The verdict in three sentences
For an international private school in Tokyo, the cost of a new website depends less on design than on Japanese and English copy, photography with parental consent and the admissions portal. A local agency in Minato or Shibuya commonly charges the equivalent of 13,000 to 40,000 USD (2026 ballpark), while Kolonell's grid fixes the site at 2,900, 4,900 or 8,900 USD, the last being the multilingual tier. The right choice depends on how deeply you need to integrate with your SIS and how much in-person presence you expect from your provider.
What does a school website really cost in Tokyo in 2026?
The figures below are 2026 ballpark ranges drawn from typical Tokyo agency quotes and public agency rate pages. USD conversions are approximate, at roughly 150 JPY to 1 USD.
| Option | Local range (JPY) | Approximate equivalent (USD) | Often excluded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo freelancer | 500,000 to 1,500,000 | 3,300 to 10,000 | Native English copy, project management |
| Local web agency | 2,000,000 to 5,000,000 | 13,000 to 33,000 | Translation, photography, admissions portal |
| Premium agency (Minato, Shibuya) | 6,000,000 to 15,000,000 | 40,000 to 100,000 | SIS integration, maintenance beyond year one |
| Kolonell Starter | not applicable | 2,900 USD | Multilingual, portals, integrations |
| Kolonell Growth | not applicable | 4,900 USD | Multilingual, portals, integrations |
| Kolonell Premium (multilingual tier) | not applicable | 8,900 USD | Portals and integrations (on quote) |
Every Kolonell tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks (4 to 6 for Premium) and 3 months of support. Premium is the multilingual tier: the languages, here Japanese and English, are set in the quote. Details are on the international offer.
What an international school website must prove to families
A family relocating to Tokyo often compares four or five schools from London, Singapore or New York before the move. They want precise answers, not slogans.
- Curriculum actually taught: IB, British, American or French, only if it is genuinely delivered, with the grades concerned.
- Accreditations actually held, named with the awarding body and no approximation. An accreditation in progress is never presented as granted.
- Admissions process: calendar, documents, interview, waitlists, mid-year entry for transferred families.
- Transparent fees: enrollment, annual tuition, bus, lunch, application fee.
- Location and transport: subway lines, school bus routes, commute times from Azabu, Hiroo or Setagaya.
- Open days and virtual tours with online booking.
- School life and child safeguarding: safeguarding policy, supervision, activities.
On data, Japan applies the Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI), overseen by the Personal Information Protection Commission (PPC). An admissions form should collect the minimum about the child, and any pupil photo requires parental consent. This is not legal advice: have your privacy policy reviewed by your counsel.
Hidden costs and the three-year total
The site price is only one line of the budget. The items below are billed by third parties or on quote, whichever provider you pick.
| Item | 2026 ballpark (USD) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Build (example: Kolonell Premium) | 8,900 | Multilingual tier, languages set in the quote |
| Native Japanese translation or review | 1,000 to 3,000 | Third party, depends on page volume |
| Campus photography with consents | 1,200 to 3,500 | Third party, half a day to two days |
| APPI legal review of the privacy policy | 800 to 2,500 | Local firm, outside the web scope |
| Admissions portal or SIS connection | on quote | Depends on the tool the school already uses |
| Maintenance, months 4 to 36 | 4,950 to 13,200 | Market assumption: 33 months at 150 to 400 USD |
| Hosting and domain over 3 years | 600 to 1,800 | Market assumption |
After the 3 included months, Kolonell maintenance is on quote. The table therefore uses a market assumption so you can compare with the annual contracts of local agencies, which sometimes bundle it into their starting price.
When a local agency is the better choice
To be fair, a Tokyo agency has a real edge in several situations. If your board expects weekly in-person meetings, if your site must talk in depth to a Japanese SIS or ERP already in place, or if most of your families are Japanese and expect Japanese-style marketing copy, a local team will be more comfortable. For a school whose audience is mainly expatriate and English-speaking, needing a clear, fast, multilingual site, a fixed grid avoids overruns.
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Questions to ask any provider: who writes the native English? Who reviews the Japanese? Does the price include migrating existing content? What does a new page cost after launch? Who holds the domain credentials?
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Hikari International School, a 3 to 18 school in Meguro, receives a local agency quote of 3,500,000 JPY, roughly 23,300 USD. It compares this with Kolonell Premium at 8,900 USD, adding 1,500 USD of photography and 1,200 USD of Japanese review, for 11,600 USD. The year-one gap is about 11,700 USD. The admissions portal connected to its SIS still has to be priced on quote in both cases, which may narrow that gap.
FAQ
How much does an international school website cost in Tokyo in 2026?
A local agency usually charges 2,000,000 to 5,000,000 JPY, roughly 13,000 to 33,000 USD (2026 ballpark). Kolonell's grid runs from 2,900 to 8,900 USD before third-party costs.
Do we need a site in both Japanese and English?
If part of your families are Japanese or you recruit staff locally, yes. At Kolonell this is the Premium tier at 8,900 USD, with the languages set in the quote.
Can we publish photos of pupils?
Only with written parental consent, and with minimal associated information. Plan 1 to 2 days of shooting organized around those consents.
Is the admissions portal included?
No, the admissions portal and any SIS connection are on quote, as they depend on the tool already in place. The enquiry form itself is included.
How much lead time before the September intake?
Allow 3 to 4 weeks of production, 4 to 6 for Premium, once content is ready. Starting in April leaves a comfortable margin before relocation season.
Let's scope your project. An international school in Tokyo can target the multilingual Premium tier at 8,900 USD, delivered in 4 to 6 weeks once content is ready. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.