Childcare in Japan for Foreign Residents

Navigating childcare in Japan for foreign residents can be a bit daunting. I worked as a childcare worker for over 2 years. Therefore I would like to share my experience to help make sense of the confusing system so you can find the best choice for your child. I will go over what the options are and also provide some useful Japanese phrases to help.

Table of Contents

1. What types of facilities are there?
2. Which childcare option is best?
3. Licensed or unlicensed?
4. Am I eligible for childcare?
5. What is the age range?
6. When should I sign up?
7. How much is childcare in Japan?
8. Are there subsidies I can apply for?
9. What is the lunch situation?
10. What about diapers/nappies and changes of clothes?
11. Can any nationality sign up for Japanese childcare?
12. What are some good phrases for preschool?

What types of facilities are there? (*1)

There are two main types of facilities; Yochien 幼稚園 (Kindergarten) and Hoikuen 保育園 (Nursery School).

1. Licensed nursery 認可保育所 (ninka-hoikujo)
2. Unlicensed nursery 認可外保育所　(ninka-gai-hoikujo)
3. Regional childcare office 地域型保育所 (chiiki-gata-hoikujo)
4. Home childcare office 家庭的保育所 (katei-teki-hoikujo)
5. Small scale childcare office 小規模保育所 (shokibo-hoikujo)
6. In-office childcare office 事業所内保育所 (jigyo-jonai-hoikujo)
7. Home visit childcare business 居宅訪問型保育所 (itaku-homongata-hoikujo)
8. Kindergarten and nursery school hybrid certified children’s center 幼保連携型認定子ども園 (yoho-renkei-gata-nintei-kodomoen)
9. Kindergarten 幼稚園 (yochien)

(*2)

Which childcare option is best?

The above options may seem overwhelming.  However, licensed nurseries and kindergartens are going to be the most affordable and accessible options.

For first time parents it’s a good idea to go to your local child-rearing support center (子育て支援センター kosodate-shien-sentaa). Depending on your area it may be called 子育て支援サロン kosodate-shien-saron or 子育て広場 kosodate-hiroba. They also offer consultations by phone, online and house visits. These facilities have playrooms and provide child care consultations and also offer parenting classes. Most services are free and do not require reservations. (＊3)

Licensed or unlicensed?

There are licensed and unlicensed facilities. Neither is better nor worse than the other, but there are key differences which I will introduce here.

Licensed facilities adhere to specific government guidelines, specifically the child welfare law. Licensed facilities also provide subsidies. Unlicensed facilities work under less strict conditions. Unlicensed facilities do not meet the standard set by the government regarding the size of the facilities, but many of these facilities do cater to the specific needs of the parents and children and provide unique and diverse childcare. (＊4)
It is worth noting that unlicensed facilities go through many rigorous and mandatory inspections each year. If you feel that unlicensed facilities may be unsafe, you can be reassured that this is not the case at all.

Am I eligible for childcare?

Eligibility for childcare in Japan is usually based on whether or not parents are working. As there is a shortage of childcare workers, you can only put your child in for childcare if you have a job. Some parents who couldn’t get into childcare on time have had to take their children to work with them. My hair dresser would have to bring his 1 year-old to the salon with him, and his son would play in the back room.

The government is now working on making childcare available even for parents who don’t have jobs. There are ways to get around this, such as moving to an area with less strict municipalities, entering an unlicensed Hoikuen or using an authorized nursery school (認定こども園 nintei-kodomo-en).

What is the age range?

Nursery schools accept children from 57 days old or 2 months old, up to the child’s 3rd birthday. Kindergarten accepts children from the age of 3 up to the age of 5. Kindergarten is generally free, but confirm this at your town hall as there may be exceptions.

When should I sign up?

