School & Childcare

Where to Get Help with Raising Children in Japan

Japan's city offices are the starting point for most child-raising support. This guide lists the main programs, what each one gives your family, and where to apply.

Start at your city office

Most support for families is run by your city, ward, town, or village office (shiyakusho / kuyakusho, 市役所・区役所). Once you have registered your address, the office can tell you which programs apply to your family and how to apply.

The maternal and child health handbook

When you report a pregnancy to your city office, the city gives you a maternal and child health handbook (boshi kenkō techō, 母子健康手帳). By law, every city must issue one to anyone who reports a pregnancy.

Health checkups for young children

Cities must provide health checkups (nyūyōji kenshin, 乳幼児健診) for children between 1½ and 2 years old and between 3 and 4 years old. Cities may also hold checkups at other ages. Ask your city office for its schedule.

Child allowance

The child allowance (jidō teate, 児童手当) is a monthly payment for families raising children who live in Japan. It covers children from birth until the March 31 after they turn 18.

Child's age	Monthly amount
Under 3	¥15,000
3 through high school age	¥10,000
Third child and later	¥30,000

Apply at your city office.

Nursery school

Nursery schools (hoikusho / hoikuen, 保育所・保育園) care for young children during the day. To use one, your city office must first certify that your child needs childcare, for example because the parents work. Working parents usually submit an employment certificate (shūrō shōmeisho, 就労証明書) from their employer. Application periods and forms are set by each city, so ask early.

Free preschool for ages 3 to 5

For all children aged 3 to 5, fees at kindergartens, nursery schools, and certified childcare centers are free. For children aged 0 to 2, childcare is free for households exempt from resident tax. For some facilities and for extended hours, you need the city's certification that your child needs childcare.

When you need help

189 is a nationwide phone number for reporting or consulting about child abuse. It connects you to a child guidance center (jidō sōdanjo, 児童相談所). The call is free, and you do not have to give your name.
CLAIR, the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations, collects multilingual child-raising tools, including booklets on child development for foreign parents.

Japanese words you'll see

Japanese	Reading	Meaning
母子健康手帳	boshi kenkō techō	Maternal and child health handbook.
乳幼児健診	nyūyōji kenshin	Health checkup for babies and young children.
児童手当	jidō teate	Child allowance.
保育園	hoikuen	Nursery school.
幼稚園	yōchien	Kindergarten.
就労証明書	shūrō shōmeisho	Employment certificate from your employer.
児童相談所	jidō sōdanjo	Child guidance center.

Questions families ask

Where do I get the maternal and child health handbook?

At your city, ward, town, or village office when you report your pregnancy.

How much is the child allowance?

¥15,000 a month for a child under 3 and ¥10,000 a month from age 3 through high school age. From the third child, it is ¥30,000 a month. Apply at your city office.

Is preschool free?

For all children aged 3 to 5, fees at kindergartens, nursery schools, and certified centers are free. For children aged 0 to 2, it is free for households exempt from resident tax.

What is 189?

A nationwide phone number for reporting or consulting about child abuse. The call is free, and you do not have to give your name.

Sources

This guide is based on information published by Japan's Children and Families Agency, the Maternal and Child Health Act, and CLAIR. How to apply is set by each city, so ask your city office for its forms and schedule.

Practice talking about your family in Japanese Talk: Family.