Nurseries and Daycare in Japan When You Rent: How Placement Works
Most guides treat childcare and housing as separate problems. In Japan they are the same problem, because your address decides which municipality allocates your nursery place, and the application deadline usually falls before you have chosen an apartment. Getting the order right is the whole game.
Two systems, and they work differently
| Licensed (ninka) | Unlicensed (ninkagai) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who decides | The municipality | The nursery itself |
| How to apply | To the ward or city office | Directly to the nursery |
| Allocation | Points system | Usually first come, first served |
| Fees | Set by the municipality, income-linked | Set by the nursery, generally higher |
| Availability | Competitive in central wards | Easier, and often the fallback |
International and English-language nurseries generally sit in the unlicensed category. They are more expensive, but they accept applications directly and are frequently the practical answer for families arriving mid-year.
How the points system works
Licensed places are not first come, first served. The municipality scores each household on how much childcare it needs, then assigns places in score order.
- Both parents in full-time employment scores higher than one full-time and one part-time.
- Contracted working hours matter, not just employment status.
- Circumstances such as single parenthood, illness or caring responsibilities add weight.
- Adjustments may apply for siblings already at the nursery, or for time spent on a waiting list.
You submit a ranked list of preferred nurseries. A high-demand nursery may be unavailable even with a strong score, which is why listing several realistic options matters more than listing the one you want. The exact scoring rules are published by each municipality and differ between them.
Why the ward boundary decides the outcome
Nursery places are allocated by the municipality you are registered in. Capacity, demand and competition differ sharply between neighbouring wards, so two apartments five minutes apart on opposite sides of a boundary can produce different results.
Applying to a nursery in a different municipality is sometimes possible, but you are generally ranked behind that municipality's own residents. Before shortlisting areas, check the ward's published figures on capacity and children waiting for places — most publish them (how wards differ for families).
What does it cost?
Fees at licensed nurseries are set by the municipality and scale with household income, assessed from residence tax. Under Japan's national childcare support programme, nursery and kindergarten fees for children aged three to five are covered at licensed facilities, and for children under three in households meeting the income conditions.
Two things to note: meals, snacks, events and materials are usually charged separately, and unlicensed nurseries follow their own fee schedules with partial support available in some cases. Since the details and thresholds change, confirm the current position with the municipality rather than relying on a summary.
What you will be asked for
- Certificate of employment for each working parent, completed by the employer on the municipality's form.
- Proof of address — which is why registering your address within 14 days of moving in matters (the ward office steps).
- Residence cards and My Number for the household.
- Income documentation, if you have not yet been assessed for residence tax in Japan.
- Supporting documents for any circumstance you want counted in your score.
The employment certificate is the item that most often causes delay, because it has to go out to an employer and come back on a specific form. Request it the moment you know you are applying.
Applying before you have an address
This is the chicken-and-egg problem for relocating families. Some municipalities accept applications from incoming families using a signed lease or documented moving plan; others require the address registration to be complete first. There is no single national rule.
The practical route is to call the childcare section of the municipality you are moving to, explain the timing, and ask what they will accept. Doing this before you sign a lease is better than after — the answer may change which ward you target.
Sequencing the apartment search around it
| If… | Then… |
|---|---|
| A licensed April place is essential | Apply first, then rent within reach of the allocated nursery |
| You are arriving mid-year | Plan on an unlicensed nursery initially, and apply for the next April intake |
| You can work flexibly | Target a ward with more capacity, even if it is further out |
| Placement is uncertain | Favour a shorter, more flexible first lease over the perfect apartment |
One more thing worth planning for: once you have a nursery, the daily route matters enormously. A nursery that sits between home and the station costs nothing; one in the opposite direction costs twenty minutes a day, every day.
Frequently asked questions
How are nursery places allocated in Japan?
Licensed nurseries are allocated by your municipality using a points system rather than first come, first served. Points reflect how much care the household needs — both parents working full time scores higher than one parent working part time, and circumstances such as single parenthood add weight. You list preferred nurseries and the municipality assigns places in points order, so a popular nursery can be unavailable even if you applied early.
When do I need to apply for an April start?
Applications for the April intake typically close between October and December of the preceding year, which for most families is before they have chosen an apartment. Mid-year entry depends entirely on vacancies and is far harder in central wards. If nursery placement is essential, treat the application deadline rather than the move-in date as the fixed point in your plan.
Does it matter which ward we live in?
It matters a great deal. Nursery places are allocated by the municipality you are registered in, and both capacity and competition differ sharply between neighbouring wards. Applying to a nursery in a different municipality is possible in some cases but you are generally ranked behind that municipality's own residents. Two apartments a few minutes apart on opposite sides of a ward line can give different outcomes.
Can we apply before we have signed a lease?
Some municipalities accept applications from families who are moving in, using a signed lease or evidence of the planned move as supporting documentation, while others require the address registration to be complete. The rules vary, so contact the childcare section of the municipality you are moving to as early as you can and ask what they will accept in your situation.
In short
- Licensed places are allocated by the municipality on points, not by applying early
- April applications close in the autumn — before most apartment searches begin
- The ward boundary decides who allocates your place and how hard it is
- Unlicensed nurseries are the realistic fallback for mid-year arrivals
- Secure the place first where you can, then rent within reach of it
Tell us the nursery, and we'll search around it
Send the ward or the nursery you are aiming for on LINE, with your budget and move-in month. We reply in English, with the agency fee as low as ¥0.
Chat with us on LINE See how the ¥0 agency fee works* The agency fee is as low as ¥0. Listings for which the landlord pays no advertising fee (AD) may not qualify. Nursery allocation rules, deadlines and fees are set by each municipality and change over time — please confirm the current details with the municipality directly.