initial meeting?

If moving during a school year, explain the actual arrival date rather than waiting for the next annual intake without asking.

Prepare for the school meeting

Bring the documents the office requested and a written list of questions. Ask about the daily schedule, route to school, meals, equipment and communication with guardians. Clarify which purchases are needed immediately and which can wait. Discuss previous learning and the child's strengths as well as difficulties. If you do not understand a form, ask what information it is requesting before signing.

Support the first weeks

Agree on a reliable way to receive school notices and report an absence. Keep a calendar of meetings and items to bring. Ask the teacher which school phrases would be most useful to practise at home. Give the child time to describe the day in a language they are comfortable with, and raise persistent concerns with the school early. After a later move, contact the relevant offices about transfer records instead of assuming that an address change alone completes every school procedure. Keep copies of important school correspondence in the family file.