Saku Kirihara Campus (EN)
Saku Kirihara Campus
Saku Kirihara Campus Preschool
From 7 months old to school entry / Certified Centre for Early Childhood Education and Care
An English-language environment from the very beginning, welcoming children from seven months old until school entry.
Why This Campus
Why this campus
From seven months
Children can join from seven months old — the earliest English-language start available at any ISN campus.
Certified centre
We accept children with Type 1, 2, and 3 certifications, providing options for families who require childcare.
Conveniently located in eastern Nagano
Easy to reach from Saku, Komoro, Ueda, Karuizawa, and Miyota.
English is our everyday language
English is the main language throughout the day, from arrival to pick-up time. From the age-5 class, Japanese-language sessions are also included, supporting children’s development in both languages.
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08:30 – 09:40 | Arrival, free play, workstations, tidy-up | ||||
| 09:30 – 10:00 | Morning circle time and tea break | ||||
| 10:00 – 11:40 | IB Time (inquiry) | IB Time (inquiry) | IB Time (inquiry) | IB Time (inquiry) | IB Time (inquiry) |
| Phonics | Japanese | Phonics / reading | Phonics / writing | Music | |
| 11:40 – 13:00 | Lunch, recess and free play | ||||
| 13:00 – 15:00 | Outdoor activity | Park | Gym | Outdoor activity | Park |
| 15:00 – 15:15 | Snack time | ||||
| 15:20 – 15:40 | Afternoon circle time | ||||
An example from the age‑5 class. Timetables vary by class.
Spring
Spring
- Entrance ceremony
- Open lesson day
- Spring festival
- Class photos
- School open day
Summer
Summer
- Bus excursion
- Summer school
- Sports open day
- Science fair
- Sports festival
- IB workshop for parents
Autumn
Autumn
- Autumn festival
- Parents’ meeting
- Safety drill
- Halloween party
Winter
Winter
- Christmas show
- Music concert and open day
- Graduation ceremony
We publish every cost, so that you can judge education as an investment that returns.
Preschool 2026‑2027
| Item | Amount | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Childcare fee | Ages 0, 1 and 2 ⇒ Set by Saku City according to household income Age 3 and above ⇒ Free | ||
| Programme fee (English programme) | Ages 0 and 1 ⇒ ¥10,000 Age 2 ⇒ ¥27,500 Age 3 and above ⇒ ¥49,000 | End of the preceding month | These amounts are not yet final. Siblings enrolled in preschool at the same time: 30% off for the second child, 40% off from the third. Where siblings attend both the elementary/middle school and preschool: 15% off for the second preschool child, 20% off from the third |
| Meals | To be confirmed around October | End of the preceding month | |
| Registration fee (Type 1 certification) | ¥20,000 | Type 1 only. Non-refundable once paid | |
| School bus | ¥7,500 | In the first year the bus may not run, depending on the number of children enrolled | |
| Facilities fee (all ages) | ¥100,000 / year | End of the school year (for the following year) | ¥84,000 / year with the sibling discount |
| Extended care | Type 2 and 3 ⇒ Set by Saku City according to household income (per 30 minutes) | Added to the following month | |
| Monthly extended care | ¥3,800 / month | End of the preceding month | Type 1 only |
| Occasional extended care | ¥1,000 / 30 minutes | Added two months later | The same for every certification type |
| Afternoon snack during extended care | ¥50 / time | Debited the following month | Please talk to us about allergies |
| Nappy disposal (age-2 class only) | ¥500 / month | End of the preceding month | No longer charged once your child manages without nappies outside nap time |
| EAL lesson | ¥1,000 per 30-minute session | Added two months later | For children joining mid-year from the age-4 class who need English support, or any child who needs individual support |
| Items at cost (all ages) | Event costs and school items | As they arise | T-shirt, sweatshirt, class hat, melodica, class photos, afternoon snacks and similar |
Amounts are subject to change. We will go through the current details with you at your visit.
Opening hours
Class sizes
Visit and talk with us
We handle admissions individually. About 30 minutes observing a class, then 30 minutes for questions.
Apply (Type 1 certification)
Submit the application form to the school. If applications exceed the places available, children are prioritised by our criteria (1) a sibling already attends ISN, (2) one of the parents uses English at home.
Apply (Type 2 and 3 certification)
Submit the application to Saku City. The city carries out the allocation and selection, and closes applications once the places are filled.
Enrolment
Once the registration fee is confirmed we post the letter of acceptance. Enrolment materials (handbook, annual calendar) follow around February.
Thinking of relocating here?
Saku City runs a relocation desk with its own support programmes.
Our Team
Our team
Rie Kuribayashi
Founder
Keiko Shiogawa
Assistant teacher
Midori Hashimoto
Kitchen staff
Shiho Kanai
Kitchen staff
Saori Tanaka
Sunshine assistant teacher (0-2years old)
Yuri Shimosugi
Aurora Homeroom teacher (3-5years old)
Rudy Jr. Roa (Jun)
Sunshine Homeroom teacher(0-2years old）
Yoichi Shioya
Bus Driver
Yuko Nakajima
Saku kirihara campus head / Marketing
Yukie Aochi
Office
Norie Ide
Sunshine Homeroom teacher(0-2years old)
Paul Harris
Aurora Homeroom teacher(3-5years old)
Access
Campus details and access
News
News
Welcome Back After Summer Holiday! 2026.08.21
Summer in Aurora! Our Body and How it helps us Move 2026.07.30
Let’s meet our animal friends! 2026.07.17
Move, Play, and Smile Together! Sunshine Gym Open Day 2026.07.10
Aurora Class –- Learning Through Play and Inquiry 2026.07.03
Parents Observation Day at Sunshine! 2026.06.16
Day to day
Visit Us
Come and see what a day here actually looks like
No brochure explains us as well as seeing the children spend a day in English.
Individual visits are available throughout the year (by appointment).