Welcome to Harrow Appi, and thank you for your interest in our school. As Japan’s only British-style full-boarding school, we offer a truly distinctive experience—combining academic excellence, personal growth, and global perspective in a setting unlike anywhere else in Asia.
At Harrow Appi, a ‘School Less Ordinary,’ students thrive in a rigorous and engaging curriculum supported by dedicated staff and surrounded by the natural beauty of Iwate’s mountains. Our full-boarding environment provides constant care and a genuine ‘home from home,’ fostering the development of mind, body, and spirit.
Should you join our thriving community, you’ll embark on a professional journey that is both rewarding and unforgettable—where every contribution matters and life in this remarkable part of the world is truly ‘less ordinary.’
At Harrow Appi Japan, we believe that a fulfilling career goes hand in hand with an exceptional quality of life. Nestled in the breathtaking mountains of northern Japan, our school offers staff the chance to enjoy an active, outdoor lifestyle—skiing in winter, hiking in summer, and exploring a vibrant local culture year-round. Our community is warm and inclusive, with family-friendly benefits and a supportive environment that values well-being as much as professional growth.
Joining Harrow Appi Japan means becoming part of a team that thrives on collaboration, celebrates diversity, and embraces the unique balance of work and life in one of Japan’s most stunning regions.
At Harrow Appi, our staff are the heartbeat of our vibrant mountain community—professionals who bring expertise, compassion, and a sense of adventure to every interaction with our students. Their influence extends far beyond the classroom: they inspire deep learning through our extraordinary natural environment, nurture character through the Harrow Values of Courage, Honour, Humility and Fellowship, and help shape young people into confident, compassionate leaders. Just as importantly, we support our staff on their own journey, offering professional growth, wellbeing initiatives, and a close-knit, inclusive culture that thrives in the stunning Appi Kogen setting. At Harrow Appi, both staff and students experience a life less ordinary—a place where personal growth, shared purpose, and everyday inspiration define who we are and what we achieve together.
I absolutely love working at Harrow Appi – the pupils are engaging, inspiring, and make every day rewarding. Appi’s stunning location supports a healthy work–life balance and has given me the chance to enjoy skiing in the winter and the outdoors year-round. There’s a real culture of professional growth: from subject-specific CPD to NPQs, I’ve been able to pursue every course I’ve wanted. One of my proudest moments was helping to launch a brand-new boarding house – creating its identity, traditions and spirit with the girls has been wonderful. Being part of a 24/7 boarding community means I’ve forged strong relationships with both staff and students, whether I’m watching them on the slopes, at plays, in rock bands or just spending time together outside the classroom.
Working at Harrow Appi offers a rare balance that is hard to find elsewhere. The school is situated in a stunning mountain environment that provides not just a backdrop for learning but an active lifestyle, from world-class skiing in winter to hiking in autumn. Crucially, the school invests deeply in our potential; through targeted opportunities like STEAM leadership courses, I’ve been able to develop my skills and progress to Head of Computer Science. Harrow Appi is a supportive community where you are encouraged to bring fresh ideas to the table and have the freedom to turn them into reality.
Having taught internationally for 19 years across five countries and two continents, I can honestly say there is no place quite like Harrow Appi. The school, its students, colleagues, and the local community are wonderfully unique, with the natural environment providing a calm yet exhilarating backdrop that promotes wellbeing, balance, adventure, and meaningful connections. The strength of relationships across the community is a defining feature of life at Harrow Appi.
The school has strongly supported my professional growth, enabling me to complete a range of purposeful development opportunities, including DSL training, ASIST training, Mental Health First Aid, BSA Certificate in Pastoral Care, and the IPCSL programme. I feel genuinely empowered and valued as I continue to develop professionally and look forward with enthusiasm to the next stage of my journey at Harrow Appi.
I really enjoy working at Harrow International School Appi because the students are creative, curious, and genuinely enthusiastic about learning. They ask thoughtful, challenging questions, which makes teaching them a real pleasure. It has been amazing to watch them grow over the years into more confident, reflective, and open-minded young people. Teaching English here has allowed me to help students develop both their analytical thinking and their confidence in expressing ideas clearly and thoughtfully. I have loved working closely with the English department to design engaging lessons, refine our curriculum, and build a shared passion for literature and language. Seeing students begin to appreciate complex texts and find their own voice in their writing is one of the most rewarding parts of my role. I have also had many opportunities to organise and take part in school trips, including service visits to an orphanage, a retirement home, local basketball events, and an animal sanctuary. These experiences have allowed me to connect with students in different contexts and see them develop empathy, independence, and a broader understanding of the world. Overseeing the Student Leadership Committees has been a particularly meaningful part of my journey at the school. Supporting students to design and lead their own initiatives has helped me develop my leadership skills and deepen my understanding of student voice and collaboration. It has been incredibly rewarding to see students grow into confident leaders.
I think the day-to-day conversations I have with teachers in and outside of class have made a difference. No matter the teacher, I can have a casual conversation on something random or a deeper conversation about something I’m struggling with.
In Harrow, they have become more than teachers, and I think that makes this school special. It has really inspired me regarding my curiosity towards education.
Life here has taught me so much — not just through lessons, but through everyday experiences surrounded by snow, mountains, and friends. In many subjects, the Beaks spent so much time helping me improve, guiding me through every detail, and showing incredible patience whenever I struggled. Because of their encouragement, my skills and confidence grew so much.
Beyond academics, the support system here is truly unmatched. My House Master and Beaks constantly check in, not out of routine, but genuine care. They ask about my projects, my goals, even about my random ideas, and somehow always help me push them further. They all really value who we are beyond the classroom. They encourage us to grow both academically and personally, which makes my learning here feel complete.
My experience at Harrow Appi Japan has been about more than education; it has been a personal journey. The guidance of my teachers, the friends I have gained, and the outstanding opportunities I have experienced have all played an important role in shaping who I am today.
Professional Development at AISL Academy
AISL is committed to nurturing the growth of both academic and non-academic staff. To support this, the AISL Academy was established in 2021 as AISL Harrow’s strategy partner to provide a dedicated centre for staff learning and professional development across the AISL family of schools.
For more details, please refer to Work With Us – AISL Harrow Schools
Safeguarding Statement
Our network of schools is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
All adults in the school community are expected to follow its Child Protection procedures and are required to undertake safeguarding checks. AISL Harrows is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect, where equal employment opportunities are available to all irrespective of all characteristics protected by the Equal Opportunities Commission and all other applicable ordinances.
