Invitation and Forms

Thank you for considering Hokkaido International School as a place for your child’s education. HIS Niseko is a unique school providing a distinctive educational experience in the Niseko area for students entering early years through middle school. We are the only WASC accredited international school in the region. Our tuition and fees are significantly lower than similar schools in the larger cities of Japan, and we offer great opportunities for place-based, outdoor education with a first-class curriculum and teaching faculty.

With HIS Sapporo only two hours away, the Sapporo dormitory provides an excellent option for Niseko families whose children graduate from the HIS Niseko school. Students entering high school can stay in the dormitory in Sapporo during the week and return home on the weekends. At least one parent of students interested in staying in our dorm must visit the school and meet with administrators and dorm parents. 

We require complete academic records from the past two years of schooling, one letter of recommendation from a current or recent teacher, completion of a medical form, recent standardized test scores if available, and an interview with teachers and the principal before the admission is complete.

To apply to HIS NIseko, please complete all relevant forms below and email as attachments to Victoria Spagnoli (vspagnoli@his.ac.jp) and cc Liene Lase (llase@his.ac.jp) and Tim Schlosser (tschlosser@his.ac.jp).

All forms are available as downloadable documents below. Just click to open and print.

Admissions Policy and Process

Admissions Policy

HIS is a school dedicated to serving the expatriate community of Sapporo and Hokkaido, as well as others pursuing a western-style education. Admission applications are reviewed by an Admissions Committee consisting of one or two members and chaired by the Niseko principal in consultation with the Head of School. This group will also make initial grade-placement decisions.

Priorities in admission are given to the following in order of preference:

• The children of expatriates from English-speaking countries
• The children of expatriates from other countries
• Japanese returnees (a returnee is defined as someone who has completed at least two years of a western-style education overseas)
• The children of Japanese parents who can demonstrate a compelling need for a western-style education

HIS Niseko, as a western-style educational school expects the parents to demonstrate the following:

• Take an active role in the life of the school (i.e. attend and take part in school and PTA activities)
• Be able to communicate with the teachers and staff in English and work with your child at home in your native tongue (i.e. encourage reading; help with homework, etc.)
• While HIS cannot admit students with profound learning difficulties, HIS may be able to accommodate students with mild special needs. Continued enrollment at HIS is always dependent upon a student’s satisfactory achievement, behavior, and effort.

Admissions Process

1. Complete an HIS Application Form, one per child. Assemble comprehensive school records, including current report cards and those from the previous two years of schooling plus standardized test scores (if applicable). Include medical and inoculation records. Proof of the student’s age must be included. Have the documents translated into English if possible.
2. If a student is admitted, parents should arrange for immediate payment of tuition, application and entrance fee.
3. Upon payment, students may begin attending classes at HIS.

To apply to HIS Niseko, please complete all relevant forms above and email as attachments to Victoria Spagnoli (vspagnoli@his.ac.jp) and cc Liene Lase (llase@his.ac.jp) and Tim Schlosser (tschlosser@his.ac.jp)

Thank you!

HIS Niseko Tuition and Fees

HIS Tuition and Fees are payable annually, however, tuition payment will be accepted on a quarterly basis for long-term/permanent residents of the Niseko region. 1st payment is due on Aug. 20th
preceding the school year. Invoices will be mailed in July. For students entering after Opening Day,
payment is due prior to enrollment.
For seasonal residents of Niseko, payment may be made, upon request, on a monthly basis.

School Fees 2024 - 2025

Refund policy

•  In the case of long-term resident student withdrawal, tuition will be refunded on a quarterly basis: tuition will be charged for every quarter in which a student attended school. For seasonal residents (winter), tuition will be refunded on a monthly basis: tuition will be charged for every month in which a student attended school.
  Tuition & fees are, in principle, nonrefundable.  
• In the event of non-payment of fees, no school records shall be released until fees are paid in full.
• Exceptions to quarterly payment must be reviewed by the Executive Board.
• The HIS Executive Board recognizes that our tuition and fees would be significantly higher were it not for the generous support of the City of Sapporo, the Hokkaido Government, and the US Government, as well as other individual donors. The Board would like to thank the community who contribute so much to HIS in so many ways.

Seasonal Students (part-time residents of Niseko area)

HIS Niseko offers short term schooling for seasonal residents of Niseko Area. 

Seasonal resident Tuition Fee for Kindergarten and Elementary students is available to pay on a monthly basis.  The fee is according to the enrolling month. Please contact the admission office for the monthly fee for each month.  

Application as a Seasonal Resident requires the same paperwork and process as full-time students.

Age appropriate 2022-2023(Niseko)