Okinawa Lures Tokyo Families Seeking Global Education

Families from Tokyo are moving to Okinawa in record numbers, drawn by an international school that costs half the price of similar education in Japan's capital. For the first time, students from outside Okinawa now make up over 60% of enrollment at Okinawa International School, as remote work arrangements and high Tokyo living costs push parents to seek better options for their children's education.

At Okinawa International School in Nango City, 21 first-grade students work with scissors, straws, plastic bottles and balloons in a classroom buzzing with creative activities. The conversations flow between Japanese and English. Two-thirds of these young students come from families who moved here from outside the prefecture, most from the Tokyo metropolitan area.

The school started as a pre-school in Naha in 2003 and now offers the International Baccalaureate program from kindergarten through high school. With two campuses serving about 220 students aged 3 to 18, the school aims to develop global leaders who can succeed on the international stage.

Remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything. More families began calling the school about relocating to Okinawa specifically for their children's education. The school's reputation got a major boost in 2022 when its first high school graduating class achieved the second-highest average International Baccalaureate test scores in Japan among roughly 70 accredited schools nationwide.

The moves often involve just mothers and children relocating to Okinawa while fathers stay in Tokyo for work. Some parents with flexible work arrangements travel frequently between the two locations. Many families decided to make the permanent move after spending extended holidays in the prefecture.

"The international atmosphere and natural beauty of Okinawa are certainly attractive, but for many families, the deciding factor is the reasonable costs," said Shogo Okuma, director of Okinawa International School. "Despite inflation and the weak yen, education and living costs in Okinawa can be covered at roughly the same cost as living in central Tokyo."

The numbers tell the story. Elementary education at Okinawa International School costs about 1.5 million yen ($9,600) annually, including tuition and other fees. Middle school runs about 1.8 million yen. While higher than public school costs, it's still cheaper than most international schools in Tokyo.

This trend reflects growing interest in international education among Japanese families. Okinawa has become an attractive option for those who want to send their children to international schools without the heavy financial burden, according to Okuma.

The school responded to surging post-pandemic demand by participating in an education fair in Tokyo in 2024 that brought together international and private schools from across the country. They also launched a website to support housing, partnering with Okinawa real estate agents to help with "educational relocation."

The results were striking. The school received 173 inquiries from outside Okinawa prefecture in 2024 - more than double the 77 inquiries from within the prefecture.

Parents who made the move say they appreciate Okinawa's relaxed atmosphere. "Unlike Tokyo, we don't feel like other parents are judging us based on where we live or what we wear," one parent told the school. Another said: "We live here without pressure."

To avoid legal uncertainty, many Japanese parents sending their children to international schools choose dual registration - enrolling their child in both an international school and a local public school simultaneously. While approval for such arrangements depends on local education boards, municipalities in Okinawa generally approve them in principle.

This educational migration highlights how remote work has reshaped family decisions about where to live and how to educate children. It also shows how smaller regions can compete with major metropolitan areas by offering quality education at more affordable prices, combined with better quality of life.