Childcare

Finding nursery care in Japan as a foreigner feels impossible at first — waitlists, paperwork in Japanese, an opaque points system. But parents who understand how the system works can navigate it far more successfully. Here’s an honest guide to childcare in Japan for foreign families. Types of Childcare in Japan Hoikuen (保育園) — Nursery For children from age 0 to 6 (school age). Run by municipalities and licensed private operators. ...

What you'll learn in this guide Maternity leave (産前産後休業): how long, how much pay Childcare leave (育児休業): up to 2 years, 67–50% salary replacement Paternity leave rights: the new 2022 “post-birth paternity leave” system How foreigners apply and what documents are needed What to do if your employer resists your leave request Quick Answer Foreigners employed in Japan have the same maternity, paternity, and childcare leave rights as Japanese nationals, provided they’re covered by Employees’ Health Insurance and Employment Insurance. Maternity leave (産前産後休業) is 14 weeks around birth. Childcare leave (育児休業) extends up to 2 years, with 67% salary replacement for the first 6 months. Paternity leave was strengthened in 2022 — fathers can take up to 4 weeks immediately after birth. ...