Nursery School & Childcare in Japan: How the System Works for International Families (2026)

May 31, 2026 Maternity Prep Navigator Editorial ~20 min read

Finding childcare in Japan — whether you are returning to work after maternity leave or simply looking for a preschool environment for your toddler — involves navigating a system with its own terminology, timeline, and paperwork. For international families, add the challenge of language and unfamiliarity with how the process works. This article explains the types of childcare facilities available, how the application and certification process works, what the hokatsu process involves, how childcare fees are structured (including the free preschool program for ages 3 to 5), and what foreign residents specifically need to know.

1. Types of Childcare Facilities in Japan

Japan's childcare and early education landscape can be broadly divided into two categories: authorized facilities (ninka hoiku shisetsu) that operate under the national framework of the Child and Child-Rearing Support Act (kodomo kosodate shien ho), and unauthorized facilities (ninkagai hoiku shisetsu) that operate outside that framework. Within the authorized category, there are several types:

Nursery school / hoikusho (保育所)

The most common form of authorized childcare in Japan. A hoikusho or hoikuen (the term used colloquially) accepts children from birth (or from around 57 days old in practice) through age 5, prioritizing children who need care because their parents are working, ill, or otherwise unable to provide full-time care at home. Children using a hoikusho are typically classified as Category 2 (nigou nintei) for ages 3 to 5, or Category 3 (sangou nintei) for ages 0 to 2. These categories are explained in section 2.

Certified center for early childhood education and care / nintei kodomo-en (認定こども園)

A nintei kodomo-en combines the functions of a kindergarten (yochien) and a nursery school into a single facility. It can accept both children who need care (Category 2 and 3) and children attending for preschool education without a childcare necessity requirement (Category 1 / ichigo nintei). There are four sub-types: the yoho renkei-gata (combined type, the most common), the yochien-gata (kindergarten-based), the hoikusho-gata (nursery-based), and the chiho saido-gata (locally designated). From an international family's point of view, a nintei kodomo-en is often flexible because it can accommodate children both with and without the childcare necessity certification.

Small-scale childcare / shokibo hoiku (小規模保育)

Shokibo hoiku is one of the types of community-based childcare (chiiki-gata hoiku jigyo) established under the 2015 child-rearing support reform. These facilities accept children aged 0 to 2 in small groups (generally 6 to 19 children). They are typically used as a stepping stone for infants, with the expectation that children move to a hoikusho or nintei kodomo-en at age 3. Other community-based types include home-based childcare (katei-teki hoiku), workplace nurseries (jigyosho-nai hoiku), and in-home childcare (kyotaku homon-gata hoiku).

Kindergarten / yochien (幼稚園)

Kindergartens (yochien) are overseen by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Monbukagakusho / MEXT), not the Children and Families Agency. They are primarily educational institutions for children aged 3 to 5. Typical hours are shorter than a nursery school (often finishing by early afternoon), making them less suitable as full-day childcare for working parents. Some yochien offer extended care programs. Children attending a yochien are typically Category 1 (ichigo nintei) under the support system. The free preschool program also covers yochien for eligible children (with an upper limit on the tuition amount covered).

2. The Childcare Necessity Certification: What It Is and Who Qualifies

To use an authorized nursery school (hoikusho) or the childcare portion of a nintei kodomo-en, your child needs a certification of childcare necessity (hoiku no hitsuyosei no nintei, or hoiku nintei for short) issued by your municipality. This certification is the official confirmation that your child qualifies for publicly subsidized childcare — because the parent or parents are unable to provide full-time care at home due to one of a defined set of reasons.

The three certification categories

Under Japan's child and child-rearing support system, children are classified into one of three categories (shisetsu ryoyo no kyufu no shikyu nintei):

• Category 1 (ichigo nintei): Children aged 3 to 5 who do not require a childcare necessity certification — typically attending a yochien or the educational portion of a nintei kodomo-en for standard hours.
• Category 2 (nigou nintei): Children aged 3 to 5 who need childcare because it is difficult for the family to provide care at home. They use a hoikusho or nintei kodomo-en.
• Category 3 (sangou nintei): Children aged 0 to 2 who need childcare because it is difficult for the family to provide care at home. They use a hoikusho, nintei kodomo-en, or community-based childcare (chiiki-gata hoiku).

