Summer Camps In (and Around) Tokyo 2021
Summer Camps In (and Around) Tokyo 2021
It may seem early to start thinking about summer camp for your kids, but the options in and around Tokyo book up fast! Many camps, many of which begin in early June, offer limited spaces (especially now, in the time of COVID). It’s wise to look into your options soon so you’re not stuck with stir-crazy kids at home all summer!
CareFinder has made it a bit easier to find the best camps for your kids with this round-up. From outdoor adventure camps to coding academies, there are choices for every interest in your household.
Here's another great option for the STEM fan in your household! From now until September, your 7 to 18-year-old can take part in day camps or overnight opportunities to learn all about coding, game development, 3D printing, robotics and more! Overnight camps are located in Hakuba, Myoko and Tokyo and the daily classes are held in Nishiazabu or at the Tokyo American Club.
Just as the name implies, this is a summer camp that is perfect for the outdoor lover. There are three different levels of English language support. The “Challenge” camp offers assistance with Japanese. “Challenge Plus” is for the intermediate English speaker who may need a bit of help but is ready to test out their language skills in real-world settings. And “Immersion” is exactly that: 100 percent English, 100 percent of the time. Whichever language level works best, all camps are filled with fun activities like ropes courses, nature walks and water games. Camps begin toward the end of July and are held in sessions by grade level.
Another “traditional” camp experience is Nanbo Discovery, an overnight option in Chiba for middle school-aged kids. The camp’s proximity to the beach means there are plenty of water activities, including tide pool science and snorkeling. Additionally, campers will have the opportunity to volunteer their time on beach clean-ups and as kitchen helpers, serving meals to their fellow campers. Camp sessions run in either four or five-day increments, beginning in mid-July. Camp is entirely in English.
This outdoor camp runs for one week in late July (so hurry as space is limited!). Campers between 8 and 14 can enjoy hiking, rafting, canoeing and more, while they sleep under the stars in tents! Adults also have the option to tag along if interested. The location can’t be beat, either: Surrounded by the Japanese Alps, Hakuba is usually known for its winter sports, but the abundance of nature (and cooler temperatures!) make it a wonderful place to beat the summer heat in Tokyo.
If your children (or you!) are interested less in outdoor activities and more in supplemental and fun classes, ASIJ Summer Passport program may be a good fit! Beginning in mid-June through early July, students in kindergarten through tenth grade can participate in all of the standard classes, like language arts and maths, as well as coding, creative writing, ceramics and more on ASIJ’s Chofu campus. Classes run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and are taught in English (with Japanese language courses offered separately). Registration opened in March, so hurry as spaces go quickly!
If you're interested in Hakuba International School, which has plans to open full-time in Fall 2022 for 7th and 8th graders, this is a great opportunity to check things out! HIS will host three summer sessions for kids 10 to 15, two in English and one bilingual English/Japanese. With a thematic focus on sustainability, activities during the sessions include lots of outdoor time, science and compassionte systems frameworks -- all set among the Japanese Alps. Sessions are five days each and begin in mid-July. Applications are due by May 21.
If you have a budding (or established) tech whiz at home, definitely check out Coding Lab! Located in Shirokanedai, Coding Lab will offer classes at numerous skill levels from June to September. Beginning at age four through 18, there are one-day or five-day options that span visual learning tools for kids too young to read, to app development to “Python Perfect”,” where teens can hone their skills using the same coding language as the pros at Facebook, Google and Microsoft. Except for the four to six-year-old classes, students can choose to take courses remotely or in-person. All classes are taught in English.
KSpace International Summer School
For younger children, KSpace International’s Summer School program is an excellent option! The school, located in Shirokanedai, offers programs for kids as young as 14 months old, with additional programs available for 9 to 11-year-olds. This year’s theme is “Flights of Fancy” and each week has a subtheme. Each day (including Saturdays!) also offers specific activities, such as Science Mondays and Geography Wednesdays. The program runs for a little over seven weeks and there is a lot of flexibility on hours: extension hours are offered as late as 7 p.m., in case you’ll need a little more time at the office or running errands.
Also in Shirokanedai, Ayla International School caters to younger kids, as well. Summer camp runs from June 7 through August 20; each day runs from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. with the option to extend through to 3 p.m. Activities are conducted in both English and Japanese -- a perfect approach for young second-language learners of each. Your child will enjoy story time, arts and crafts, show and tell and much more, all of which will be tailored to best fit their learning style. There may also be field trips (safety permitting) to places like the zoo, aquarium or even the local parks!
If you have a creative kid or two in your home, Tokyo Kids Write is a wonderful summer camp option! Not only does this camp offer opportunities for the kids to flex their writing muscles, it also incorporates food experimentation and community exploration, as well! Every kid's skill level will differ, but this is generally a good option for those between the ages of seven and 14. The first of two sessions begins in late July and classes will feature some incredibly talented writers local to Japan.
This international school is offering classes taught in the Harker School (based in San Fancisco and founded by the first president of Stanford University). While the classes are all digital, this unique program offers students the chance to have peer-to-peer interaction at the GKCors location in Hiroo. The summer program runs from July 19 through August 13 and is suitable for children ages six and up.
Another great option for the budding scientist, mathematician, artist or all of the above in your household: check out Dreamseeds STEAM Camp! Kids age six and up can learn about coding, robotics, 3D printing and more! There is also special emphasis paid to English instruction. Camp begins in early July at the Dreamseeds location in Shinjuku.
You can also take advantage of CareFinder's amazing community of babysitters! Whether you need help for camp or summer school pick-up or drop-off, or you just want some assistance keeping the kids entertained at home this summer, our sitters have you covered! You can find the best babysitter for your family here.
