Gordonstoun to Open Japan Campus in Wakayama in 2027

A new chapter for British boarding education in Japan

Gordonstoun, the Scottish boarding school known for alumni King Charles III and the late Prince Philip, plans to open a campus in the city of Wakayama in September 2027. The project brings a British boarding education model to the Kansai region with a program taught in English and a student body expected to be more than half international. The school will cover seven grade levels, matching Japan’s sixth grade through the third year of high school. A disused office complex, the former Noritsu Koki Center Building near Nankai Electric Railway’s Wakayamadaigakumae Station, will be renovated for classrooms and shared spaces, and a new dormitory will be built on the site. Wakayama’s coastline, well suited to sailing and other water activities, aligns with Gordonstoun’s long tradition of learning through the sea and the outdoors. Access to Kansai International Airport adds convenience for families and visiting staff.

A formal agreement to advance the plan was signed at Wakayama City Hall in August 2025 by the school corporation OCC, real estate developer Sanyo Homes, Nankai Electric Railway, and the municipal government. The arrival of Gordonstoun follows the opening of Harrow Appi in Iwate in 2022 and Rugby School Japan in Chiba in 2023. Education scholar Yumiko Hada has observed growing demand among affluent families in Japan for international standard schooling. She also argues that the Wakayama site is attractive to parents overseas because it combines natural surroundings with strong transport links.

Why Wakayama and what the campus will offer

Organizers cite two reasons for the choice of Wakayama. The first is the setting. The coast on the Kii Peninsula offers safe access to open water, beaches, and marinas. Those assets support sailing, rowing, paddle sports, and coastal expeditions, which are central to Gordonstoun’s approach to character education. The second is connectivity. The site sits on a Nankai Electric Railway corridor, near Wakayamadaigakumae Station, with straightforward access to Osaka and Kansai International Airport. A vacant building will be repurposed, and a purpose built dormitory will anchor a residential boarding community. Project materials describe a campus designed to support around 700 students and about 200 staff when fully developed.

Location and facilities

The campus footprint centers on the former Noritsu Koki Center Building a short walk from the station that serves Wakayama University. Plans call for modern classrooms, arts and music rooms, science labs, dining and pastoral spaces, and dedicated facilities for watersports and outdoor education. The dormitory will give boarders immediate access to daily activities, weekend expeditions, and pastoral care. Proximity to the airport should simplify student travel, staff recruitment, and visits by global partners.

Inside the Gordonstoun ethos

Gordonstoun was founded in 1934 by educator Kurt Hahn, a reformer who believed that young people grow through service, physical challenge, teamwork, and responsibility. Hahn inspired the creation of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and helped start Outward Bound. Those ideas still shape the school’s daily life. Students take part in seamanship, mountain and coastal expeditions, community service, and leadership training alongside their academic studies. The aim is to build confidence, resilience, and a habit of helping others.

Translating that approach to Wakayama means making the surrounding coast and hills part of the classroom. Sailing and other watersports can teach planning, navigation, and teamwork. Camps and hikes can teach resourcefulness and care for the environment. The coastal setting also encourages community service linked to maritime safety and shoreline conservation. Safety, instructor training, and clear procedures are the foundation for these activities, and they are integral to the model the school is known for.

How British public schools are expanding in Japan

In the United Kingdom the term public school refers to historic independent schools that charge fees. Several have built international campuses in Asia through partnerships and long term agreements. Japan has seen a surge of interest in these models. Harrow School opened a full boarding school at Appi Kogen in Iwate in 2022. Rugby School opened in Kashiwa in Chiba in 2023. Harrow and Rugby belong to The Nine, a group that includes Eton College, and their students often target leading universities in Britain, the United States, and other countries.

Families in Japan are drawn to these options for several reasons. Many want an English medium education without relocating overseas. Others value boarding life, which brings structure, time for enrichment, and close ties between staff and students. Local governments and rail companies view international schools as anchors that bring jobs, renewal of underused sites, and a cosmopolitan community. Wakayama fits this pattern, pairing a coastal location with good access to Osaka and a short route to the airport.

