8x9 Kids Programming School, Tokyo

Learn programming through Minecraft,
a school for the AI era.

From 1st grade. No PC experience needed.
PCs and materials all provided. Start with a free trial.

Book a Free Trial Lesson

Why 8x9?

Beyond "technology" lies "purpose."

Our school is not just a place to teach the skill of writing code.
Programming is only a tool. What matters is "who you build for" and "what you build" with that tool.

Our founder is an active engineer with over 20 years in the software industry.
Minecraft Day, held every single month for 10 years, and two in-house learning tools (hackCraft2 / WorldCraft AI)——
children start because it's "fun," and before they know it, they "can do it." We keep building that kind of environment.

Curriculum Supervision & Adoption

8x9's materials and curriculum are also adopted by educational institutions and services for children.

Gifte!

Hands-on experience platform for children

Supervises the curriculum for Minecraft programming experiences. Held across Tokyo, including Shibuya, Nihonbashi, Kamata, and Ichigaya.

Ongoing

Organization for the Promotion of
IT Employment for People with Disabilities

IT therapy / after-school day service

Adopted as programming material for IT therapy in after-school day services.

Ongoing

Meikogijuku

Major private tutoring school, Kyushu HQ

Adopted as material for its programming course (2019–2023).

Contract ended

Courses

Minecraft AI Course

Grades 1–2

Learn joyfully with AI × Minecraft

Programming Course

Upper elementary and up

Take on serious coding

One-on-One Course

After the Programming Course

Private lessons with an active engineer

New here? Start with the Minecraft AI Course — step up at a pace that matches your child's growth.

Recommended for beginners

Minecraft AI Course

For: Grades 1–2 2 years · 48 sessions Twice a month · 90 min/session

¥13,200/month (incl. tax)

"Raising children who learn AI and can put AI to use."

Starting from the Minecraft kids love, children naturally engage with both AI and programming.
No PC experience needed. The school provides all PCs and materials, so there is zero extra cost for parents.

PC, materials, and licenses all included. No additional purchases at home are ever required.

A 2-year step-up

1
Get comfortable
with the PC via Minecraft
Months 1–4
2
Learn in the
AI World
Months 5–8
3
Use AI
as a tool
Months 9–12
4
AI ×
coding
Months 13–18
5
Deepening
coding
Months 19–24
Chapter 1: Get comfortable with the PC via Minecraft (Months 1–4)
Through the world of Minecraft, children get used to mouse control, keyboard input, and typing. AI is not used yet—first they experience "PCs are fun!"
Chapter 2: Learn in Minecraft's AI World (Months 5–8)
With AI materials built into the Minecraft world, children learn experientially while playing—what AI is, and where AI exists around us.
Chapter 3: Use AI as a tool (Months 9–12)
Practice using AI as your own tool. Give AI a role and converse with it, create stories together, and build the ability to verify for yourself whether AI's output is correct.
Chapter 4: AI × coding (Months 13–18)
Take on block coding in the Minecraft world. While asking AI for hints, learn sequencing, loops, and conditionals.
Chapter 5: Deepening AI × coding (Months 19–24)
Try programming with functions and variables, game creation, and automation. As a graduation project, children finish "their very own adventure story" into a PDF together with AI.

Goals over 2 years

  • Type proficiently
  • Use AI as a tool (instruct, evaluate, improve)
  • Grasp the basics of programming (loops, conditionals, organizing commands)

Programming Course

For: Upper elementary and up (please ask) Twice a month · 90 min/session

¥13,200/month (incl. tax)

Build the power to bring "what you want to make" to life, within the world of Minecraft.

A programming language is just a tool. What matters is "what you make" with it.
Using our in-house tools hackCraft2 and WorldCraft AI, children give shape to what they themselves want to do.

Here's what you'll be able to do

Minecraft mod development Game creation Web app development Data analysis Competitive programming Android / iOS apps Electronics (micro:bit)
hackCraft2 — for beginners and intermediates
An in-house tool for giving programmed commands to a "pet" in the Minecraft world. While playing, children find themselves writing real code before they know it. Depending on what they want to do, they use Scratch, Python, JavaScript, and more as tools.
WorldCraft AI — for intermediates and advanced learners
A cutting-edge environment that leverages the school's original AI system and generative AI. Through mod development in Minecraft and co-creation with AI, children take on serious creative work.

