Be Lifelong Explorers
Wells International Preschool is located in Kamakura, where culture and nature exist in harmony.
Our mission is to inspire and empower children to achieve lifelong wellness.
Our education begins with respecting the individuality, motivation, and boundless curiosity that lives within each child.
Kamakura is home to historic shrines and temples, local cuisine, traditional crafts, and beautiful natural landscapes. We weave the unique character of this rich land into our curriculum, providing children with enriching learning experiences both inside and outside the school.
Wellness is at the heart of our education. Through nutritionally balanced meals, yoga and mindfulness sessions, and moments of quiet dialogue, we cultivate an awareness of mind-body harmony within the rhythm of everyday life.
This is not simply a preschool — it is a community where education and wellness are naturally integrated, forming the foundation for children's futures.
Concept
World-Class Education × Kamakura Nature × Wellness
We blend the globally acclaimed Reggio Emilia Approach with the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC). Set against the backdrop of Kamakura's ocean, mountains, and four seasons, we bring learning to life every day — starting from children's own "Why?" and "Let me try!" Rather than being taught, children learn to question, discover, and create on their own — and in that joy, each one grows through their own innate potential.
Learning Through Inquiry
"Why is the sky blue?" "Where does this bug go home to?" — It is children's seemingly simple questions that become the starting point for learning. Grounded in the Reggio Emilia Approach, rather than adults providing answers, we cherish the process in which children form hypotheses, experiment, and discover for themselves. By accompanying each child's curiosity, we nurture the joy of inquiry and the ability to think independently.
Dialogue with Nature
The ocean is a five-minute walk away. Children notice the small traces and creatures on the beach that adults might overlook — more quickly and more keenly than anyone. The rhythm of the tides, the scent of the wind changing with each season, the ecosystem spreading beneath their feet — Kamakura's natural world is the ultimate "living classroom." The experience of attuning to subtle daily changes cultivates deep observation skills and an inexhaustible curiosity about the world.
Living Japanese Culture
Kamakura-bori woodcarving, taiko drumming, tea ceremony, and traditional events that mark the changing seasons. Children absorb the Japanese culture rooted in this land not as special knowledge, but as lived, everyday experience — as naturally as breathing. Deeply knowing the culture in which you were raised forms an unshakable identity and becomes the foundation of true internationalism — the ability to genuinely respect different cultures and perspectives.
Nurturing Resilient Minds & Bodies
Starting the morning with yoga to center the breath, nourishing the body with seasonal school lunches, and settling the mind through moments of quiet dialogue. Wellness is not a special occasion — it is woven into the fabric of every day. The experience of feeling mind-body harmony in daily life builds the resilience to face challenges with grace and the positive spirit to embrace the joy of learning.
Growing with the Community
Learning does not happen only within the classroom. The people of the town who exchange greetings on our walks, the volunteers at beach cleanups, the farmers at our partner farms — the entire town of Kamakura is our learning field. Through warm interactions with diverse adults, children develop an awareness of being part of a community and cultivate trust in others and the ability to live together.
Professionals Supporting Learning
Our experienced educators, from diverse backgrounds, create an environment that only small class sizes can offer. With a teacher-to-child ratio of less than 1:3, no small change or emerging interest goes unnoticed. We provide attentive, personalized support that draws out each child's unique talents and individuality to the fullest.
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School Tour
It begins with a visit
The best way to get to know Wells is to visit our school in person. We would love to show you around, share how we learn and grow here, and hear about your family's hopes for your child.
Book a tour