Having and Raising Kids in Japan: Complete Guide for Foreign Residents

Having and Raising Kids in Japan: Complete Guide for Foreign Residents

Japan has a well-developed system of support for families with children. The challenge for foreign residents is that much of this system is administered at the municipal level, in Japanese, and often without English-language guidance.

This guide covers the key stages: having a baby, registering the birth, applying for financial support, finding daycare, and enrolling in school. Most of these steps are available to all foreign residents regardless of nationality or visa type, as long as you are registered at your local municipal office.

This is practical life information. For medical decisions, consult a doctor. For visa and legal questions, consult a qualified professional.

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Before Birth: Maternity Notebook (母子手帳, Boshi Techō)

As soon as your pregnancy is confirmed (typically around week 8–12), register with your local ward or city office. You will receive a 母子手帳 (Maternal and Child Health Handbook) — a booklet used to track the pregnancy, birth, and the child's health records through school age.

This notebook is required for:

• Prenatal checkups at subsidized cost
• Birth registration
• Baby checkups and vaccinations
• School enrollment

How to get it: Visit your municipal office (区役所/市役所) and bring your residence card and insurance card. Staff at larger offices in urban areas often have English-speaking support or translation services available on request.

Prenatal checkup subsidies: Along with the notebook, you will receive a set of vouchers (妊婦健康診査補助券) that cover most of the cost of regular prenatal checkups at designated clinics and hospitals. The number of vouchers and coverage vary by municipality but typically cover 14 checkups.

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Birth: Childbirth Lump-Sum Payment (出産育児一時金)

The 出産育児一時金 (Childbirth and Childcare Lump-Sum Grant) is paid to all insured residents — including foreign residents enrolled in National Health Insurance or company health insurance — when a baby is born in Japan.

Amount: ¥500,000 per birth (as of 2023, raised from ¥420,000). Twin births receive ¥1,000,000.

How it works:

• Most hospitals participate in the direct payment system (直接支払制度), where the ¥500,000 is paid directly from your insurer to the hospital. If the birth costs less than ¥500,000, you receive the difference. If it costs more, you pay the difference.
• If the hospital does not use direct payment, you pay the full birth cost out of pocket and then claim the lump sum from your insurance office afterward.

Who qualifies:

• Enrolled in Japanese national health insurance (国民健康保険) — this includes most self-employed, freelancers, students, and dependents
• Enrolled in company employee health insurance (健康保険) — through your or your spouse's employer
• The birth must occur after at least 85 days of pregnancy

How to apply:

• Direct payment: handled at the hospital. Bring your insurance card.
• Reimbursement (if direct payment is not available): apply at your insurer within 2 years of birth. Forms available at the ward office or your employer's HR.

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After Birth: Required Registrations

Birth Registration (出生届)

Must be submitted within 14 days of birth. Submit at the municipal office for the address where the parents are registered or where the birth occurred.

Documents needed:

• The birth certificate issued by the hospital (出生証明書, bottom section of the birth notification form)
• Your residence card
• Mother's health booklet (母子手帳) — the birth date will be recorded here

For foreign children born in Japan, the birth registration records the birth in Japan. It does not automatically grant Japanese nationality.

Child's Residence Registration (住民登録)

Register your newborn as a resident at your municipal office. This activates access to childcare subsidies, school enrollment, and municipal services.

Residence Card for the Child

If the child is a foreign national and plans to stay in Japan for more than 3 months, you must apply for a residence card (在留カード) within 30 days of birth. Apply at a Regional Immigration Services Bureau.

Documents needed:

• Passport (if already issued; otherwise a temporary travel document may be used)
• Birth certificate
• Parent's residence card

Child's Nationality

A child born in Japan to two foreign parents does not automatically receive Japanese nationality. Japanese nationality is acquired by having at least one Japanese parent (jus sanguinis). The child will hold the nationality of their foreign parent(s) and must apply for a Japanese residence permit if remaining in Japan.

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Child Allowance (児童手当, Jidō Teate)

The 児童手当 (Child Allowance) is a monthly cash payment available to households raising children under 18 who are registered residents of Japan.

Amounts (as of April 2024 reform):

Child's age	Monthly amount per child
0–2 years	¥15,000
3 years – elementary school age	¥10,000 (¥15,000 for 3rd child and beyond)
Middle school age	¥10,000
High school age (new from 2024)	¥10,000

The income cap that previously excluded higher-income households was removed in the October 2024 reform. All households are now eligible regardless of income.

