Tokyo
EXPRESSION LAB
Mon - Fri
Language: English
Ages 8-11*
"A week in Tokyo that builds confidence through the arts."
Expression Lab is a 5-day daytime programme in central Tokyo:
Each week has its own theme drawn from the natural world; Water, Light, and Sound. Children explore the city each morning through the lens of the week's theme: neighbourhood walks, hands-on experiments, and an immersive mid-week visit to a museum or gallery. Back in the studio each afternoon, children work in small groups to build their choice of creative project across the week; a collaborative mural, a movement and sound piece, or expression through poetry and stories. Every day includes guided journalling and a child-led reflection circle, and Friday finishes with a warm family showcase where each group shares what they made, what they discovered, and how their thinking changed.
Right for children who:
• Are curious (or need space to become curious)
• Enjoy making and exploring
• Can manage a full, structured day
• Are willing to share ideas and try new things
• Are not “artistic” - just open to expressing themselves
Location
Phoenix House International School
3-7 Yonban-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (Google Maps)
— Purpose-built campus in Chiyoda-ku, central Tokyo
— 7 min walk from Ichigaya and Kojimachi station
Arrival & Dismissal
Daily Drop-off: 08:30 – 08:45
Daily Pick-up: 16:30
Dates & Fee
Three unique weeks running across July — children are welcome to join more than one:
Week 1: 6–10 July — Water Theme
Week 2: 13–17 July — Light Theme
Week 3: 20–24 July — Sound Theme
Each session runs Monday to Friday.
Children do not stay overnight.
Price: ¥120,000
(price does not include lunch)
Lunch Options: We have partnered with a catering company, where parents can source lunch, or children are welcome to bring a packed lunch.
Recommended Ages: 8 - 11 *
Language: English
*If your child is within a couple of years outside of these ages but would like to attend, please contact us!
A Day in
Expression Lab - Water
In the Morning
A day at Expression Lab begins with arrival and a warm Clarence Lab welcome. Children then head out into Tokyo to explore the day's Discovery Question through the lens of the week's nature theme. This might be a sensory neighbourhood walk mapping where water appears, a hands-on experiment splitting light into colour, or a silent listening walk tracking every sound in the city. After a break, children work together on a collaborative challenge connected to the morning's discoveries; building, problem-solving, and experimenting as a group. The morning closes with guided journalling: writing, drawing, and mapping what they noticed, in their own voice.
In the Afternoon
After lunch, children move into Make & Express studio time in their small groups. On Monday, every child tries three creative workshops individually: visual art, movement and sound, and poetry and storytelling; then chooses the one that feels right and joins a small group for the rest of the week. From Tuesday to Friday, groups develop a single creative piece together, shaped by each morning's discoveries. The day closes with a student-led reflection circle, making sense of the day together and learning how to communicate within a group, before a calm, clear dismissal for pick-up. On Friday, families are invited for a warm showcase where each group presents their work and talks about the week's journey.
Day 2 — Investigate
“How does water behave?"
Bring Home
A Journal
Every child keeps a Clarence Lab journal, a record of their thinking in their own words and drawings. It's not a workbook. There are no right answers. By the end of the week, it's theirs.
The journal is where learning becomes personal. Writing and drawing what they've experienced helps children make sense of it, not just what they did, but what it meant to them. Over the week, they build a clearer picture of who they are, how they relate to others, and what they care about.
Parents tell us it's the thing their children keep coming back to long after the course ends.
Registration Steps
1. Online Registration
You can complete a registration form by following the link on our website. Please ensure that you provide all details regarding your child’s medical history and dietary requirements. Please note that if you are registering for courses in Tokyo and Hokkaido, please complete the respective forms for both locations.
2. Confirmation & Payment
We will confirm your registration and send you a payment link in 3-5 working days. Please complete payment within one week of receipt of our email.
3. Getting Ready
Your child’s place on the course is reserved once the full payment is received. You will receive a Parent Pack in due course, which contains essential information to assist with preparation, including the daily schedule and a detailed packing list.