Qualifying reasons (hoiku no hitsuyosei no jiyuu)

To receive Category 2 or Category 3 certification, one of the following situations must apply to the child's guardian(s). The specific criteria and required documentation are set by each municipality, but the national framework includes:

• Employment (shuro): The parent is working — including part-time work, night work, and self-employment. The number of hours per month that qualifies varies by municipality.
• Pregnancy or childbirth (ninshin / shussan): The parent is pregnant or has recently given birth.
• Illness or disability (shippei / shogai): The parent has a physical or mental illness or disability that makes childcare difficult.
• Nursing care (kaigo / kangofukushi): The parent is caring for an elderly or ill family member.
• Job seeking (kyushoku katsudo): The parent is actively looking for work. This certification is typically granted for a limited period.
• Study or vocational training (shugaku): The parent is attending school or vocational training.
• Risk of abuse or domestic violence (gyakutai / DV no osore): The child is at risk.
• Continuing use during parental leave (ikukyu-chu no jidoshi ryoyo): An older child is already enrolled and will continue during a sibling's parental leave period.

For working parents, the most common qualifying reason is employment. You will typically need to provide a certificate of employment (shuro shoumei-sho) from your employer confirming your working hours and schedule, or equivalent documentation for self-employment.

3. Hokatsu: The Childcare Search and Application Process

The process of searching for and applying to childcare in Japan — particularly authorized facilities — is colloquially known as hokatsu (保活, a portmanteau of hoiku and katsu, meaning "activity"). In many urban areas, authorized facilities are heavily oversubscribed, and parents must navigate a competitive application and scoring process. Here is how it generally works.

When to start

Most families aiming for April enrollment (the start of Japan's school year, when the most places are available) begin researching facilities in the spring or summer of the prior year — at least 6 to 12 months before the desired enrollment date. Application windows for April enrollment typically open in October or November and close within a few weeks. Starting early is strongly advisable, especially in cities where demand exceeds supply. Applications for mid-year enrollment are also possible at many facilities, subject to availability; contact your local office about mid-year vacancies.

The application process

For authorized facilities (hoikusho and nintei kodomo-en for Category 2/3), the application is submitted to your municipality — not directly to individual facilities. The general flow is:

1. Research facilities: Obtain the list of authorized facilities in your municipality from the city or ward office website. Visit facilities of interest (many hold open days or tours) and compile your preferences.
2. Obtain the certification of childcare necessity: Apply for the hoiku nintei at your city or ward office's children's services counter (kodomo ka or similar). Submit documentation of the qualifying reason (employment certificate, etc.).
3. Submit your ranked application: Submit a ranked list of preferred facilities to your municipality within the application window. The municipality will then conduct the riyou chosei (利用調整) — a prioritization process.
4. Point scoring and prioritization (riyou chosei): Because demand often exceeds capacity, municipalities assign points (shisu, 指数) to each application based on household circumstances — primarily the parents' working hours, household income, whether a sibling is already enrolled, etc. Higher-point applications are prioritized. The scoring formula differs between municipalities.
5. Notification: Results are typically sent in late winter (January to March for April enrollment). If your preferred facilities are full, you may be placed on waiting lists (taiki jido).

For nintei kodomo-en (Category 1)

If you are enrolling a child aged 3 to 5 without a childcare necessity certification (Category 1 — essentially using the facility as a kindergarten), the application process varies by facility. Many nintei kodomo-en accept direct applications for their Category 1 places. Check with the individual facility for their application window and process, which may differ from the municipal application window for Category 2/3.

4. How Childcare Fees Work: Income-Based Fees and the Free Preschool Program

Income-based fee structure (hoiku ryo)

For authorized childcare facilities, fees (hoiku ryo) are not set at a fixed national amount. Instead, each municipality sets a fee table based on the household's income as reflected in the residential tax assessment (jumin-zei). In general, lower-income households pay lower fees, and higher-income households pay higher fees, up to a national upper limit. The specific amounts differ between municipalities.

In addition to the base childcare fee, families may be responsible for other costs such as meals, supplementary materials, and special activity fees — these are generally not covered by the public subsidy structure and are paid directly to the facility.

The free early childhood education and care program (yoji kyoiku hoiku no mushouka)

From October 2019, the national government introduced a program to eliminate or substantially reduce tuition fees for young children. The key points are:

• Children aged 3 to 5 in authorized facilities: Tuition is generally free. This applies to hoikusho, nintei kodomo-en, and yochien. Note: meals, transportation, and other costs are not covered and remain the family's responsibility.
• Children aged 3 to 5 in unauthorized facilities (ninkagai): A subsidy is provided up to a nationally set upper limit per month (as of the period reviewed, up to 37,000 yen per month), provided the family has the childcare necessity certification (hoiku nintei). The exact amount and conditions are subject to municipal rules. Costs above the upper limit are the family's responsibility.
• Children aged 0 to 2: Free childcare applies only to households that are exempt from residential tax (jumin-zei hikazei setai). For these households, authorized facilities are free and a subsidy of up to a nationally set upper limit per month applies for unauthorized facilities (as of the period reviewed, up to 42,000 yen per month). Families not meeting the tax-exempt condition pay fees based on the income-based schedule.

