North London Collegiate School (NLCS) Kobe

What North London Collegiate School (NLCS) Kobe does

North London Collegiate School (NLCS) Kobe is a private international day school that opened in September 2025 in the Higashinada Ward of Kobe, Japan, on Rokko Island. The school is part of the NLCS International network — which operates six schools globally — and is locally owned by Kohachi Ikeda, CEO of Hakko LR, Co., Ltd. It delivers the International Baccalaureate curriculum in English (Primary Years Programme in candidate status and Middle Years Programme), paired with structured Japanese language and culture programming. The institution targets affluent families in the Kansai region seeking a premium bilingual education grounded in the 175-year-old NLCS academic tradition and consistently top-ranked IB outcomes of the parent network.

The first academic year (2025–2026) serves Grades 1 through 6, with a planned progressive roll-out to Grade 12 by 2031 and a second campus on Rokko Mountain scheduled to open in 2028, designed in partnership with architect Michele De Lucchi and AMDL CIRCLE. The school generates revenue primarily through tuition (¥2,800,000 for Grades 1–3; ¥2,900,000 for Grades 4–6), a ¥35,000 application fee, a ¥400,000 enrollment fee, an annual ¥410,000 facility fee, and optional bus service priced at ¥190,000–¥425,000. Pricing places the school at the top of the Japanese private international school market, comparable to other premium IB schools in Tokyo.

NLCS Kobe's stated differentiator is the combination of the licensed NLCS brand and a localized delivery model: a Japanese owner-operator with regional roots, a campus designed by a globally recognized architect, and the NLCS Kobe Think Tank, which convenes external experts (university professors, tea ceremony masters, calligraphers) to enrich the curriculum. The school has signed an MOU with Kinder Kids International School to establish a feeder pipeline for younger students and is actively hiring teaching and operational staff ahead of its second-year expansion to Grade 7.

Name

North London Collegiate School (NLCS) Kobe

Legal name

North London Collegiate School Kobe

Website

https://nlcskobe.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NLCS Kobe is a private international school in Kobe, Japan, offering IB curriculum (PYP/MYP) in English with Japanese language and culture programming. Opened September 2025, it serves Kansai-region families seeking premium bilingual education for Grades 1–6, expanding to Grade 12 by 2031.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

Keywords

• International K-12 education
• IB curriculum schools
• British international schools
• Bilingual education Japan
• Private international schooling

Headquarters

HQ city

Kobe

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Annual tuition charged to all enrolled students. Grade 1-3: 2,800,000 yen/year; Grade 4-6: 2,900,000 yen/year. Payment options include annual lump sum or three-term installments (50%/25%/25%).
2. Application and Enrollment Fees: One-time application fee of 35,000 yen and enrollment fee of 400,000 yen charged upon admission acceptance.
3. Facility Maintenance Fee: Annual facility maintenance fee of 410,000 yen per student for campus and learning environment improvements.
4. Bus Service: School bus service covering Kobe and Osaka areas with annual fees ranging from 190,000 to 425,000 yen depending on route and one-way vs. return option.
5. After-School Care (ASC): After-school care service from 15:30-18:00 with full and half-session options, charged separately from tuition.
6. School Lunch: Daily catered lunches prepared by a catering company, charged per term. Optional add-on service.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

NLCS Kobe delivers an English-medium international school education for students aged 6-18 across Junior School (Grades 1-6) and Senior School (Grades 6-12), built on the International Baccalaureate curriculum and complemented by a comprehensive Japanese language, literature, and culture programme taught by native Japanese teachers. The school offers ancillary fee-based services including After-School Care, daily catered school lunches, and dedicated bus routes covering the Kobe and Osaka areas, and is building the Rokko Mountain Campus (opening 2028) for Senior School and boarding.

Product overview

NLCS Kobe is an international school offering a unified educational program combining the NLCS (UK) academic tradition with deep Japanese cultural integration. The core offerings include the Junior School (Grade 1-6) and Senior School (Grade 6-12) programs, both delivering English-medium international curriculum alongside comprehensive Japanese language and culture studies. Support services include After-School Care, School Lunch Program, and School Bus Service. The school is expanding with the Rokko Mountain Campus (opening 2028) for senior students. Additional programs include the NLCS Think Tank advisory group and the Floors Not Ceilings parent engagement series.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Junior School: Junior School division for Grades 1–6, located at Rokko Island campus, providing an ambitious curriculum with English instruction and Japanese language and culture program.
• Senior School
• Rokko Mountain Campus
• NLCS Kobe Think Tank
• After-School Care (ASC)

Products and services

• Junior School (Grades 1-6) Primary education program for students aged 6-12, currently located at Rokko Island campus, providing English-medium international curriculum with integrated Japanese language and culture studies.
• Senior School (Grades 6-12) Secondary education program for students Grade 6 and above, currently using Rokko Island facilities and expanding annually, with planned relocation to Rokko Mountain Campus in 2028 to include boarding options.
• Japanese Language and Culture Program Comprehensive Japanese language and culture program taught by native Japanese teachers, including daily Japanese/Literature classes, cultural activities such as tea ceremony, ikebana, and field trips to Kyoto temples.
• After-School Care (ASC) Extended supervision service operating weekdays 15:30-18:00, offering full and half-session options with supervised activities and learning time.
• School Lunch Program Daily hot meals prepared in the campus cafeteria, with menu planned by a pediatric nutritionist using fresh local ingredients, offering Japanese and international menus alternately.
• School Bus Service Dedicated school bus service covering Kobe and Osaka areas with morning pickup and afternoon drop-off, operated with school staff accompaniment.

