Ueda International School
Acceptable age range
| Start date | Date of birth |
|---|---|
| Apr 2026 – Mar 2027 | 2020/4/2〜2023/4/1 |
| Apr 2027 – Mar 2028 | 2021/4/2〜2024/4/1 |
- English friendly envinonment in a rich natural setting
- Fully enjoying Nagano’s great outdoors and historic castle town atmosphere
Reviews
See all 2 reviewsWonderful experience for my daughter to learn about other cultures and customs
The Cris family (4 years 2 months)
1st time in the program
July 19, 2026
My daughter enjoyed school a lot. She wanted to go every day. She made a lot of ... Read more
My daughter enjoyed school a lot. She wanted to go every day. She made a lot of new friends and enjoyed learning about tanabata, eating Japanese food, going swimming and the river field trip with UIS.
Message to Preschool Teachers
Thank you to Mr Goh, Mr John, Ms Megumi, Ms Annie, Ms Kana, Ms Sam and all the teachers for looking after Cassia. She loved the teachers a lot, she felt very comfortable and said school was really fun. She thinks Mr Goh is very silly and is good at playing with kids.
Message to Local People
Thank you to Emma from Come Musubi for all her support and making our stay so easy and comfortable. My daughter really liked going to her shop so she could eat her onigiri and karaage chicken almost every day. The bento for her school trip was really delicious.
Nearby there was some amazing restaurants. There was a big supermarket, Daiso, EdiOn and Tsutaya so we had everything we could need. The Ario shopping mall was also good entertainment for a rainy or very hot day. We hired a car and enjoyed driving to Matsumoto and Toys Kingdom. The nearby Bessho Onsen was also a wonderful way to end the trip with an overnight stay at a child friendly onsen called Midoriya.
- Number of People
- 3 People (2 Adults, 1 Child)
- Children Age
- 4 years 2 months
- Period
- 2 Weeks (From Jul 5, 2026)
- Educational Facility
- Ueda International School
- Accommodation
Japan Preschool Exchange Ueda International School
The Grace family (5 years)
1st time in the program
June 22, 2026
It was a wonderful experience for both my daughter and me. She goes to school du... Read more
It was a wonderful experience for both my daughter and me. She goes to school during the day and I explored and visited the tourist spots around the area. For the past 2 weeks my daughter has learnt some Japanese culture and Japanese words. My daughter really enjoyed her 2 weeks school in Japan that she did not want to leave. It was a great idea as well that the school has an "open day" which parents could go inside the classroom to watch and observe while they are doing there class, as we don't have that kind of system here in Australia.
Message to Preschool Teachers
Both Ms. Ann and Ms. Kanon are really nice and even the other teachers in the school. They look after my daughter very well specially for the first few days that she cries and looking for me. I am very happy the way they looked after my child. The teachers are also very helpful when I asked some places I needed to go. Thank you all very much.
Message to Local People
The staff are very easy to talk to, they make their time more convenient for me specially on the day we checked out, it was a bit early but the staff was there on time and even dropped us off to the train station as we were running out of time. Local community are so lovely suggesting and recommending the best places where to eat and shop. They are very helpful too when i asked some help, they even call taxi's for me as I don't speak Japanese. Japanese people are so wonderful.
- Number of People
- 2 People (1 Adult, 1 Child)
- Children Age
- 5 years
- Period
- 2 Weeks (From Jun 7, 2026)
- Educational Facility
- Ueda International School
- Accommodation
Access
From Nagano Station, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Ueda Station (approximately 30 minutes). From Ueda Station, take a taxi and travel for about 10–15 minutes to reach your destination.
Take the Limousine Bus or JR train from Haneda Airport to Tokyo Station. From Tokyo Station, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Ueda Station (approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes). From Ueda Station, take a taxi and travel for about 10–15 minutes to reach your destination.
Take the Narita Express or the Limousine Bus from Narita Airport to Tokyo Station. From Tokyo Station, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Ueda Station (approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes). From Ueda Station, take a taxi and travel for about 10–15 minutes to reach your destination.
Features of the Preschool
Young learners thrive in an immersive bilingual environment where English and Japanese seamlessly intertwine through daily routines and seasonal themes. Supported by a diverse multicultural staff, children engage in mixed-age learning that naturally expands their global perspectives from an early age.
