Childcare, Kindergarten, and School Enrollment
Organize the child's age, desired start date, parents' work, and language support, then contact the childcare counter or board of education.
Procedure at a glance
- Who this is for
- Foreign-national families with preschool or school-age children
- Deadline
- Deadlines vary by municipality and start date; confirm early
Do this todaySummarize age, current enrollment, desired start, address, and parents' work
If the deadline is near or passedIf the deadline passed or school start is near, prepare the child's age, address, requested start date, and language-support need, then contact childcare or the board of education today.
Where to goMunicipal childcare counter, board of education, and facility or school
Step-by-step guide
Follow these steps
Progress: 0/4 completed
1Confirm your case and deadlineChoose the right consultation office / Check application conditions
What to do
- 1Write the child's birth date, address, stay plan, guardian work, desired start, and language or health support on one sheet, then separate childcare from school enrollment
- 2Search the municipal site for 'childcare use application' or 'foreign child school consultation' and confirm the office, school year, deadline, interview, and visit
Check before you start
- Summarize age, current enrollment, desired start, address, and parents' work
- Contact childcare services for preschool children or the board of education for school-age children
- Explain language, interpretation, accommodation, and allergy needs early
If the deadline is near or passed
- If the deadline passed or school start is near, prepare the child's age, address, requested start date, and language-support need, then contact childcare or the board of education today.
2Prepare the office and documentsApply for childcare / Request a school consultation
What to do
- 1For childcare, submit the form, each guardian's evidence of need, child health details, and preferred facilities, then save the receipt and result date
- 2For school entry or transfer, tell the board of education the registration, age, former school and grade, school records, and language support needs, then confirm the assigned school and date
Basic items to bring
- Child and guardian residence cards
- Residence record or address/household evidence
- Health handbook, vaccination, and medical information
- Employment evidence for childcare applications
- School enrollment, grades, and learning history
- Language, disability, medical, or allergy support information
Fees
- Public school, childcare, meals, materials, and extended care costs vary by age, household, municipality, and facility. Check the decision notice.
Online options
- Online childcare or school procedures vary by municipality. Ask whether interviews, health checks, or original documents remain required.
If you cannot go
- Rules for someone other than a guardian to apply, interview, or register for pickup differ. Confirm authorization, custody, and emergency contacts.
If documents are missing
- If a document is missing, do not guess or substitute it. Tell the office its exact name and ask whether you can consult first, submit it later, and where to obtain it.
3File or applyPrepare for enrollment / Confirm the first day and costs
What to do
- 1After placement, ask the facility or school about start date, health checks, vaccines, supplies, meal allergies, travel, and emergency contact method
- 2Read fee, meal, material, and extended-care notices, confirm amount, due date, and reduction deadline, and take the notice to the office if unclear
Time to completion
- Childcare placement, school assignment, and language support may take time. Record the application deadline, result date, and start date.
4Confirm completion and the next deadlinePlan the next action if not accepted
What to do
- 1Save the receipt, result, start date, placement, and support; if refused, late, or urgent, contact the office today with age, address, and desired date for alternatives
Confirm at completion
- Application or school-consultation receipt and result date are saved
- Start date, placement, items, costs, and language/health support are confirmed
What you receive
- Confirm the reference, application, decision date, assigned facility or school, start date, costs, language support, and emergency contacts.
Check before leaving
- Before leaving, check your name, address, covered period, and procedure type, then ask about the next deadline and contact method.
Records to keep
- Keep the reference number, filing date, office, copies of submitted documents, and next contact date. Save confirmation screens and emails for online filings.
Next action
- Before starting, confirm health checks, vaccines, employment proof, travel, meal allergies, and absence reporting.
Confirm with the official office
- This page cannot determine the latest form, appointment and hours, municipality-specific additions, individual review, or same-day handling. Confirm these immediately before filing.
- Age, address, start month, guardian work, availability, learning, language support
Important cautions
- Childcare selection, deadlines, fees, and documents vary and placement is not guaranteed
- Ask the board of education about public-school enrollment, grade, and support
- Do not rule out options based only on nationality or status; ask the official counter
Useful Japanese phrases
Childcare or school consultation
子どもの保育園または学校を申し込みたいです。必要書類と締切を教えてください。
Kodomo no hoikuen matawa gakko o moshi-komitai desu. Hitsuyo shorui to shimekiri o oshiete kudasai.
I would like to apply for childcare or school for my child. Please tell me the documents and deadline.
Childcare, Kindergarten, and School Enrollment
この件について相談したいです。必要なものと次に行く場所を教えてください。
Kono ken ni tsuite sodan shitai desu. Hitsuyo na mono to tsugi ni iku basho o oshiete kudasai.
I would like to ask about this issue. Please tell me what I need and where I should go next.
Official sources
Useful next guides
Get a Residence Record
What to prepare when getting a residence record at your municipality.
Join National Health Insurance
Eligibility, counter, premiums, and insurance card checks.
What to Do After a Child Is Born in Japan
Handle the 14-day birth notification, the 30-day residence-status application when required, health insurance, child allowance, and home-country registration in order.