Quantifiable outcome

• NLCS (UK) ranked 2nd among IB schools worldwide and #1 in UK (2025 results)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kinder Kids International SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2026MOU signed April 23, 2026 establishing mutual preferred partnership. NLCS Kobe and three Kinder Kids brands (Kinder Kids, Adventure, Academy) in Hyogo Prefecture collaborate on staff exchanges, curriculum understanding, and creating seamless educational pathway from age 2 to 18. Partnership addresses the 'pathway gap' families face when preschoolers lack continued education options and provides clear roadmap for global education rooted in Japanese culture.
• TRADMAN'S BONSAIminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 May 2025Cultural partnership with renowned bonsai collective for hands-on bonsai workshops. Students and families learn about bonsai cultivation, Japanese aesthetics, patience, and care for living things through interaction with master bonsai artists.
• Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Ryosoku-in TempleminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Cultural partnership for immersive cultural experiences including temple visits, sutra readings, tea ceremony, and Zen meditation sessions. Events provide authentic learning of Japanese traditions and spiritual practices for students and families.
• Tekisui MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partnership hosting annual Final Tea Ceremony at the museum. Students experience traditional Japanese tea ceremony, including matcha preparation and serving, immersing in Japanese traditional culture with historic artifacts displayed for student inspiration.
• NLCS International Family of SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of NLCS International network including NLCS UK (founded 1850), NLCS Jeju (2011), NLCS Dubai (2017), NLCS Singapore (2020), and upcoming NLCS Hong Kong (2026) and NLCS Phuket (2028). Network provides shared educational philosophy, quality assurance, teacher training, international exchanges, and university pathway support.
• Michele De Lucchi / AMDL CIRCLEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld-renowned Italian architect designing the 2028 Rokko Mountain Campus. De Lucchi's first-ever school design features 'school in coexistence with the forest' concept integrating natural ecosystem of Mount Rokko National Park. Campus will include ecosystem-integrated classrooms, boarding houses, and state-of-the-art arts and sports facilities.
• NLCS Kobe Think Tank MembersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory group including Tokyo University and Keio University Professor Hiroshi Suzuki, Osaka University Professor Emeritus Yoshiki Sawa, Urasenke tea ceremony representative Reijiro Izumi, bonsai artist Teppei Kojima, architect Michele De Lucchi, and Myoshinji Temple Vice Abbot Taikosho Matsuyama. Members provide strategic insights, expertise, and enrichment opportunities for curriculum enhancement.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Osaka International School: IB international school in northern Osaka serving K-12, with established reputation in Kansai. Competes for the same Kobe/Osaka families seeking premium international education with IB credentials.
• Marist Brothers International School: Kobe-based private international school offering IB curriculum from K-12, with extensive history in Japan. Direct competitor in the same Kansai market with proven IB outcomes and established alumni network.
• British School in Tokyo: Premier British international school in Tokyo offering British and IB curricula K-12. Competes for the same pool of fee-paying Japanese and expatriate families nationally seeking British-style international education.
• St. Mary's International School: Boys' Catholic international school in Tokyo offering IB curriculum from K-12, established 1954. Competes nationally for premium-fee Japanese families seeking IB credentials and English-medium education.
• Canadian Academy (Kobe): Established international school in Kobe offering IB PYP/MYP/DP from K-12. Direct geographic and curricular competitor to NLCS Kobe with a multi-decade track record of IB results and university placements.
• Yokohama International School: Long-established IB international school in Greater Tokyo area serving K-12. Direct competitor for Japanese families willing to relocate for premium international education, with proven IB outcomes.
• NLCS Singapore: Sister NLCS school established 2020 in Singapore, co-educational day school for ages 3-18. Same NLCS academic philosophy, IB curriculum, and parent expectations model.
• NLCS Jeju: Sister school within the NLCS International network, established 2011 in South Korea. Closest peer by brand, curriculum, and operating model, with both day and boarding options for K-12 IB students.

Regional players

• Kyoto International School: IB international school in Kyoto serving K-12, with similar Kansai regional market focus. Competes for the same Kansai families seeking IB education with Japanese cultural immersion.

Emerging players

• Aoba-Japan International School: Japan-based international school network with multiple campuses offering IB curriculum. Comparable in growth profile and bilingual education focus, though smaller in scale and brand recognition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/nlcskobe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/north-london-collegiate-school-kobe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about North London Collegiate School (NLCS) Kobe