2027 Entrance Exams

About the High School Entrance Exam

Here is what we want you to know before taking the entrance exam for a Kanagawa public high school, alongside this year's actual figures. You can read a detailed explanation of the system on each page in the menu.

About the Information on This Page This page is based on the report "Kanagawa Public High Schools Entrance Exam Information 2027" produced by the certified NPO ME-net (Multicultural Education Network Kanagawa). Figures such as competition rates are compiled from past entrance exam results. The rules of the system itself are officially set out in the Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education's "Guidebook for Entering Public High Schools."

The Guidebook for the 2027 Entrance Exams URL copied!

The Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education publishes the "Guidebook for Entering Public High Schools" in 10 languages for people whose mother tongue is not Japanese. You can read it in your own language, so get a copy first.

Download the Guidebook

You can download the guidebook in 10 languages from the Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education website.

Open the Board of Education Page

Multilingual Manual for Online Application

Applications are submitted online. A manual explaining how to use the system is also available in the same 10 languages as the guidebook.

Read About Application

Three Routes for Taking the Public High School Entrance Exam URL copied!

Which type of recruitment you can apply to depends on your nationality and where you have lived until now. Check which route applies to you — you may find that more than one applies.

Special Recruitment for Foreign Residents (在県外国人等特別募集)

For those who hold foreign nationality and have lived in Japan for a short time

Who Qualifies

Those who hold foreign nationality and whose total time living in Japan is within 6 years (counted from the school year in which you would start first grade of elementary school).

Be sure to confirm your eligibility. If you do not meet the conditions, you cannot take the exam through this recruitment.

See Eligibility Details

General Recruitment (一般募集)

The regular recruitment that anyone can apply to

Who Qualifies

Whether or not you fit either of the two categories above, you can take the exam through General Recruitment.

Accommodations Available on Request

Furigana (ruby readings) can be added to the kanji in the test questions.
Simple, easy Japanese can be used during the interview.

Note

This assumes you are already receiving these accommodations at your junior high school. Applicants with Japanese nationality may also apply for them.

About Special Examination Methods

Special Recruitment for Overseas Returnees (海外帰国生徒特別募集)

For those who have returned to Japan from abroad

Who Qualifies

Those who hold Japanese nationality, lived abroad continuously for 2 years or more together with a guardian, and returned to Japan on or after March 1, 2024 (holding a permanent residence permit is also acceptable).

Be sure to confirm your eligibility. If you do not meet the conditions, you cannot take the exam through this recruitment.

See Eligibility Details

Schedule for the 2027 Entrance Exams URL copied!

The Common Selection (excluding Secondary Recruitment) and Special Recruitment begin in January, and the Part-time/Correspondence Split Selection begins in March. Applicants for Special Recruitment must first have their eligibility confirmed.

Exam Date for Special Recruitment for Foreign Residents The academic test and interview take place on February 16.

Eligibility Confirmation Period for Special Recruitment

Applicants for Special Recruitment (Special Recruitment for Foreign Residents and Special Recruitment for Overseas Returnees) must have their eligibility confirmed by the high school they are applying to before submitting their application.

S Eligibility Confirmation Period 1/6 – 1/15

Common Selection (Excluding Secondary Recruitment) / Special Recruitment

A Application Period 1/25 – 1/29
B Application Change Period 2/4 – 2/8
C Exam Day 2/16 – 2/18
D Makeup Exam 2/22
E Results Announcement 2/26

Part-time/Correspondence Split Selection

A Application Period 3/4 – 3/5
B Application Change Period 3/8
C Exam Day 3/15 – 3/16
E Results Announcement 3/19

There is no makeup exam for the Part-time/Correspondence Split Selection.

View the Schedule on the Calendar

Eligibility for Special Recruitment for Foreign Residents URL copied!

This recruitment is for people who hold foreign nationality and have lived in Japan for a short time. Whether you meet the conditions is confirmed using your passport or immigration records.

Full-time

16 schools

Part-time

4 schools

Eligibility Conditions

In addition to the General Recruitment conditions (A, B, C; for part-time, A, B, D), applicants who also meet both of the following, E and F, can take the exam.

