Our Mission
Childcare in Japan was created to bridge the information gap that many international residents face when raising children in Japan. Navigating the Japanese healthcare system, school enrollment processes, and government benefits can be overwhelming — especially without clear English-language resources.
We publish practical, accurate, and easy-to-understand guides so that international parents can make informed decisions with confidence.
Who's Behind This Site
Hi, I'm Susumu — a Japanese national with a deep appreciation for what it means to live and navigate life in a foreign country.
I spent a year in Canada on a working holiday, and that experience gave me a real sense of how challenging it can be to find reliable, easy-to-understand information in your own language. When I returned to Japan, I began volunteering to teach Japanese to international residents — and time and again, I heard the same frustration: "I just can't find clear information in English about how things work here."
Whether it was registering a newborn, finding a nursery, or understanding Japan's vaccination schedule, the information existed — but it was buried in Japanese-only resources. That's what inspired me to create Childcare in Japan: a practical, plain-English guide for the international families who call Japan home.
Background
- IT Engineer — built and maintains this site independently
- Licensed Hairdresser — National Qualification, Japan
- Qualified in retail medicine sales — 登録販売者試験
- Working holiday experience in Canada
- Volunteer Japanese language instructor for international residents in Japan
What We Cover
Maternity
Prenatal care, hospital visits, the Boshi Techo
Birth
Giving birth in Japan, delivery costs, postnatal care
Baby & Toddler
Child allowance, newborn care, baby products
Preschool
Hoikuen, yochien, application processes
Primary School
Public schools, enrollment, school life in Japan
Vaccines
Japan's vaccination schedule, mandatory vs. optional
Get in Touch
Have a suggestion, correction, or question? We'd love to hear from you.
Contact Us