Moving to Japan with young children can feel daunting, especially when the daycare system speaks a language of its own—hoikuen, yōchien, kodomoen. This guide demystifies each option, shows you how much it really costs, and maps out the paperwork so you can secure the right spot and focus on enjoying family life in Japan.
Daycare Options in Japan
Japan recognises four main childcare models. Picking the best one begins with understanding what each provides.
Licensed Nursery Schools (Hoikuen)
Municipal or authorised private hoikuen accept children from six months to pre-primary age. Their long hours—typically 07:00-18:00—make them the default choice for dual-income households. Fees are income-based and can fall below ¥20,000 a month for an average-earning family.
Kindergartens (Yōchien)
Yōchien serve three- to five-year-olds and follow a school-like calendar that finishes around 14:00. They emphasise early education over extended care, suiting families with a stay-at-home parent or flexible working hours.
Integrated ECEC Centres (Kodomoen)
Kodomoen bridge the gap, offering hoikuen-length hours and a structured educational curriculum. They are expanding rapidly and, in some wards, are less competitive than flagship hoikuen.
Unlicensed & Private Daycare Centres
Known as muji-ninka or ninkagai facilities, these centres operate outside the strict municipal framework. They set their own hours, often provide bilingual programmes and accept short-notice enrolment—but charge market-rate tuition that can reach ¥80,000 a month in Tokyo.
Eligibility and Required Documents
Foreign parents are welcome, yet a few administrative nuances matter.
Residence & Health Records
Submit your residence cards, the child’s jūminhyō (resident record) and vaccination booklet. Most city halls can issue English digests on request.
Demonstrating “Need for Care”
Public hoikuen places go to families who prove they need childcare—full-time work, job-hunting, study, illness, or maternity leave all qualify. Employers or universities provide the certificate (shōmeisho) you’ll attach to the application.
Language Support
Many municipalities supply translated application kits, and interpretation desks are common in larger wards. The Kanagawa International Foundation’s multilingual handbook is a good nationwide primer.
Costs and Subsidies
Understanding how fees are set keeps your budget realistic.
Income-Based Fees at Public Hoikuen
Tuition depends on last year’s household income, ranging from roughly ¥5,000 to ¥70,000 per month; most families pay between ¥10,000 and ¥20,000.
Free Preschool for Ages Three to Five
Since October 2019, tuition for three- to five-year-olds at licensed facilities is fully subsidised. Parents still cover lunches and special events. Fees for zero- to two-year-olds are waived for resident-tax-exempt households.
Private Centre Pricing
Private and international nurseries typically cost ¥40,000–¥80,000 per month and may add a one-time entrance fee. Uniforms, futon rental and annual excursions also sit outside tuition.
Application Timeline and Strategy
Places are finite, and timing is everything.
Annual April Intake
Most public centres form new classes each April. Applications close around November–December of the previous year, though vacant seats are reassigned monthly.
How the Point System Works
Municipalities score each family—for instance, +50 points if both parents work 20+ days per month for 7+ hours, or −6 points if you live with a grandparent. The higher the total, the better your odds; single parents usually reach the maximum.
Tips to Boost Your Chances
Apply to every acceptable centre, including smaller ones a few stations away. Zero-year-old classes are less crowded, so submitting soon after birth can pay off.
Daily Life Inside a Japanese Daycare
What happens after that coveted acceptance letter?
Schedule and Events
Children stretch to music, share hot lunches, nap after midday and play outdoors—rain or shine. Cultural events such as undōkai (sports day) and setsubun bean-throwing season the year.
Parent–Teacher Communication
Expect a paper notebook or smartphone app detailing naps, meals and temperature checks. During flu season you’ll sign daily health slips.
The Daycare Bag
Label everything: nappies, towels, spare clothes, an insulated water bottle and a draw-string laundry pouch. Public centres often send bedding home for weekend washing.
Flexible Childcare Alternatives
When public options fill up—or your schedule refuses to conform—other solutions exist.
International & Bilingual Nurseries
Metros like Tokyo, Yokohama and Osaka offer English-medium daycare that follows Western curricula and maintains lower child-to-staff ratios. Tuition mirrors international-school levels.
Company-Sponsored Centres & In-Home Care
Large firms increasingly operate on-site crèches (kigyō-shudōgata hoiku) eligible for the same preschool subsidies. Licensed babysitter agencies can dispatch qualified carers from roughly ¥2,500 per hour.
Short-Term & Sick-Child Services
Municipal ichiji hoiku programmes accept children by the hour—ideal for interviews or appointments—while hospital-based byōji hoiku rooms look after mildly ill kids so parents can work.
Your Roadmap Forward
Begin research during pregnancy, compile residency and employment proof early, and use the point system strategically. Calculate costs with subsidies in mind; fees plummet once your child turns three. Should the municipal route stall, explore company crèches, bilingual nurseries or hourly ichiji hoiku. Armed with this vocabulary and timeline, you’ll navigate Japan’s daycare maze and secure a nurturing second home for your little one.
Key Takeaways
- Start early—application deadlines arrive fast.
- Paperwork matters—residence and employment proof underpin eligibility.
- Subsidies help—public fees shrink sharply at age three.
- Play the points—longer work hours and minimal family support raise your rank.
- Stay flexible—consider bilingual centres, company crèches or hourly care if public spots run out.
