About Tokyo Children's Garden
Great Things Happen When Children & The Forest Meet
In 2020, Tokyo Children’s Garden began a transformative journey. Moving our small school from the heart of Tokyo to the green forests of Kawagoe, we experienced the profound impact of daily forest time. What began as a season of discovery became a newfound commitment: a promise to ensure that nature remains the mainstay of a child’s education throughout the entire year.
A Legacy of Year-Round Exploration
Today, we are back in Tokyo, but that commitment lives through our weekend Forest Schools and this Karuizawa Nature Exploration summer program. Our continued efforts have provided our teachers with intense, hands-on practice in Tokyo and Karuizawa with our child-based Reggio Emilia approach, ensuring that our activities are child directed, nurturing, and deeply rooted in the world around us.
Through partnerships with local experts like Rising Field and regional merchants, we combine our pedagogical practice with specialized local knowledge. From wildlife awareness to weather safety, and careful attention to the needs and communication styles of young children, our preparation and procedures allow children to experience the joy of discovery while held in a secure and professional embrace.
The Whole Child: Connection through Curiosity
We believe that opportunities like Karuizawa Nature Exploration are the ultimate environment for developing the whole person. Our philosophy is built on the belief that children thrive when they are in constant dialogue with their surroundings.