E Holds foreign nationality, or acquired Japanese nationality within the past 6 years (as of February 1, 2027).
F Total period of stay since entering Japan is within 6 years as of February 1, 2027 (time spent in Japan before elementary school age is not counted).

What Are A, B, and C?

A, B, and C (for part-time, A, B, and D) are the eligibility conditions for General Recruitment. See the "Eligibility" page for details.

Go to the Eligibility Page

How to Count "Within 6 Years in Total"

Confirmed using your passport, or an immigration record issued by the Immigration Services Agency.

Add up the number of days you were in Japan between the first April 1 after you turned 6 and February 1 of the year you take the exam.

Total days in Japan ≦ 365 days × 6 years = 2,190 days

April 1, the day you entered Japan, the day you left Japan, and February 1 of the exam year are all included in the count.

Use the residency-days calculator

How to Obtain an Immigration Record

Apply Early It takes more than one month for an immigration record to be issued. You can also apply by mail. Eligibility confirmation takes place in January, so complete the procedure early enough to make it in time.

Note for Those Who Used the Facial Recognition Gate If you entered or left Japan using only the facial recognition gate, no stamp is left in your passport. In that case, your passport alone cannot prove your period of stay, so request an immigration record.

Apply to the Immigration Services Agency

You can request a "disclosure of entry/departure (or return) records" through the Immigration Services Agency website. Direct any questions about issuance to the Immigration Services Agency as well.

How to Find It on the Website

Top Page > Public Relations / Information Disclosure > Information Disclosure / Personal Information Protection > Requesting Disclosure of Entry/Departure (or Return) Records

Application Process and Required Documents URL copied!

Applications are submitted online. Steps ① through ④ are common to everyone, and applicants for Special Recruitment for Foreign Residents must also show the high school the documents in ⑤ and ⑥.

Procedure Common to Everyone

Applying for the Common Selection (Excluding Secondary Recruitment)

1

Submit your application through the online application system.
2

Pay the exam fee through the online application system.

Full-time

2,200 yen

Part-time

950 yen

Correspondence

0 yen

However, part-time courses at Yokohama municipal schools cost 650 yen.

※ The amounts above are from last year.
3

Submit your school report (submitted by your junior high school).

Not required for those who completed 9 years of schooling abroad, or who are 18 or older (as of April 1, 2027).
4

Submit any other required documents (such as an interview sheet, as specified by the high school you are applying to).

See Application Details

Additional Steps for Special Recruitment for Foreign Residents

Needed in Addition to ①②③④

Show the following documents, ⑤ and ⑥, to the high school you plan to apply to. Bring them to the school in person rather than mailing them or submitting them online.

Additional Required Steps

5

Show the high school you plan to apply to documents proving you hold foreign nationality, or acquired Japanese nationality within the past 6 years (as of February 1, 2027).
6

Show the high school you plan to apply to documents proving your total period of stay since entering Japan is within 6 years (such as a passport or immigration record).

Period for This Procedure Complete steps ⑤ and ⑥ between Wednesday, January 6 and Friday, January 15. Be sure to contact the high school before you go.

Issuing an immigration record takes more than one month. Apply early so you make it in time for the January procedure.

The 4 Steps of Online Application

Enter the applicant's information on the application website and create an account.

2 January 6 – January 15

After contacting the school in advance, bring the documents for ⑤ and ⑥ to the high school you plan to apply to.

On the application website, select "Special Recruitment for Foreign Residents," choose the high school you are applying to, and pay the exam fee.

Print your exam ticket from the application website and bring it on the exam day.

When You Can Print Your Exam Ticket You can only print your exam ticket after the Application Change Period ends.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I have dual nationality?

If you hold foreign nationality, you can apply for Special Recruitment for Foreign Residents.

What if I have no document to prove my nationality?

For example, this can happen when a parent holds both Japanese and Filipino nationality, and the only document proving the child's nationality is a Japanese one. In cases like this, be sure to contact the Prefectural Board of Education's High School Education Division. Do not decide for yourself.

