This is one of those decisions where the sticker shock is misleading: the "free from 3" headline is real, but the fee you actually pay before then — and whether you get a spot at all — is decided quietly by your municipality. Mio doesn't do vibes. Here's what the Japanese official sources actually say.
Licensed nurseries (認可保育園 / ninka hoikuen) meet national standards and are funded so that fees are capped and, for most families past age 3, waived. Unlicensed facilities (認可外 / ninkagai) — private daycares, some international schools, company nurseries — can cost more and are subsidised only up to a monthly cap rather than being fully free. If cost is your priority, a licensed spot almost always wins; the catch is that licensed spots are rationed.
For ages 0–2 at a licensed nursery, there's no single national price. Your fee is calculated from your household residence-tax band (住民税の所得割) by your municipality, so two families at the same nursery can pay very different amounts. It ranges from close to nothing at the bottom up to roughly ¥100,000/month at the highest income bands in some cities — but the exact schedule is your city's, so Mio won't quote your number: apply and verify with your city office. Siblings usually get discounts.
Since October 2019, Japan's free early-childhood policy (幼児教育・保育の無償化) makes ages 3–5 free at licensed nurseries, kindergartens (yochien), and certified centres (nintei kodomo-en). For ages 0–2, it's free only for residence-tax-exempt (低所得) households. Unlicensed care is subsidised — up to about ¥37,000/month for ages 3–5 (and up to about ¥42,000/month for exempt 0–2 households) — rather than fully free. Note: meals, transport and activity fees are usually not covered even when tuition is free.
| Age × facility | Who pays | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| 0–2, licensed, most households | Income-based paid | Household residence-tax band, set by city |
| 0–2, licensed, tax-exempt household | Free | Residence-tax-exempt status |
| 3–5, licensed | Largely free | 2019 reform (meals/fees extra) |
| 0–2, unlicensed | Paid; partial subsidy if exempt | Subsidy capped (~¥42,000/mo, exempt only) |
| 3–5, unlicensed | Paid up to cap, then free | Subsidy capped (~¥37,000/mo) |
Figures are national reference caps and can change; your city sets the actual 0–2 schedule. Always verify with your municipality.
Because demand outstrips supply in many wards, cities score each application on a points system (利用調整). Points reflect your need for care — full-time work for both parents scores highest, and single parents are prioritised too. Part-time, job-hunting, or a parent at home scores lower. Even if you qualify on paper, a low-points application can be waitlisted (hoikuen ochita). The lesson: your work status is your admission strategy, not just your fee tier.
Kindergarten (幼稚園 / yochien) is an education-track option for ages 3–5, usually shorter hours than a nursery. It has its own subsidy under the 2019 reform (tuition subsidised up to about ¥25,700/month), so it can be nearly free too — useful if you can't win a nursery spot or don't need full-day care.
Eligibility is based on living in the municipality and your household's need for care (working, studying, illness, etc.) — not on nationality. Foreign-resident families apply through the same city-office process and the same points system. You do need a residence record in that city, and your income (from Japanese tax records, or declared if newly arrived) is what sets your 0–2 fee.
You apply at your city/ward office (not the nursery directly) for a "certification of childcare necessity" (保育の必要性の認定). Expect to submit proof of working status for both parents (employment certificates / self-employment proof) and income documents. Deadlines matter — many cities run an annual intake for April starts, with limited mid-year openings. When in doubt, ask the childcare desk (hoiku-ka) at your city office.
Aim for a licensed spot — it's cheapest and free from age 3. Before then, your 0–2 fee is income-based and your city's call, so don't trust any single number online. And treat the points system as the real hurdle: dual full-time work is what wins spots. Apply early, bring your income and work documents, and verify every figure with your city office.
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