The Tokai-to-Kamioka (T2K) experiment is a second generation long baseline neutrino oscillation experiment which aims at a sensitive search for ν e appearance. The main design features of the T2K near neutrino detectors located at 280 m from the target are presented, and the scintillator counters are described. The counters are readout via WLS fibers embedded into S-shaped grooves in the scintillator from both ends by multi-pixel avalanche photodiodes operating in a limited Geiger mode. Operating principles and results of tests of photosensors with a sensitive area of 1 mm 2 are presented. A time resolution of 1.75 ns, a spatial resolution of 9.9 – 12.4 cm , and a detection efficiency for minimum ionizing particles of more than 99% were obtained for scintillator detectors in a beam test.