What are the exam questions like?

In Special Recruitment for Foreign Residents, furigana (ruby readings) are added to all English, mathematics, and Japanese language questions. The questions themselves are the same as General Recruitment, and each subject is 50 minutes. Answers are marked on an answer sheet. The interview is conducted in Japanese.

Schools Offering Special Recruitment for Foreign Residents URL copied!

Offered at 16 full-time and 4 part-time schools. The quotas below are for the 2026 entrance exams.

The quotas for the 2027 entrance exams are usually announced in late October.

School	Course	Department	Location	Quota	Interview Sheet
Kanagawa Prefectural Tsurumi Sogo High School	Full-time	Integrated Credit System	Tsurumi Ward, Yokohama	20	—
Kanagawa Prefectural Yokohama Seiryo High School	Full-time	General Credit System	Minami Ward, Yokohama	13	None required
Kanagawa Prefectural Isogo Technical High School A second choice can be selected	Full-time	Mechanical Electrical Construction Chemical	Isogo Ward, Yokohama	2 2 2 2	—
Kanagawa Prefectural Shinei High School	Full-time	General Course	Tsuzuki Ward, Yokohama	12	—
Kanagawa Prefectural Kawasaki High School	Full-time	General Credit System	Kawasaki Ward, Kawasaki	13	None required
Kanagawa Prefectural Daishi High School	Full-time	General Credit System	Kawasaki Ward, Kawasaki	13	—
Kanagawa Prefectural Hashimoto High School	Full-time	General Course	Midori Ward, Sagamihara	10	—
Kanagawa Prefectural Sagamihara Yaei High School	Full-time	General Credit System	Chuo Ward, Sagamihara	10	—
Kanagawa Prefectural Takahama High School	Full-time	General Course	Hiratsuka City	10	—
Kanagawa Prefectural Fujisawa Sogo High School	Full-time	Integrated Credit System	Fujisawa City	10	—
Kanagawa Prefectural Yamato Minami High School	Full-time	General Course	Yamato City	10	—
Kanagawa Prefectural Isehara High School	Full-time	General Course	Isehara City	10	—
Kanagawa Prefectural Zama Sogo High School	Full-time	Integrated Credit System	Zama City	15	None required
Kanagawa Prefectural Aikawa High School	Full-time	General Course	Aikawa Town, Aiko District	15	School's own form
Kanagawa Prefectural Yokohama Meiho High School A second choice can be selected	Part-time	General Credit System	Konan Ward, Yokohama	Morning Session 15 Afternoon Session 15	School's own form
Kanagawa Prefectural Sagami Koyokan High School A second choice can be selected	Part-time	General Credit System	Zama City	Morning Session 15 Afternoon Session 15	None required
Municipal Schools
Yokohama Municipal Minato Sogo High School	Full-time	Integrated Credit System	Naka Ward, Yokohama	6	—
Yokohama Municipal Yokohama Shogyo High School	Full-time	International Studies	Minami Ward, Yokohama	4	None required
Yokohama Municipal Yokohama Sogo High School	Part-time	Integrated Credit System	Minami Ward, Yokohama	Division II 10	School's own form
Kawasaki Municipal Kawasaki High School	Part-time	General Course Daytime	Kawasaki Ward, Kawasaki	8	—

Note

The "Interview Sheet" column shows only the schools listed in the source material. For schools with nothing shown, the source material has no information — check directly with the school you are applying to.

See the Full List of Schools

Features of Kanagawa Public High School Entrance Exams

In principle, applicants are accepted up to the recruitment quota.
The selection criteria are clearly defined.

For Special Recruitment for Foreign Residents

There is no Secondary Recruitment.
The interview is conducted in Japanese.
The school report score is not used in the pass/fail decision. Pass/fail is decided by the academic test and interview.
Whether an interview sheet is required varies by school.

See Selection Criteria Details

Application Results for Special Recruitment for Foreign Residents URL copied!