Who will enroll and what students will study

The Wakayama campus is planned for seven grade levels, matching Japan’s sixth grade through high school third year. Teaching will be in English, and planners expect more than half of students to come from outside Japan. Gordonstoun is coeducational, and boarding is central to the school’s culture. The new dormitory will give students a safe and structured environment that supports academic work, enrichment, and daily routines. Boarding staff, tutors, and house teams are core to student welfare and mentoring.

Academic study will follow a British style program that leads to internationally recognized qualifications accepted by universities worldwide. That approach commonly blends a strong core of subjects with arts, design, sport, and service learning. Marine and outdoor activities are more than recreation. They are taught as graded programs with skill progression, leadership roles, and teamwork. Many families see this combination of academics and character education as a route to leading universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, and to careers that value initiative and collaboration.

Who is building and funding the project

The project is a partnership between multiple organizations. The school corporation OCC will operate the school. Sanyo Homes will handle land and building development, including the renovation of the former Noritsu Koki Center Building and construction of a new dormitory. Nankai Electric Railway brought the idea to the city and is a key stakeholder given the rail corridor and nearby station. The municipal government is supporting planning and permissions. Their agreement was formalized at a signing ceremony in August 2025 at Wakayama City Hall.

Adaptive reuse of the main building reduces the need for a full new build and can shorten timelines. Even with reuse, the project must meet modern standards for safety, accessibility, and comfort. Japan’s building codes require strong resilience for earthquakes and typhoons. Boarding facilities also carry specific requirements for fire safety, staffing, and student supervision. The partners aim to complete renovation, new construction, recruitment, and registration in time for a September 2027 opening.

Local impact, access, and community links

The campus will add high skill jobs in teaching, counseling, facilities, and administration. Daily purchasing by the school and by families can support local suppliers, food service, transport, and retail. A student body and staff drawn from many countries bring international events, sports fixtures, and arts performances that can serve residents as well. The projected size, around 700 students and about 200 staff when fully developed, suggests a meaningful presence in the local economy.

Access is straightforward. The site is near Wakayamadaigakumae Station on a Nankai Electric Railway line that connects to central Osaka. Kansai International Airport sits across the bay and is reachable by rail. Those links simplify weekend travel for boarders, parental visits, and staff recruitment from overseas. The campus sits near Wakayama University, which could open doors to shared projects in marine science, environmental studies, and language exchange. The coast offers scope for student service tied to beach cleanup and coastal stewardship, which fits the school’s focus on service and leadership.

Challenges and what to watch

Large international school projects need careful execution. Recruiting experienced teachers and boarding staff takes time, and demand for talent is high across Asia. Establishing a foreign curriculum school in Japan requires registration, inspections, and coordination with prefectural authorities. Boarding programs need strong safeguarding, clear communication with families, and robust health and wellness support. Marine and outdoor activities require instructor training, equipment standards, and weather protocols that fit local conditions.

Affordability will draw attention. British boarding schools charge high fees, and operating costs in Japan are significant. Many communities welcome scholarship programs that widen access and help local students take part. Construction schedules, supply chains, and currency swings can affect budgets. The partners will also work to align the Wakayama campus culture with the values of the Scottish original while respecting Japanese customs and community expectations.

At a Glance

• Gordonstoun plans to open a campus in Wakayama in September 2027.
• The site centers on the former Noritsu Koki Center Building near Nankai’s Wakayamadaigakumae Station, with a new dormitory planned.
• Teaching will be in English across seven grade levels from Japan’s sixth grade to high school third year.
• More than half of students are expected to come from outside Japan.
• The campus is described as designed for around 700 students and about 200 staff when fully developed.
• Partners include OCC, Sanyo Homes, Nankai Electric Railway, and the Wakayama Municipal Government, which signed an agreement in August 2025.
• The school will bring Gordonstoun’s focus on character education, service, and marine sports to the Kansai region.
• Harrow Appi and Rugby School Japan opened earlier in 2022 and 2023, reflecting rising demand for British style education in Japan.