• Beginning level:  Incoming Kindergartners & 1st graders (at regular weekday school)
  (2nd-5th graders will be admitted if space is available)
  
  
• Other levels:  Incoming Kindergartners through 11th graders (at regular weekday school)

• Not for beginning level students
• For students who can read and write hiragana and would like to be in a class other than the beginning level, a placement test will be required. 

We do not have class observation sessions.

Here is an introduction video if you would like to see what we do.

We begin accepting New Student Applications from January 15 until April 15, or when classes reach capacity. Check our homepage during this period for details on how to apply.

Openings are limited, so apply early.

Then register before the deadline. The Registration period is April 15-May 30.

Thereafter, registration will be accepted if space is available, and a $75 late registration fee will apply.

Saturday mornings (1st Saturday after Labor Day in September to last Saturday of May)

• Students assigned to A-class:     8:20 am -10:10 am
• Students assigned to B-class:   10:25 am -12:15 pm

We ask parents to leave this decision to the staff. We select the class that best fits your child based on his/her level and age group. (For continuing students, we also consider teachers’ recommendations.) Therefore, each of our classes are unique. 

Class Placements are announced in early August.

Please keep your Saturday mornings open as your child could be placed in either A-class (8:20-10:10am) or B-class (10:25am-12:15pm), and we cannot guarantee that your child can be placed according to any requests made.

For 2025-26 school year:

• A Notification of Withdrawal must be emailed to the Office (info@sanmateonippongakuyen.org)
• Withdrawals by 7/31/25 will be entitled to a refund of tuition paid less a $200 administrative fee.
• Withdrawals between 8/1 and 8/6/25 will be entitled to a refund of 50% of Full Annual Tuition paid. No refund if only the 1st Tuition Installment is paid.
• The full Annual Tuition is non-refundable from 8/7/25.  This applies for both Full Payment and Installment Payment registrations.
• Any exceptions to the refund policy will require approval by the Board of Directors for such extraordinary circumstances. Withdrawals due to a schedule conflict will not be an acceptable reason for requesting an exception.
• No tuition fee adjustments for holidays, short-term and long-term absences, suspensions, and emergency school closures.