The Maternal and Child Health Handbook

This handbook is very important in protecting the health of mothers and children. When you become pregnant, make sure to visit the Child-rearing Support Office of the Public Health & Welfare Center of your local ward office, branch office, or Keihoku sub-branch office to receive the Maternal and Child Health Handbook. There are foreign language versions (English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Nepali, Indonesian, Thai, Spanish, Portuguese) are also available. You and your baby’s health condition will be recorded in this handbook. Make sure to take it when you take your child to have health checkups at the Child-rearing Support Office and hospitals/clinics to see medical doctors. The history of your child’s vaccinations is also recorded in the handbook.

What you have to do after your baby is born

• ① Obtain your baby’s Birth Certificate from the hospital/clinic.
• ② Take the birth certificate and report the child’s birth to the ward office, ward branch office and submit the Birth Registration Form (shussho todoke) within 14 days after the baby’s birth.
  ＊If one or both parents are non-Japanese, it is necessary to report the birth of their child to the embassy or consulate of their countries.
• ③ If the parents are Special Permanent Residents, apply for the status for your child at the ward office/branch office in your residency area.
• ④ If the parents are mid or long-term residents, apply for the child’s status of residence at the Immigration Services Agency. Take either the child’s Birth Registration Receipt (Shussho todoke juri shoumeisho) or Certificate of Residence (juminhyo) with you.
  \* If your baby is to stay in Japan for 60 days or longer after birth, make sure to finish the application procedure within 30 days after birth.

Additionally, you need to obtain a passport for your baby at the embassy or consulate of your country. Also, enroll your baby in your health insurance system as a dependent. Take your child to regular medical check-ups. Child-rearing Support Office of the Public Health & Welfare Center at your local ward office/branch office, or Keihoku Sub-branch Office offers free health checks for babies and toddlers living in the area. Your baby can receive immunization for free. Please make an appointment with a Kyoto City affiliated vaccination facility for your baby’s immunization. Be sure to bring your Maternal and Child Heath Book (Boshi Techo) with you on the day of your baby’s scheduled vaccination.
Kyoto City affiliated vaccination facilities List (Japanese)

Exemption (Reduction) of National Health Insurance and National Pension Premiums for Mothers in Prenatal and Postnatal Period

There is a program for mothers to exempt (reduce) them from paying national health insurance and pension premiums for a certain period before and after childbirth. If you are an employee, please contact your workplace for details.

Lump-sum Allowance for Childbirth

A person enrolled in the medical insurance scheme can receive a lump-sum allowance after giving birth to a child. A pregnant mother becomes eligible to receive this allowance once the pregnancy passes 85 days, even in cases of miscarriage or stillbirth.

For child delivery, which is subject to the Japan Obstetric Compensation System for Cerebral Palsy under the National Health Insurance System, the amount to be provided is ¥500,000. The amount for the child delivery, which is not subject to the above is ¥488,000. Ask the National Insurance and Pension Division at the ward office/branch office.

Interpretation Dispatch Service for Maternal and Child Health

If parents are not fluent in Japanese and want to use interpreters, interpreters (English, Chinese, Vietnamese) from Interpretation and Counseling Service for Non-Japanese at Kyoto City International Foundation can help them to talk to health nurses and at children’s health check-ups. Request interpreters to the Child-rearing Support Office in the Public Health & Welfare Center at your local ward office/branch office or Keihoku Sub-branch Office.

List of [Ward Office or Ward Branch Office in Kyoto City]

「Child-rearing Handbook in Kyoto」

The handbook provides useful information about childbirth and childrearing for foreigners living in Kyoto. (Japanese/English/Chinese)

Child-rearing Handbook in Kyoto（PDF）

Children’s Medical Expense Subsidy Program

With this program, the hospitalization fee for a child from birth through their 3rd year of junior high school costs only ¥200 a month per medical institution.

In outpatient cases, it costs ¥200 a month for a child between 0 and 6th grade of elementary school, and ¥1,500 a month per medical institution for a child in junior high school. If the total medical expense exceeds ¥1,500 a month, you can apply for reimbursement for the amount exceeding ¥1,500.