Looking at how many people took the exam and how many passed in the past is useful when choosing a school.

10-Year Trend

Quota

Took Exam

Passed

10-year trend in the quota, number of applicants, and number of successful applicants for Special Recruitment for Foreign Residents
Year	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
Quota	145	145	145	145	145	187	205	205	207	257
Took Exam	141	153	144	165	103	196	176	224	263	264
Passed	130	137	132	137	101	171	164	187	201	226

Note

The quota has been increasing since 2022. The number of applicants has also been increasing: in 2026, 264 people took the exam and 226 passed.

Results by School Over the Past 3 Years

For each school, the quota, number of applicants, number who took the exam, and number who passed are shown for 3 years. The applicant figure is from before any application changes.

Where the number of test-takers exceeded the quota, it is shown in bold red. Even when a school's quota is exceeded, that does not necessarily mean applicants failed.

Quota, number of applicants, number of test-takers, and number who passed by school over the past 3 years for Special Recruitment for Foreign Residents
School	2026			2025			2024
School	Quota	Applied → Took Exam	Passed	Quota	Applied → Took Exam	Passed	Quota	Applied → Took Exam	Passed
Kanagawa Prefectural Tsurumi Sogo High School	20	2321	20	20	4034	20	20	1821	20
Kanagawa Prefectural Yokohama Seiryo High School	13	1818	13	13	2320	13	13	1915	13
Kanagawa Prefectural Shinei High School	12	2318	12	10	1111	10	7	1311	7
Kanagawa Prefectural Kawasaki High School	13	1817	13	12	1817	12	12	1716	12
Kanagawa Prefectural Daishi High School	13	1211	11	10	109	9	10	1110	10
Kanagawa Prefectural Hashimoto High School	10	1011	10	10	1612	10	10	1010	10
Kanagawa Prefectural Sagamihara Yaei High School	10	68	8	10	912	10	10	1313	10
Kanagawa Prefectural Takahama High School	10	1010	10	10	88	8	7	811	7
Kanagawa Prefectural Fujisawa Sogo High School	10	1314	10	10	411	10	7	910	7
Kanagawa Prefectural Yamato Minami High School	10	1614	10	10	1211	10	10	99	9
Kanagawa Prefectural Isehara High School	10	99	9	10	1112	10	10	2217	10
Kanagawa Prefectural Zama Sogo High School	15	1820	15	10	2015	11	10	1110	10
Kanagawa Prefectural Aikawa High School	15	810	10	10	67	7	10	99	9
Yokohama Municipal Minato Sogo High School	6	56	6	6	1213	6	6	1413	6
Yokohama Municipal Yokohama Shogyo High School	4	65	4	4	55	4	4	55	4
Kanagawa Prefectural Isogo Technical High School	8	96	6	No recruitment this year			No recruitment this year
Kanagawa Prefectural Yokohama Meiho High School Morning Session	15	1414	14	7	1012	7	7	99	7
Kanagawa Prefectural Yokohama Meiho High School Afternoon Session	15	912	12	7	98	7	7	11	3
Kanagawa Prefectural Sagami Koyokan High School Morning Session	15	1416	15	10	2116	10	10	1210	10
Kanagawa Prefectural Sagami Koyokan High School Afternoon Session	15	24	5	10	56	10	10	15	5
Yokohama Municipal Yokohama Sogo High School Division II	10	1617	10	10	1617	10	10	910	10
Kawasaki Municipal Kawasaki High School	8	33	3	8	87	7	8	12	2
Total	257	262264	226	207	274263	201	205	224224	187

Note

The total row shows the figures as printed in the original source material. For 2024, adding up the figures listed by school above does not match this total. This is because the original source material counts one school in the total that it does not list individually.

Note

"Applied" is the number of applicants before any application changes. The number of test-takers can increase or decrease after an application change.

What the 2026 Entrance Exams Showed (16 Full-time Schools)

9 schools had applicants who did not pass.
At 2 schools (Takahama and Minato Sogo), the number of successful applicants exactly matched the quota.
5 schools did not fill their quota (Daishi, Aikawa, Isehara, Sagamihara Yaei, and Isogo Technical).