Located just 90 minutes from Tokyo, Ueda combines magnificent mountain views and pristine rivers with stress-free urban accessibility. This ideal setting allows working parents and young children to experience nature-rich Japanese living without giving up modern convenience.
Children regularly step outside into local fields and green spaces to search for insects and touch the soil. Through simple hands-on nature play and seasonal farm visits, young learners develop a natural curiosity and a gentle connection with the outdoors.
Ueda's rich samurai heritage, traditional castle town streets, and relaxing historic bathhouses offer a fascinating cultural journey. Parents and young explorers can stroll through local farm markets, visit ancient shrines, and ride charming local trains to deeply experience authentic Japanese traditions.
A Day of the Children
Enjoying fun snow play outdoors during cold winter days
Stepping out into local fields to search for insects
Strolling through quiet streets with a touch of historic charm
Expressing imagination through colorful music and art activities
Enjoying wholesome lunches made with fresh local produce
Playing rhythms and musical games together with castanets
Getting hands in the soil on local farm visits
Walking together hand in hand on a neighborhood stroll
Accommodation
Kabatake Malibu
2
min6
minAccommodation Type
Whole building rental
Capacity
6 people
Kitchen
Private Kitchen
Bedroom
Bed, Futon
Bathroom
Bathtub Available
Laundry
Washing Machine
Features
Baby-Friendly, Coworking Space, Walkable to Preschool, Within 15-Min Drive to Preschool, No Car Needed
Work Environment
Wi-Fi Available / Separate Workspace for Couples Available / Coworking Space Available
Across Home Kabatake Maman
6
minAccommodation Type
Whole building rental
Capacity
6 people
Kitchen
Private Kitchen
Bedroom
Bed, Futon
Bathroom
Bathtub Available
Laundry
Washing Machine
Features
Walkable to Preschool, Within 15-Min Drive to Preschool, No Car Needed
Work Environment
Wi-Fi Available / Separate Workspace for Couples Available / Coworking Space Available
Uedahara Bldg. C
Accommodation Type
Whole building rental
Capacity
6 people
Kitchen
Private Kitchen
Bedroom
Futon
Bathroom
Bathtub Available
Laundry
Washing Machine
Features
Baby-Friendly, Coworking Space
Work Environment
Wi-Fi Available / Separate Workspace for Couples Available / Coworking Space Available
Destination
158-2 KABATAKE, UEDA CITY, NAGANO, NAGANO
Ueda Castle Ruins Park
A spacious park with open lawns and moats where children can run freely. Cherry blossoms in spring and autumn foliage make it ideal for family walks.
Official SiteSugadaira Kogen Snow Resort
Located less than an hour from Ueda, this family-friendly winter paradise features gentle ski slopes, dedicated snow play parks, and breathtaking snowy mountain landscapes.
Official SiteBessho Onsen Area
A historic hot spring village featuring a pastel blue train station, tranquil temple grounds, and footbaths where families can unwind after a pleasant stroll.
Official SiteShinano Kokubunji Temple
Home to the oldest surviving three-story pagoda in Nagano, this quiet temple provides a peaceful space for families to appreciate classical Japanese architecture.
Official SiteUtsukushigahara Open-Air Museum
Perched atop a 2,000-meter plateau, this high-altitude outdoor museum displays grand modern sculptures beneath open blue skies, complete with a dedicated children's outdoor play area.
Official SiteThe Ueda Sanada Festival
A spectacular historical event held in central Ueda, featuring vibrant red-armored samurai parades, gunnery demonstrations, and lively traditional drum performances that bring feudal history to life.
Official SiteSample Itinerary
Hop aboard the charming Bessho Line train to soak in views of countryside landscapes and pastel blue stations, before unwinding with a relaxing stroll through historic hot spring streets.
Famous for Ueda Castle and the Sanada clan, Ueda offers "Oidare Yakitori" in the castle town and hiking in Utsukushigahara. Buy "Misuzu-ame" candies or Ueda Tsumugi silk as souvenirs, then relax at Bessho or Kakeyu Onsen hot springs.
Visit a historic local sake brewery in the castle town to sample smooth Shinshu craft sake, then pair your favorite bottle with handmade soba noodles for an authentic regional lunch.
Hop aboard the charming Bessho Line train to soak in views of countryside landscapes and pastel blue stations, before unwinding with a relaxing stroll through historic hot spring streets.