What is not covered

The free preschool program covers only tuition. The following costs are typically not covered and must be paid by the family directly:

• Meals and snacks (shokuji-dai)
• School transportation bus fees (tsuen basu-dai)
• Uniforms, bags, and materials (enbu, kaban, kyozai-hi)
• Supplementary activity fees (events, excursions)

Exception: For households with income below the threshold for residential tax (住民税非課税世帯), and for third and subsequent children in households with annual income below approximately 360,000 yen in residential tax, a separate subsidy may reduce or eliminate some meal costs. Confirm with your municipality.

5. Unauthorized Facilities, Temporary Care, and Sick-Child Care

Unauthorized childcare facilities (ninkagai hoiku shisetsu)

Unauthorized facilities operate outside the national authorization framework. This category includes a wide range of options: private daycare centers, international nurseries that teach in English or other languages, in-home sitters (hobo or baby sitter), Tokyo Metropolitan Government-approved facilities (ninka hoiku shitsu in Tokyo, a local certification not equivalent to national authorization), and other private options.

Key characteristics:

• No waiting list via municipality — apply directly to the facility.
• Generally more flexible on hours and admission criteria.
• Fees are set by the facility and are generally higher than authorized facilities. Not income-based.
• For children aged 3 to 5 with the childcare necessity certification, a partial subsidy toward the fee is available under the free preschool program (up to the nationally set upper limit). For ages 0 to 2, only tax-exempt households qualify for the subsidy.
• Standards and staff qualifications are regulated by the prefecture, but conditions vary more widely than authorized facilities.

Many international families in Japan choose an unauthorized facility — particularly an English-language international nursery — especially for infants, either because they could not secure an authorized facility place or because they prefer the curriculum or language environment. This is a valid choice; just be prepared for higher fees and confirm the facility's safety and regulatory status.

Temporary childcare (ichiji azukari)

Many yochien and some hoikusho offer temporary drop-in childcare services (ichiji azukari jigyo) for children not regularly enrolled. This is typically for a few hours at a time and must be reserved in advance. It is useful for parents who need occasional coverage — for a medical appointment, for example — but is not a solution for regular full-day childcare. Fees are charged per session. Check with individual facilities or your municipality's children's services counter.

Sick-child care (byo-ji hoiku)

Some facilities offer byo-ji hoiku (病児保育), which provides care for mildly ill children who cannot attend their regular facility. This may be operated at a dedicated sick-child room at a hospital, a childcare facility, or in some cases by in-home sitters. Availability varies by municipality and area. Contact your municipality or children's services center for a list of providers in your area. Fees apply.

6. Points for Foreign Families

General eligibility

Foreign residents of Japan are generally eligible to apply for authorized childcare facilities and the childcare necessity certification under the same national framework as Japanese residents. The key conditions that must be met are:

• The child (and parents) have a valid residence status (zairyu shikaku).
• The child is registered as a resident (jumin toroku) in the municipality.
• The family meets the qualifying reason for childcare necessity (e.g., both parents working).

Nationality is generally not a condition for eligibility. However, the specific documents required and how certain qualifying reasons are verified may differ when a parent's employer is overseas or when employment documentation is in a foreign language. Contact your municipality's children's services counter in advance to confirm what documentation they accept.

Employment certification for foreign employers

If you work for a foreign-based company or are self-employed, obtaining the standard employment certificate in Japanese may require extra steps. Ask your municipality whether they accept a Japanese translation of a foreign employer's letter, or whether a self-employed declaration form (jieigyo todoke) is sufficient. Some municipalities have multilingual versions of common forms.

Residence status and timing

Your child's residence status affects when they can be registered as a resident and therefore when they can be included in a childcare application. For a baby born in Japan to non-Japanese parents, the child's residence status application should be filed promptly after birth. A child without completed residence registration may not be eligible to apply for the childcare necessity certification. For detailed guidance on the newborn's residence status process, see our guide to birth registration and nationality.

Language at the facility

The majority of authorized childcare facilities in Japan operate entirely in Japanese. If your child does not yet speak Japanese — which is very common for children entering at age 1 or 2 — many facilities have experience supporting children through the language transition and will generally be patient as children adapt. Asking the facility in advance about their experience with non-Japanese-speaking children is a good idea. International-language nurseries (typically unauthorized) are the alternative if your priority is an English or other foreign-language environment.

