Part of our Education & Childcare in Tokyo guide. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Applying for licensed daycare (hoikuen) in Tokyo isn’t a matter of calling a center directly — it runs through your local ward office and a scored priority system. Every ward sets its own rules, forms and deadlines, so the details below are a framework: always work from your own ward’s current guide.
Before you start: are you eligible?
Licensed daycare is for children whose parents can’t provide care during the day. To apply, the household needs a ward-recognised “need for childcare” — most commonly because both parents work, but also study, job-seeking, pregnancy and childbirth, illness or disability, or caring for a family member. Each ward sets a minimum, usually expressed as working hours per month; check yours.
Foreign residents apply on the same basis as Japanese citizens. What matters is residency registration and the household’s circumstances, not nationality — so make sure your Residence Card and address registration at the ward office are complete before you apply.
Step 1: Get your ward’s childcare guide early
Every ward publishes an annual guide with its point-system criteria, participating center list, fees and deadlines. Many central wards publish English versions or English summaries. Visit your ward office’s childcare section in person if you can — policies and competition levels differ between wards, so advice from a friend in another ward may not transfer.
Step 2: Understand the points system
Tokyo hoikuen use a household scoring system (often called an “index”) rather than a waitlist by application date. Points are typically assigned for:
- Each parent’s working hours per month and type of work
- Whether a parent is studying, job-seeking, ill, disabled, or caring for a relative
- Single-parent households
- Siblings already attending the same center
- Adjustment points for specific circumstances the ward considers relevant
In competitive areas, families with two full-time working parents can still miss out, especially for 1-year-old places. Ward offices don’t always publish cutoff scores, but many publish past admission results by center and age — look at these to estimate your chances, and list every eligible circumstance on your application.
Step 3: Gather your documents
Standard requirements include:
- The hoikuen admission application form
- A childcare necessity certification application (documenting why the household needs care)
- Employment certificates for both parents, completed by each employer, showing hours and employment status (self-employed parents submit different proof)
- Documents for any other circumstance you’re claiming points for (student enrollment, medical certificate, etc.)
- Income or tax information used to set fees — families who are new to Japan may be asked for alternative documents if there’s no Japanese tax record yet
Employment certificates usually take the longest. Ask your HR department early, and check whether your ward accepts English forms or requires its own Japanese format.
Step 4: Visit centers and apply inside the window
Most families apply for April entry, when the most places open. For April 2027 entry, for example:
- Minato: first-round applications from October 30 to November 24, 2026; second round from mid-January to early February 2027.
- Setagaya: first-round postal and online applications due November 5, 2026 (counter applications by November 10); a second round in late January to early February fills places declined in the first round.
Other wards follow similar autumn timelines but with different dates. First-round results are typically sent in late January or early February. Visit centers (called “kengaku”) before you apply — many require a booking, and seeing the commute and facilities helps you rank realistically.
Miss the main window and you’re applying for a mid-year opening instead, which is much harder in competitive wards. Licensed centers generally admit new children only at the start of a month, and applications for each month have their own monthly deadline.
Step 5: List multiple centers, ranked by preference
Most wards let you rank several centers. Do this — it materially improves your odds. Include some centers that are less in demand (newer centers, or ones slightly further from a station), and only list centers you’d genuinely accept. Declining an offer can affect your position in later rounds.
What it costs
- Ages 3–5: the base childcare fee at licensed daycare has been free nationwide since October 2019.
- Ages 0–2 in Tokyo: Tokyo made licensed daycare free for second and later children aged 0–2 from October 2023, and extended this to first children from September 2025, with no income limit.
- Not covered: meals (for some ages), diapers, supplies, extended-hours fees and similar extras.
Fee rules and exceptions vary, so confirm what applies to your family with the ward.
If you’re arriving mid-year
Contact the ward’s childcare consultation window directly and ask about:
- Monthly vacancy lists — many wards publish open places by center and age each month
- Tokyo-certified daycare (ninsho hoikusho) and other non-licensed facilities, which you apply to directly, sometimes with ward fee subsidies
- Temporary childcare and babysitter support programs some wards run to bridge the gap
FAQ
Can I apply before we arrive in Japan?
Generally no — you need to be a registered resident of the ward. Some wards accept applications if you can show a confirmed move-in date, so ask the ward directly.
Does job-seeking count?
Usually yes, but it scores lower than working, and wards often require you to start work within a set period after admission.
What if we get no offer?
You stay on the list for later rounds and monthly openings. Many families use a non-licensed center or temporary care in the meantime and reapply.
Sources and official information
- Minato City — Enrollment in nursery schools for April 2027
- Setagaya City — English guide to daycare admission (PDF)
- Children and Families Agency — free early childhood education and care policy
Deadlines and rules change every year. See our editorial policy for how we research and update guides.