About the 4 Daytime Part-time Schools

At Sagami Koyokan and Yokohama Meiho, a second choice can be submitted.
At Sagami Koyokan and Yokohama Meiho, an interview is also held for General Recruitment.

Special Recruitment for Overseas Returnees URL copied!

This recruitment is for people who lived abroad together with a guardian and have returned to Japan. It is offered at full-time high schools.

Schools Offering This Recruitment

8 full-time schools

Eligibility Conditions

In addition to the General Recruitment conditions (A, B, C), applicants who also meet the following, G, can take the exam.

G Holds Japanese nationality, lived abroad continuously for 2 years or more together with a guardian, and returned to Japan on or after March 1, 2024.

What Are A, B, and C?

A, B, and C are the eligibility conditions for General Recruitment. See the "Eligibility" page for details.

Go to the Eligibility Page

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the number of years lived abroad confirmed?

It is confirmed using the entry/exit records in your passport. Your guardian's passport is also required.

What are the nationality requirements?

You must either hold Japanese nationality, or have left and returned to Japan while holding a permanent residence permit.

What if I was born abroad?

If you were living with your guardian and returned to Japan at the same time as your guardian, you are eligible.

What subjects are on the exam?

The 3 subjects are English, mathematics, and Japanese language. The questions are the same as General Recruitment, but furigana (ruby readings) are not added. There is also an essay and an interview.

Results by School Over the Past 3 Years

The "quota" after each school's name is that school's quota for the returnee recruitment. The applicant figure is from before any application changes. The quotas below are for the 2026 entrance exams.

The quotas for the 2027 entrance exams are usually announced in late October.

Where the number of test-takers exceeded the quota, it is shown in bold red.

Quota, number of applicants, number of test-takers, and number who passed by school over the past 3 years for Special Recruitment for Overseas Returnees
School	Quota	2026		2025		2024
School	Quota	Applied → Took Exam	Passed	Applied → Took Exam	Passed	Applied → Took Exam	Passed
Kanagawa Prefectural Kanagawa Sogo High School	10	1916	10	1511	10	2014	10
Kanagawa Prefectural Yokohama International High School	20	1311	10	1615	15	1212	12
Kanagawa Prefectural Yokohama International High School International Baccalaureate Course	5	55	4	84	4	23	3
Kanagawa Prefectural Shinjo High School	10	98	8	1311	10	911	10
Kanagawa Prefectural Seisho High School	10	11	1	11	0	22	2
Kanagawa Prefectural Tsurumine High School	15	23	3	44	4	99	9
Kanagawa Prefectural Sagamihara Yaei High School	5	54	4	55	5	33	3
Kanagawa Prefectural Ishida High School	10	44	4	54	4	11	1
Yokohama Municipal Higashi High School	10	55	5	23	3	99	9

Note

At Seisho High School, 1 person withdrew after taking the exam.

Note

"Applied" is the number of applicants before any application changes.

See the Full List of Schools

How to Choose a School URL copied!

When deciding which high school to apply to, think not only about how easy it is to get in, but also about whether you will be able to keep going once you enroll. What follows is advice based on ME-net's experience answering consultations.

Choose a School That Offers Support After You Enroll Choosing a school that offers Japanese language support or support for students with foreign connections will make things easier after you enroll. Ask about what support is available at school information sessions or high school guidance sessions.

Think Ahead About What Happens If You Do Not Pass

If you are taking Special Recruitment for Foreign Residents, decide before the exam what you will do if you do not pass. The following are some options.

Take the Secondary Recruitment at a daytime part-time school.
Take the Part-time/Correspondence Split Selection at an evening part-time school.

See Details About the Part-time/Correspondence Split Selection

Things to Consider When Choosing a Correspondence School At correspondence schools, you must plan your own schedule and work through your assignments on your own. Many students who cannot manage this end up withdrawing or repeating a year. If you are considering a correspondence school, think carefully about whether you can keep up your studies at home.