Japan has long waiting lists for childcare, especially at younger ages. It is common for mothers to go back to work after a year of childcare leave as the allowance for childcare leave decreases in the second year. It is a good idea to start looking for a childcare center a year before your child’s ideal starting date. For example, if you want your child to enter in July 2024 then having them signed up by July 2023 is a good idea. Wait times can vary depending on the town or city. So checking on Google, for example : (〇〇市　保育園　4月入園/〇〇shi hoikuen 4gatsu-nyuuen) will tell you when sign ups start for that city if you wish to put your child in childcare starting the following April.

In the situation where your child doesn’t win the raffle in your municipality but you need to go back to work, you will have to apply for extended childcare leave if you are taking it (育休延長申請 ikukyu-encho-shinsei). This has to be completed up until 2 weeks before the child turns 1 if you are taking leave until they’re 18 months. On the other hand, if you are taking leave until your child reaches 2 years old, these requirements must be completed up until 2 weeks before the child turns 18 months.

How much is childcare in Japan?

The price of childcare is determined by the family’s total income. Licensed nurseries are going to have the cheapest monthly costs. Average prices range from around 30,000 to 70,000 yen a month. Low income households will pay less than 30,000, the salary cut off is a yearly income of 1.3 million yen or 130万円

Are there subsidies I can apply for?

Subsidies largely depend on your income and where you live. Check with your local city hall or municipality for more details.

What is the lunch situation?

Some Hoikuens and Yochiens provide lunch and snacks, others require that you prepare lunch for your child to bring. Depending on cost or convenience this can be a big factor in deciding which facility to choose. You will be required to submit any allergy information so the facilities can make sure that your child does not come into contact with anything harmful.

What about diapers/nappies and changes of clothes?

Hoikuens will generally require that you bring at least one set of a change of clothes and a full pack of labeled nappies and a set of wipes for your child. Some facilities also request a swimming set (e.g. towel and swimsuit, etc.) if there is a pool. Some Hoikuens will not dispose of your child’s nappies at the facility and may ask you to dispose of them at home, so please confirm with your desired facility.

When choosing a Yochien, it’s essential to discuss the topic of potty training, as most Yochiens have the expectation that all children should be potty trained. Different Yochiens have varying approaches to nappy changing. While some Yochiens are accommodating and may request you to provide a week’s supply of nappies, others may have policies that prohibit teachers from changing nappies altogether. In addition, you may be required to take all used nappies home with you for disposal purposes.

Can any nationality sign up for Japanese childcare?

Yes. Childcare in Japan for foreign residents is available to anybody, as long as they have a valid visa. 

Language barriers can be difficult so please discuss with your desired facility about how you will both handle that. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), has released guidelines for childcares around Japan about how to support the language barrier for foreign residents using childcare in Japan. (＊5) There are also international childcare facilities. If you search your local area for example, (〇〇市　国際保育園 or 〇〇市　国際幼稚園/〇〇shi kokusai-hoikuen or 〇〇shi kokusai-yochien) there should be information available.

What are some good phrases for preschool?

Here I have added some basic terms that are commonly used at nursery schools and preschools. 

Pictures used above are from irasutoya.

Which childcare option is best?

All in all, there are endless options for childcare and whatever option you decide should be easiest and most suited to your needs. The best way to know if a facility is right for you is to request a tour. You will meet with the teacher and they can help you decide if it’s the right fit.

Tips

Some of the links provided only have information in Japanese. If you are browsing on Safari or Chrome, you can use an in-built translation system to help. These are available from your browser’s options menu, located at the top right of your window.

Disclaimer
We try to provide the most accurate information but please also check with your establishments as there may be some places that operate differently.

External Links

https://hoiku-net.com/2019/04/30/informa/ ＊1

https://hoikubatake.jp/column/hoikuenshurui.php ＊2

https://matcha-jp.com/en/10026 ＊3

https://www.hoikushibank.com/column/post_1424 ＊4

https://www.mext.go.jp/content/1422191_02.pdf ＊5

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Diagrams used in this article have been made in-house with the assistance of Irasutoya.
Featured image from Pexels.