ABOUT
KIS
Since 1957, Kyoto International School (KIS) has been a cornerstone of international education in the heart of Kyoto. As the city’s first and only IB Continuum School, we offer a globally recognized International Baccalaureate (IB) education from the Early Years through to the Diploma Programme.
KIS is fully accredited by both the International Baccalaureate and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). We are also proud to be the first school accredited by the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) through our WASC accreditation. As a not-for-profit school, our mission is to deliver high-quality, personalized learning. We are a diverse and inclusive community where every student is empowered to grow with confidence and become a thoughtful, globally minded citizen.
About
KIS
Since 1957, Kyoto International School (KIS) has been a cornerstone of international education in the heart of Kyoto. As the city’s first and only IB Continuum School, we offer a globally recognized International Baccalaureate (IB) education from the Early Years through to the Diploma Programme.
KIS is fully accredited by both the International Baccalaureate and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). We are also proud to be the first school accredited by the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) through our WASC accreditation. As a not-for-profit school, our mission is to deliver high-quality, personalized learning. We are a diverse and inclusive community where every student is empowered to grow with confidence and become a thoughtful, globally minded citizen.
WELCOME
MESSAGE
Welcome to Kyoto International School
Since 1957, Kyoto International School (KIS) has proudly served the Kyoto community, delivering high-quality international education in the heart of one of Japan’s most historic cities. As the first and only IB Continuum School in Kyoto, KIS offers the full International Baccalaureate (IB) programme from Early Years to Grade 12.
We are a small but growing school, committed to excellence and innovation. In August 2025, we will open our first Grade 11 class, followed by Grade 12 in 2026, completing our Upper Secondary programme. To support this exciting expansion, we are enhancing our facilities and opening a second campus near our current location.
At KIS, we believe that every student has the ability to thrive. Our inclusive and progressive environment ensures that all learners are inspired, engaged, and challenged at their own level. Our internationally minded, academically rigorous curriculum is designed to help students succeed both in school and in life. We focus on developing students holistically—academically, socially, and emotionally—to become compassionate and responsible global citizens.
Our team of creative, enthusiastic educators and leaders are dedicated to implementing research-based teaching practices. We also place a strong emphasis on student well-being, ensuring that every day at school is both meaningful and joyful. We are here to listen, support, and guide our students through every challenge.
KIS is more than a school—it is a community. Students, teachers, and parents collaborate to create a safe, supportive, and enriching learning environment. Our small class sizes allow us to truly know each student and family, and our school is guided by a dedicated volunteer board, many of whom are also parents.
I warmly invite families from both our local and international communities to visit us and experience the many opportunities KIS offers opportunities that build creativity, resilience, and integrity in our students, both inside and outside the classroom.
Warm regards,
Matt Topliss, MA, NPQH, FCCT
Principal
Our Mission
In our community we foster passionate, collaborative, and internationally minded individuals through an engaging and supportive education.
Our Vision
Inspiring active learners, developing global citizens.
Our Mission
& Vision
OUR MISSION
In our community we foster passionate, collaborative, and internationally minded individuals through an engaging and supportive education.
Inspiring active learners, developing global citizens.
OUR VISION
Meet Our
Teachers
At Kyoto International School (KIS), our dedicated and qualified teachers are the heart of our community. Recruited worldwide for their expertise, they nurture students cognitively, physically, emotionally, and socially within the IB framework. They encourage students to take action based on their learning, fostering responsibility. Meet our teaching staff to discover their diverse backgrounds and passion for providing a meaningful curriculum
Student
Wellbeing
Kyoto International School’s mission, in accordance with and in support of the UN Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1990), along with the recommendations based on the International Task Force on Child Protection (2015), and also in conjunction with Japanese laws regarding Child Protection, defines the term “child” as people under the age of 18.
KIS Child Safeguarding Policy has been adopted and approved by the KIS Executive Board.
KIS
News
Connect with Kyoto International School's vibrant community. Our News Blog highlights student achievements, innovative projects, activities, and global initiatives. Discover how KIS shapes tomorrow's leaders. Explore our latest stories here.
KIS
Upcoming Events
MEET OUR
TEACHERS
At Kyoto International School (KIS), our dedicated and qualified teachers are the heart of our community. Recruited worldwide for their expertise, they nurture students cognitively, physically, emotionally, and socially within the IB framework. They encourage students to take action based on their learning, fostering responsibility. Meet our teaching staff to discover their diverse backgrounds and passion for providing a meaningful curriculum
OUR
STORY
The KIS Story comes with a great legacy dating back to 1957.
Our story continues as we grow and develop our offerings to our students, parents, staff, and the wider Kyoto community.
STUDENT
WELLBEING
Kyoto International School’s mission, in accordance with and in support of the UN Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1990), along with the recommendations based on the International Task Force on Child Protection (2015), and also in conjunction with Japanese laws regarding Child Protection, defines the term “child” as people under the age of 18.
KIS Child Safeguarding Policy has been adopted and approved by the KIS Executive Board.
Explore more
WHY
CHOOSE
KIS
Kyoto International School (KIS), serving Kyoto since 1957, offers an international education in the Kansai region. Accredited by WASC and IBO, KIS is known for its inclusive community and personalized learning. As a non-profit, KIS focuses on effective learning and developing global citizens who positively influence the world, aligning with its vision of "Inspiring active learners, developing global citizens".
KIS HISTORY
In 1957, the closure of the American School on the Botanical Gardens Army Base prompted missionary families in Kyoto to seek new educational solutions for their children. This pivotal moment led to the birth of what would become Kyoto International School (KIS).
Doug Muir, the son of missionaries, became one of the school's first students when his mother initiated a home-schooling Programme for him and two other children. Classes were initially held in a spare bedroom of the Muir family home, marking the humble beginnings of the institution.
The following year, the Muir's spacious two-story house on Ichijo-dori was transformed into the Kyoto Christian Day School, with a full-time teacher hired to meet growing educational needs. By the 1958-59 academic year, enrollment had surged to 28 students across grades 1-8. The student body comprised children from missionary families and those of visiting scholars in Kyoto.
In 1966, recognizing its expanding role and diverse community, the school adopted its current name: Kyoto International School. This change reflected the institution's evolving mission to provide quality education to a broader international community in Kyoto.