Child Allowance (Jidou-teate)

Those raising children up to their 3rd year of senior high school are eligible to receive a child allowance.

List of [Ward Office and Ward Branch Office]

Single Parent Household Support Programs

• ・Loan program for single parent households (Boshi Fushi Kafu Fukushi Shikin)
• ・Training opportunities, including computer classes to acquire necessary skills for work, are available at low fees
• ・Priority in moving into public housing
• ・Medical expense subsidies for single parent households (Hitori-oya Katei tou Iryohi Shikyu Seido)
• ・Childcare Allowance (Jidou-fuyou-teate)

There are other support programs for single parents.

Counseling on raising children

Child-rearing Support Office of Public Health & Welfare Center at Ward Offices and Ward Branch Offices

List of [Ward Office and Ward Branch Office]

Childcare Centers (hoikusho)

Childcare centers accept children up to their entering elementary school. Childcare fees are determined depending on the family’s income. Childcare fees for children who are 3 years old or older as of April 1 of the year is free.

Eligibility for Children to Enter Childcare Centers

Children whose parents are both working, attend school, or cannot take care of children due to illness are eligible. Such conditions must be confirmed.

How to Apply

Applicants are taken at the Public Health & Welfare Center of the ward office/branch office in your area. Take documents that prove the parents need their children to go tto childcare center (proof of work, student certificate, etc.). The center may ask parents to submit proof of the amount of tax payment for the calculation of childcare fees.

Other services

Family Support Project

This is a mutual childcare support system among members who wish to receive childcare support and who wish to offer such support (fee is required).
TEL: 075-682-6238 (Mon - Sat. 10:00 - 17:00)

Family Support Center

Baba Service Pinocchio

TEL: 075-334-6770 (8:30 - 17:00)

A tentative childcare service is available for necessary hours.

• Place: Pinocchio 22-1 Koyamaminami Ohno-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto City
• Capacity: 10 children (in a same hour)
• Age: Subject to children from 6 months old up to 9 years old (3rd grade at elementary school)
• Fee: ¥ 800 per hour (if transportation service is necessary, ¥1,430 each time)
• Service Hours: 8:00 – 21:00 (closed on year-end and New Year’s holidays)

Brochure (PDF) (Japanese)

Children’s Centers (Jido-kan)

Children up to 18 years old together with their parents or guardians can use the facility for free to play games and sports (actual cost for materials may be required to pay depending on each club, class, and event).

10:00 - 18:30 (Closed on Sundays, national holidays, year-end and New Year holidays)

Jido-kan (play centers) in Kyoto City (Japanese)

Gakudo-Club

This service aims to take care of the 1st year up to the 6th year elementary school students whose parents are not at home during the daytime. The service is provided at Jido-kan and Gakudo child-care centers. Children can come and stay at the club after school. To use this service, one must apply to the facility the child goes to in advance. Fee required.

What is Gakudo Club? (Japanese)

Childcare Station “Hotto Chat” for Ｍothers and Fathers

Anyone raising children in Kyoto can participate regardless of nationalities. You can bring your children (aged 0-5 years) with you.

Date & Time: First Saturday of a month 14:00 - 15:30

Location: kokoka Kyoto City International Community House

“Hotto Chat”

koko kids

The group is for exchanges between mothers and fathers whose children are aged from 6-15 years with international backgrounds.
Any children aged 0 to 18 years and their parents can play games and sports.

Date and Time: First Saturday of a month 15:30 - 17:00

Location: kokoka Kyoto City International Community House

“koko kids”

Kyoto City Childrearing Support Center “Kodomo Mirai-kan”

TEL: 075-254-5001

The center has Kodomo Genki Land for children to use large-size playground equipment and play with wooden toys. Also, it has a library called Kosodate Tosho-kan, which is popular for small children to enjoy reading picture books.

Kodomo Genki Land: 9:30 - 11:30, 12:00 - 14:00, 14:30 - 16:30
\* Requires appointment.