About Private High Schools

Few Private High Schools Offer Japanese Language Support

Very few private high schools offer Japanese language support or similar. Support is available at the following schools.

Within Kanagawa Prefecture

Hakuho Joshi High School, Asahigaoka High School

Within Tokyo

Shinagawa Etoile Joshi High School, Keimei Gakuen High School, Kanto Kokusai High School, Felicia High School

Notes on Applying to Both Public and Private Schools

You can apply to both public and private schools, but the system can be confusing, and misunderstandings are common among families with foreign connections. Keep the following in mind.

There have been cases where an applicant withdrew from a private school after passing it, having failed the public school. Once you withdraw, you cannot retake the public school exam.
At a private high school, you must pay a lump sum (including tuition) right after enrolling. This places a heavy financial burden on families.
We also receive consultations about students who withdraw due to financial burden and transfer to a different high school.

About Tuition Support for Private High Schools

Application Results for Daytime Part-time / Flexible High Schools

No One Has Failed the Secondary Recruitment in the Past 3 Years At daytime part-time and part-time flexible high schools, among schools that held a Secondary Recruitment, no applicant has failed the Secondary Recruitment in the past 3 years. Likewise, at every evening part-time school, no applicant has failed the Common Selection or Part-time/Correspondence Split Selection in the past 3 years of entrance exams.

There is no Secondary Recruitment for the Part-time/Correspondence Split Selection. Keep this in mind if you are taking the Part-time/Correspondence Split Selection.

The table below shows results for the Common Selection / General Recruitment at daytime part-time and flexible high schools. Evening part-time schools are not included.

Where the number of test-takers exceeded the quota, it is shown in bold red. The "Secondary Recruitment" column shows whether a Secondary Recruitment was held that year.

Results for the Common Selection / General Recruitment at daytime part-time schools over the past 3 years
School	Year	Quota	Applied → Took Exam	Passed
Kanagawa Prefectural Yokohama Meiho High School Interview held	2026	Morning Session 125	127122	122
	2026	Afternoon Session 125	5254	53
	2025	Morning Session 133	112109	108
	2025	Afternoon Session 133	5758	57
	2024	Morning Session 133	9998	97
	2024	Afternoon Session 133	4340	39
Kanagawa Prefectural Sagami Koyokan High School Interview and self-expression activity held	2026	Morning Session 125	8488	87
	2026	Afternoon Session 125	6055	55
	2025	Morning Session 130	112113	110
	2025	Afternoon Session 130	10198	96
	2024	Morning Session 130	166149	133
	2024	Afternoon Session 130	113124	130
Yokohama Municipal Yokohama Sogo High School	2026	Division I 144	146151	144
	2026	Division II 98	10393	93
	2026	Division III 108	3836	40
	2025	Division I 144	131148	144
	2025	Division II 98	141127	98
	2025	Division III 108	4443	67
	2024	Division I 144	171165	144
	2024	Division II 98	96101	98
	2024	Division III 108	4239	56
Kawasaki Municipal Kawasaki High School	2026	Daytime Session 132	102101	99
	2025	Daytime Session 132	8184	83
	2024	Daytime Session 132	6666	66

Flexible High Schools

Results for the Common Selection / General Recruitment at part-time flexible high schools over the past 3 years
School	Year	Quota	Applied → Took Exam	Passed
Kanagawa Prefectural Kawasaki High School	2026	70	5154	53
	2025	70	8880	71
	2024	70	7472	72
Kanagawa Prefectural Atsugi Seinan High School	2026	105	5553	52
	2025	105	6257	57
	2024	105	4545	45

Note

This table was compiled as of July 2026. Evening part-time high schools are not included.

Contact Information URL copied!

Prefectural Board of Education, High School Education Division, Admissions and Enrollment Quota Group

(045) 210-8084

Direct line, Japanese only

If you have questions about eligibility or proof of nationality, please contact this office.

The High School You Are Applying To

For questions about submitting the interview sheet or the eligibility confirmation procedure, please check directly with the high school you are applying to.