Asking for interpretation support

For the application process itself — filling out forms, attending explanatory sessions, and communicating with the facility — ask your municipality whether they offer interpretation services. International resident support centers (kokusai koryu sentaa) in many cities can also provide interpreter support for official procedures. Some municipalities publish application guides in multiple languages.

Impact of in and out residence registration changes

If you move to a different municipality during the school year, your child's authorized facility enrollment is tied to the municipality where it was applied. Moving may affect your enrollment status. Notify both your current municipality and the new municipality promptly when you move, and ask the new municipality about procedures for continuing enrollment or re-applying. Do not assume that a facility place transfers automatically.

7. Documents You Will Typically Need

The specific documents required vary by municipality and individual circumstance. The following is a typical list for a working-parent application to an authorized facility; confirm the exact requirements at your local office:

• Application form for childcare necessity certification (hoiku no hitsuyosei nintei shinsei-sho) — obtained from your municipality
• Application form for facility use (nyusho shinsei-sho) — obtained from your municipality
• Certificate of employment (shuro shoumei-sho) for each working parent — typically provided by the employer on a municipality-specified form
• Residence card (zairyu card) for foreign parents
• Child's residence certificate (juminhyo or equivalent confirming the child is registered)
• Child's My Number notification or card (if available)
• Health insurance card for the child (if already enrolled)
• Income documentation if required by your municipality for fee assessment
• Facility preference ranking sheet

If your qualifying reason is something other than employment (illness, job-seeking, nursing care, etc.), different documentation — such as a medical certificate, doctor's note, or job-seeking registration — will be required instead of or in addition to the employment certificate.

8. FAQ

Can foreign residents apply for authorized childcare facilities in Japan?

Yes, in general. Foreign residents with valid residence status and municipal registration are eligible to apply under the same framework as Japanese residents. Nationality is generally not a condition. However, specific documentation requirements may differ — particularly for employment verification if the employer is overseas. Confirm with your municipality's children's services counter.

When should I start looking for childcare?

For April enrollment — when the most places are available — start researching in spring or summer of the prior year and expect to submit applications in autumn (typically October or November). In competitive urban areas, starting earlier is better. If you need childcare at a different time of year, ask your municipality about mid-year vacancies, but availability is more limited outside of April.

What is hokatsu and why is it competitive?

Hokatsu (保活) refers to the process of searching for and applying to childcare — by analogy with shukatsu (job hunting). In many cities, the demand for authorized childcare places exceeds supply, especially for infants under age 2. Municipalities use a point-scoring system (shisu) to prioritize applications; higher working hours, household circumstances, and other factors raise a family's score. Families who do not secure a place may be placed on waiting lists or may need to use unauthorized facilities temporarily.

Is childcare in Japan free for my child?

It depends on your child's age, household income, and the type of facility. From October 2019, the national free preschool program provides: (1) free tuition at authorized facilities for children aged 3 to 5; (2) a partial subsidy toward unauthorized facility fees for ages 3 to 5 with the childcare necessity certification, up to a nationally set monthly upper limit; (3) free tuition at authorized facilities for children aged 0 to 2 whose household is exempt from residential tax. Meals, transportation, and other costs are not covered under any of these provisions. Confirm your specific situation at your municipality.

What is the difference between a hoikuen and a nintei kodomo-en?

A hoikuen (hoikusho) is a nursery school primarily serving children who need care because their parents are working or otherwise unable to care for them at home. A nintei kodomo-en combines nursery and kindergarten functions in one facility, serving both children who need care (Categories 2 and 3) and children attending for educational purposes without a strict childcare necessity (Category 1). Nintei kodomo-en are often a flexible option for families who want both education and care in a single setting.

Can I use an English-language daycare in Japan?

Yes. Many international nurseries and daycare centers in Japan — particularly in major cities — offer English-language or bilingual programs. Most of these operate as unauthorized facilities (ninkagai), meaning you apply directly to the facility rather than through the municipality. Fees are typically higher than authorized facilities, but there is no waiting list from the municipal application process. For children aged 3 to 5 with a childcare necessity certification, a partial subsidy may apply toward fees, up to the nationally set upper limit for unauthorized facilities.

What happens if I cannot secure a place at an authorized facility?

If you are not matched to an authorized facility during the main application round, you will be placed on a waiting list (taiki jido) for your preferred facilities. In the meantime, many families use an unauthorized facility (ninkagai) or other childcare options. If you are on a waiting list and a place becomes available mid-year, you may be contacted to fill it. Ask your municipality about the waiting list process and whether there are any interim support options (some municipalities offer temporary fee subsidies for families on waiting lists using unauthorized facilities).

9. Related Resources