Reservation system (Japanese): https://reserve.kodomomirai.city.kyoto.lg.jp/areainfo/agreement

Children’s Library (Kosodate Toshokan):
Weekdays 9:30 - 19:00 Weekends and holidays 9:30 - 17:00
Closed: Tuesday (if a Tuesday is a national holiday, the facility closes on the following weekday) and New Year’s Holidays (Dec. 28 - Jan. 4)

“Kodomo Mirai-kan” (Japanese)

Tsudoi-no-Hiroba for infants, toddlers, and their parents (Kyoto City child-rearing supporting activity, Iki-iki Center)

Provides a place where parents, especially those with babies and toddlers, can talk to other parents with their children. Parenting advisers regularly attend and provide consultation. There also are programs such as lectures about child rearing.

Hours: 10:00 – 16:00 in principle

Tsudoi-no-Hiroba for infants, toddlers, and their parents (Japanese)

Libraries

Libraries in Kyoto City host events including reading books aloud for children. Visit your local library and find out about these events.

Libraries in Kyoto City

Japanese Education System

In Japan, the education system is basically comprised of an education at an elementary school for 6 years, at a junior high school for 3 years, a senior high school for 3 years, and either at a junior college for 2 years or a university for 4 years. Education at elementary and junior-high school is compulsory. In principle, one must pass an entrance examination to enter senior high school and university. In addition, there are specialized training colleges and vocational schools available mainly for junior and senior high school graduates. There are national schools managed by the state; public schools managed by prefectures, cities, wards, towns and villages; and private schools managed by school foundations. The school year starts in April and ends in March the following year.

Kindergartens

Children between the ages of 3 to 6 are eligible for kindergartens.
There are kindergartens that accept children under 3-year-old.

City Kindergartens

The City of Kyoto operates 15 kindergartens which accept children who are aged 4 and 5 as of April 1 of the year, and some city kindergartens also accept 3-year-old children. For municipal kindergartens, the area in which you live determines which kindergarten your children can enroll in.

Private Kindergartens

All private kindergartens in Kyoto (Japanese)

Elementary Schools & Junior High Schools

When a non-Japanese resident child wishes to attend a Japanese elementary school and a junior high school

Anyone who are at the equivalent age of Japanese elementary school and junior high school can attend the school after completing procedures.

Procedures for enrolling children into a Japanese elementary school and a junior high school

• ① When you register your address with your local ward office/ward branch office, please mention that you would like to enroll your child in a Japanese elementary school or a junior high school. You will receive a School Transfer/Admission Notice (Tennyugaku Tsuchisho), which states the name and address of the school your child will enroll in or School Enrollment Notice (Shugaku Tsuchisho).
• ② Visit the school and submit a School Transfer/Admission Notice or School Enrollment Notice you received at the ward office/ward branch office. After that, the school will tell you how to proceed with the admission.

Textbooks for elementary school and junior high school are free. School lunch served at elementary school costs ¥4,700 yen per month. Junior high school students can choose school lunches or bring homemade lunches. The school lunch costs ¥310 yen per day.
＊A Financial Assistance Program (Shugaku Enjo) for school supplies and school lunches is available to families with financial difficulties. Ask a teacher at your child’s school for the program.

If your child cannot speak Japanese?

Children, who cannot speak Japanese, can receive Japanese lessons in Japanese at the school. In addition, you can ask for interpreters’ assistance to communicate with the school.

Special Support School/Upbringing Class in Elementary and Junior High School

Children with special needs may attend special support school or upbringing classes in elementary school and junior high school.

For inquiries about enrolling your child in a special support school or participating in an upbringing class:

Senior High School

Senior high school education is not compulsory in Japan. There are public schools such as national, prefectural and municipal schools as well as private schools that provide various courses. To enter Japanese senior high schools, an academic level equivalent to the Japanese junior high school graduates is required.

For further information about public senior high schools, contact:

For families of students or students who would like to attend high school but have financial difficulties, there is a place where financial support is available (senior high school enrollment subsidy program).

For further information about financial support for entering senior high schools and tuition support, contact:

Child-rearing Support Office at the Public Health & Welfare Center of your local Ward Office or Branch Ward Office