One-on-One Course

After the Programming Course Twice a month · 60 min/session

¥13,200/month (incl. tax)

An active-engineer mentor provides individual support online.
Prioritizing "what the child wants to do," learners gain advanced IT skills hands-on through building real projects.

Start with a free trial lesson

An original system that makes growth "visible"

Our original curriculum system records each lesson report and your child's growth.
Check anytime from the LINE app, so you can watch their progress even when you're not at the classroom.

Skills growth report

Growth graph of problem understanding, planning, trial-and-error, and reflection

Visualizes four skills as a graph: problem understanding, planning, trial-and-error, and reflection

Typing & learning progress

Graphs of typing speed and accuracy over time, and progress by language

See typing speed and accuracy over time, plus progress per language, at a glance

From the LINE app, parents can check their child's lesson reports, growth graphs, and typing records anytime.

Pricing

Enrollment fee

¥22,000

(incl. tax)

Monthly tuition (same for all courses)

¥13,200

(incl. tax)
Course Sessions Duration Notes
Minecraft AI Course Twice a month 90 min PC & materials included
Programming Course Twice a month 90 min
One-on-One Course Twice a month 60 min Online, private
The Minecraft AI Course includes PC, materials, and licenses. No additional purchases at home are ever required.

Schedule

Trial lessons: Every Saturday 9:00–10:00 / 12:00–13:00 (reservation required; pick a date and time on the calendar to apply)

Events: Held irregularly (click for details)

Students-only perk: Free admission to school events (non-students from ¥1,000)

Events & Workshops

Beyond lessons, we hold events and workshops once or twice a month. Students attend for free.
Open to attend even before enrolling. A place where children settle in, make friends, and think "I want to come back!"

Minecraft Day

Held once a month, running for 10 years. A community event where children safely enjoy Minecraft on a managed server.

Children having fun at Minecraft Day Friends teaching each other while programming Children focused at their PCs

Minecraft Day official site

Special workshops

About once a month, take on special themes you can't cover in regular lessons—electronics, PC building, and more.

Making games in Roblox

Making games in Roblox

Logic circuits with redstone

Logic circuits with redstone

Design experience with Canva

Design experience with Canva

See the event list & apply here

We also share classroom and event moments on Instagram

Instagram @8x9tokyo

Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)

Q

From what age can my child enroll?

A

Children can enroll from the 1st grade of elementary school.
At first, we carefully start with typing, basic PC operation, and internet literacy. We naturally draw out an interest in "programming" and "making things," building the basics while having fun.

Q

What does the curriculum look like after mastering the basics?

A

After building the basics in the Minecraft AI Course, children take on serious coding in the Programming Course. Beyond that, we also offer the One-on-One Course with an active-engineer mentor.
It's a three-stage structure that lets children step up comfortably, matched to their growth and what they want to do.

Q

Is it okay if my child is a complete PC beginner?

A

Yes, absolutely no problem.
We teach from how to hold the mouse and keyboard input, so even children who have never touched a PC can start with peace of mind.

Q

Do we need to bring our own PC?

A

For the Minecraft AI Course, the school provides all PCs and materials, so there's no need to bring anything.
For the Programming Course, we generally ask that students bring their own laptop. A high-spec PC is not required (our materials work fine even on a used PC in the ¥20,000 range). We also help with purchasing an affordable PC, so please feel free to ask.

Q

Are make-up lessons available if my child is absent?

A

If you contact us by 23:59 the day before the reserved lesson, you can carry a missed lesson over to the following month. (Lessons cannot be carried over for two months or more.)

Q

Do parents need PC knowledge?

A

It helps your child's learning if the family gains knowledge together, giving you a deeper understanding—but there's no need to force yourself to learn it.
Our instructors explain in the clearest possible terms and provide support.

Access

〒161-0033
Meguro Fashion & Art College, Bldg. 1, Room 207
3-17-42 Shimo-Ochiai, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

10-min walk from Mejiro Station (JR Yamanote Line) / 5-min walk from Shimo-Ochiai Station (Seibu Shinjuku Line)

View on Google Maps

Free trial lessons now open

First, come experience how fun programming can be.

Book a Free Trial Lesson