How to apply: Apply at your municipal office within the same month as the birth (or when you move to Japan with children). Payments start from the month of application, not from birth, so apply promptly.

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Daycare (保育所, Hoikuen): How It Works for Foreigners

Japan's public daycare system is run at the municipal level and is notoriously competitive in urban areas, especially Tokyo and Osaka. For foreign residents, the system is accessible, but navigating it requires planning.

Types of Daycare

Type	Age	Hours	Language	Notes
認可保育所 (Certified Hoikuen)	0–5	Full day	Japanese	Subsidized, most competitive
認定こども園	0–5	Full or half day	Japanese	Combines daycare and kindergarten
認可外保育施設	0–5	Flexible	Sometimes English	More available, but more expensive
企業主導型保育 (Company-led)	0–2	Full day	Japanese	Through employer, if available

The Application Process for Certified Daycare

Certified public daycare (認可保育所) is highly subsidized — monthly fees are income-based and typically range from ¥0 to ¥80,000+ depending on household income and the child's age.

Timeline:

• Applications for enrollment in April (the start of the Japanese school year) open in September–November of the preceding year at most municipalities.
• Placement is decided by a priority scoring system based on factors including: both parents working full-time, single-parent household, new birth, and others. Foreign residents are not disadvantaged — priority is based on need, not nationality.

Steps:

1. Attend the explanation session at your ward office (説明会, typically September). Request English materials if available.
2. Prepare your application documents. Typically required: proof of employment (勤務証明書) for both parents, proof of income (源泉徴収票), resident registration certificate, and child's health booklet.
3. Submit your application with a ranked list of your preferred daycare facilities (up to 10 or more in larger cities).
4. Wait for placement notification, typically in January–February for April enrollment.
5. If not placed (落選): You are placed on a waiting list. Some municipalities have hundreds of children on waiting lists. Alternatives include certified childcare centers (認証保育所) in Tokyo, which are less competitive, or company-run facilities.

Fees: Under Japan's 幼児教育・保育無償化 (free early childhood education and care) policy:

• Children aged 3 to 5 attending any certified facility: free for the base monthly tuition.
• Children aged 0 to 2 from lower-income households: free or heavily subsidized.
• Meals, supplies, and bus fees may still apply.

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Public Elementary School (公立小学校): Enrollment for Foreign Children

Foreign children in Japan have the right — not the obligation — to attend public school. Parents can request enrollment at the municipal board of education (教育委員会).

How to Enroll

1. Contact your ward or city's Board of Education (教育委員会).
2. Request enrollment. You will be assigned to the school for your residential catchment area (学区).
3. The school will contact you with details on start date, required items, and initial orientation.

Language support: Urban schools in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Yokohama often have Japanese language support classes for foreign children and some have staff members fluent in major languages.

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International Schools: The Key Facts

International schools in Japan are private institutions and are not subsidized by the government.

Type	Annual tuition (approximate)	Language	Notes
Top-tier international schools (ASIJ, BJS, Nishimachi)	¥2,500,000–¥3,500,000	English	Long waiting lists, IB or US curriculum
Mid-range international schools	¥1,500,000–¥2,500,000	English, often bilingual
Community-based or smaller international	¥800,000–¥1,500,000	English or bilingual	More accessible
Korean, Chinese, Brazilian schools	¥400,000–¥900,000	Mother tongue	Often community-specific

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Medical Care for Children

Children enrolled in resident registration are eligible for child medical fee assistance (子ども医療費助成) — a municipal program that covers most or all of the cost of medical visits for children.

Typical coverage: medical visit co-payments reduced to ¥0–¥200 per visit, depending on the municipality and the child's age. Tokyo covers through junior high school age (age 15) in most wards.

How to access: Apply at your ward office when registering the birth. You will receive a medical card (子ども医療費受給者証) to present at clinics and hospitals.

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Summary: Key Deadlines and Actions

Action	Timing	Where
Get 母子手帳	Week 8–12 of pregnancy	Municipal office
Register birth	Within 14 days of birth	Municipal office
Apply for child allowance (児童手当)	Same month as birth	Municipal office
Apply for child's residence card	Within 30 days of birth	Immigration Bureau
Apply for daycare (April enrollment)	September–November the year before	Municipal office
Apply for public school enrollment	2–3 months before desired start	Board of Education
Get child medical card	When registering birth	Municipal office