Moving to Japan While Pregnant: A Practical Arrival Checklist (2026)

May 31, 2026 Maternity Prep Navigator Editorial ~12 min read

You've just landed in Japan — or you're preparing to — and you're pregnant. Congratulations, and welcome. Japan has excellent maternity care, but the administrative system can feel unfamiliar at first. The good news: most of what you need to do in the first week or two follows a clear order, and once you complete the foundational steps, everything else becomes easier. This checklist focuses on the first one to two weeks after arrival — the highest-priority tasks in the right sequence. For a broader overview of pregnancy and birth in Japan, see our full guide: Pregnancy & Birth in Japan: A Step-by-Step Guide.

1. Before You Arrive: Air Travel and Late-Pregnancy Considerations

If you are still planning your move and are in a later stage of pregnancy, the most important thing to do before booking flights is to consult your attending physician and the airline. Policies vary by airline and change; most carriers require a medical certificate for travel in the third trimester, and some have cut-off dates after which travel is not permitted. Do not assume any single rule applies across all airlines — check directly with your carrier and discuss the timing with your doctor.

Once you have your doctor's clearance and have made arrangements, the checklist below describes what to do as soon as you arrive in Japan.

2. Step 1 — Resident Registration (Juumin Touroku)

What it is and why it matters

Resident registration — formally called juumin touroku — is the act of registering your address at your local municipal office (shikuchouson yakusho: city hall, ward office, town office, or village office). Once registered, you are listed on the resident register (juuminhyou), which is the administrative foundation for almost every other procedure you need to complete in Japan, including health insurance enrollment and obtaining the Maternity Handbook.

Who needs to register

Foreign nationals staying in Japan for more than 90 days (or those who arrive on a medium- or long-term residence status) are generally required to register their address. The exact timing rule for address registration is: within 14 days of moving into your residence. Do this as early as possible after arrival — ideally in the first week.

What to bring

• Your residence card (zairyuu kaado) — issued at the airport on arrival for most mid- to long-term status holders
• Your passport
• Your address in Japan (you will fill in a form at the counter)
• If registering as a household together with a spouse or family member: their documents as well

What happens at the counter

You fill in an address registration form (tennyuu todoke) and submit it with your residence card and passport. The municipal office will record your address and update your residence card on the spot (they stamp or note the address on the back of the card). You will receive a notification slip. Your full juuminhyou (resident register extract) can be obtained at the same or a subsequent visit — you will need it for some later procedures.

3. Step 2 — National Health Insurance (Kokumin Kenkou Hoken)

Why you need this immediately

Japan's National Health Insurance (kokumin kenkou hoken, often abbreviated NHI) covers a portion of medical costs including prenatal checkups (after your first visit), hospital stays, and delivery-related costs. Without insurance, you will pay full price out of pocket for all medical care. Enrolling as soon as possible after arrival is strongly advisable — especially when you are pregnant and will have regular medical visits.

Who enrolls in NHI

If you are not covered by employer-based social insurance (shakai hoken — which includes health insurance and pension through a company), you generally enroll in NHI. If you are moving to Japan to join a spouse who is already enrolled in employer-based insurance, you may be eligible to join as a dependent on their plan instead of enrolling in NHI separately — ask at the company or mutual aid association (kenkou hoken kumiai) that manages the insurance. If you are uncertain which type of insurance applies to you, ask at the municipal office.

How to enroll

Bring your residence card and your juuminhyou (or the registration confirmation you just received) to the health insurance counter at the same municipal office where you registered your address. In most municipalities, you can complete resident registration and NHI enrollment on the same visit.

Your NHI card

After enrolling, you will receive your NHI insurance card. Keep this card with you at all times when attending medical appointments — you will present it at every clinic or hospital visit. For a detailed guide to health insurance and newborn registration, see: Newborn Health Insurance in Japan: Complete Guide.

4. Step 3 — The Maternity Handbook (Boshi Kenkou Techou)

What it is

The boshi kenkou techou (Maternal and Child Health Handbook, commonly called the Maternity Handbook or "Boshi Techo") is an official booklet issued by your municipality. It serves as a continuous health record for both the mother during pregnancy and the child from birth through school age. Every prenatal checkup, birth, and infant health checkup is recorded in it. It is also used when applying for prenatal checkup subsidy coupons (hojoken) and other benefits.

How to get it

Visit the health or maternal and child health counter (hoken sentaa) at your municipal office or designated public health center. Bring your residence card and proof of pregnancy — this is typically a written confirmation from a doctor (ninshin kakunin shorui), but requirements vary by municipality. Some municipalities will issue the handbook on the basis of your self-declaration if you have not yet had a Japanese medical confirmation; confirm with your local office.

For a full explanation of the Maternity Handbook, prenatal checkups, and the subsidy coupon system, see: The Maternity Handbook (Boshi Techo) & Prenatal Checkups in Japan.

5. Step 4 — Finding a Maternity Clinic and First Checkup

Timing

As soon as you have your NHI card and your Maternity Handbook, you should schedule your first prenatal checkup (ninpu kenshin) in Japan. If you are already well into your pregnancy, do not delay — contact a clinic or hospital as soon as possible after arrival, even before you have all the paperwork sorted, if necessary.

Types of maternity care facilities

Maternity care in Japan is provided by:

• Obstetrics and gynecology clinics (sanka fujinka kurinikku): Smaller clinics that handle most routine prenatal care. Many manage uncomplicated deliveries as well.
• Hospitals with obstetrics departments (byouin): Larger facilities that handle higher-risk pregnancies and complex deliveries. In Japan, many women deliver at the same clinic where they have their checkups.
• Midwife-led birth centers (josan'in): For low-risk pregnancies; staffed by certified midwives. Transfers to hospital occur if complications arise.

Finding an English-speaking facility

If English language support is important to you, look specifically for English-speaking or English-compatible maternity care. Some hospitals in major cities have international patient departments. For guidance on finding English-speaking maternity care in Japan, see: Finding an English-Speaking Maternity Hospital in Japan.

What to bring to your first checkup

• Your boshi kenkou techou (Maternity Handbook)
• Your NHI insurance card (or employer-based insurance card)
• Any medical records or ultrasound images from your previous prenatal care overseas, if available (translations are helpful but not always required)
• Your residence card and passport

6. Step 5 — Residence Card Address Update

When you enter Japan on a mid- to long-term residence status, your residence card (zairyuu kaado) is issued at the airport. However, the address field on the card is initially blank. Once you have completed resident registration at your municipal office (Step 1), the office will record your address on the back of your card. This should happen as part of your Step 1 visit — there is no separate trip required.

If you move address after the initial registration, you must notify the municipal office of the new address within 14 days. The address on your residence card must reflect your actual current residence.

7. Step 6 — Other Administrative Steps

Once the four foundational steps above are in place (resident registration, NHI enrollment, Maternity Handbook, first prenatal checkup), you can address the following at your own pace — though sooner is generally better.

My Number notification

Once you have completed resident registration, your municipality will send your My Number (Individual Number / kojin bangou) by postal mail to your registered address. This number is used for various administrative procedures including tax filings, social insurance, and some childbirth benefits. Keep the notification card safely. You can also apply for a My Number Card — a physical card with your photo — at the municipal office; this card is increasingly useful for identity verification and accessing online administrative services via the Mynaportal website.

Bank account

Opening a Japanese bank account may take some time and requires your residence card and juuminhyou. A Japanese bank account is required to receive various government benefits, including the lump-sum childbirth allowance (shussan ikuji ichijikin). Start this process as soon as convenient after completing the foundational steps. Note that some banks have recently tightened procedures for newly arrived foreign nationals — you may need to visit a branch in person with multiple forms of ID.

High-cost medical care relief (kougaku ryouyouhi seido)

Japan's high-cost medical care system can reduce the amount you pay out of pocket in months with high medical costs — for example, if you have a cesarean section or a complicated delivery. Understanding this system in advance can help you plan your finances. For details, see: High-Cost Medical Care Relief in Japan: C-Section & Birth Costs.

Birth registration and nationality considerations

If you are in Japan with a foreign spouse or if nationality questions may be relevant for your child, it is worth reading about birth registration procedures and nationality rules before the birth. See: Birth Registration in Japan for Binational Families.

8. FAQ

I just arrived in Japan and I am already in my third trimester. What should I do first?

Your most urgent priorities are: (1) complete resident registration at your municipal office as soon as possible; (2) enroll in National Health Insurance at the same visit; (3) obtain your Maternity Handbook from the municipal office; and (4) contact maternity hospitals or clinics immediately to find one that can accept you for prenatal care and delivery. Availability can be very limited at later stages of pregnancy, so contacting hospitals should happen within your first few days in Japan. For a full overview of the birth process in Japan, see: Pregnancy & Birth in Japan: A Step-by-Step Guide.

Can I get the Maternity Handbook before I have seen a Japanese doctor?

Policies vary by municipality. Some require a written confirmation of pregnancy from a doctor (ninshin kakunin shorui); others will issue the handbook on the basis of a self-declaration at the counter. Contact your municipal office in advance to confirm what documentation they require. In any case, you should schedule a prenatal checkup (ninpu kenshin) with a Japanese clinic as soon as possible after arrival.

Do I need health insurance before my first prenatal checkup?

Technically, you can attend a clinic before enrolling in NHI — you would pay full price for that visit. However, enrolling in NHI before your first checkup means the cost-sharing applies from that visit onward. Since the municipal office visit for resident registration can also include NHI enrollment and Maternity Handbook issuance, aim to complete all three on day one or two, and schedule your first clinic appointment for shortly after.

I am covered by my spouse's employer-based health insurance. Do I still need to visit the municipal office?

Yes — for resident registration and the Maternity Handbook, a visit to the municipal office is required regardless of your insurance type. For health insurance, if you are enrolling as a dependent on your spouse's employer-based plan, the enrollment process goes through the employer or the health insurance association (kenkou hoken kumiai), not the municipal office. Ask your spouse's employer's HR department for the procedure.

What if I don't speak Japanese?

Many municipal offices in larger cities have multilingual staff or interpretation services. You can also bring a Japanese-speaking friend or use a translation application as a backup. The most important thing is to make the visit — do not delay the foundational steps because of language concerns. For finding English-speaking maternity care specifically, see: Finding an English-Speaking Maternity Hospital in Japan.

Will prenatal checkup costs be covered by NHI?

Routine prenatal checkups (ninpu kenshin) in Japan receive subsidy support through coupon booklets (hojoken) issued with the Maternity Handbook. These coupons cover a portion of the costs at eligible clinics for a set number of checkups. The scope and number of subsidized checkups varies by municipality. Any checkup costs beyond what the coupons cover, or at facilities not accepting the coupons, will be charged to you. Confirm the subsidy system with your municipal office when you receive the handbook. For more detail, see: The Maternity Handbook (Boshi Techo) & Prenatal Checkups in Japan.

9. Related Resources