保活 (Hokatsu): How to Find a Nursery in Japan Before It's Too Late

What Is 保活?

保活 (hokatsu) combines 保育園 (hoikuen — nursery school) and 活動 (katsudo — activity). It describes everything a parent does to secure a nursery place: researching options, visiting facilities, gathering documents, and submitting applications — often months before their child is born.

Japan's nursery enrollment system works on a single annual cycle. The main intake is April, and applications are typically submitted the previous November or December. Miss that window and you are waiting another full year, or scrambling for mid-year vacancies which are rare. This is why families — especially in urban areas — start their research during pregnancy or in the early months after birth.

For international families, the process carries extra weight: everything from the consultation at the municipal office to the nursery visit happens in Japanese, and the paperwork assumes familiarity with the local system. This guide is designed to help you understand what you are walking into, and what to prepare before you get there.

The Reality of Waiting Lists

Japan's waiting-list situation has improved significantly. According to こども家庭庁 (the Children and Families Agency), the number of children on official waiting lists as of April 2025 stood at 2,254 nationwide — the lowest on record, and down from a peak of 26,081 in 2017.

However, the official figure does not tell the whole story. Parents who are on a waiting list but have been placed in a non-preferred facility, or who have given up entirely, are not counted in the official number. Independent estimates put the number of children who applied for 認可保育園 but did not receive a place at closer to 70,000. This gap between the official number and the real picture is sometimes called 隠れ待機児童 (kakure taiki jido — hidden waiting children).

The key takeaway: competition is most intense for 1- and 2-year-olds. If you are planning to return to work when your child is around one year old, start hokatsu early.

0-Year-Old or 1-Year-Old Enrollment?

One of the first decisions in hokatsu is whether to aim for enrollment when your child is 0 (still a baby, often from around 57 days old) or to wait until they are 1. Both have trade-offs.

In highly competitive areas — central Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama — many families deliberately enroll at age 0 to secure a spot, then stay at the same nursery through age 1 and beyond. Moving up from the 0歳クラス (infant class, for babies under 1) to the 1歳クラス (toddler class, age 1) at the same nursery is typically guaranteed — meaning your child moves up automatically without re-applying — which sidesteps the most competitive application round entirely.

The 4-Step Hokatsu Timeline

Hokatsu for April enrollment follows a predictable pattern each year. The steps below are based on the standard cycle — individual municipalities may shift dates slightly, so confirm locally.

Types of Childcare in Japan

Japan has several categories of childcare. Understanding the difference matters because eligibility, cost, and competition vary significantly between them.

For most working parents, 認可保育園 is the primary target because fees are income-based (and often very affordable), hours are typically long, and quality is regulated. However, building a backup plan using 認可外 options is strongly recommended — especially in competitive areas.

Visiting Nurseries: What to Check

A nursery visit (園見学, en-kengaku) is your chance to assess whether a facility feels right for your child and family before committing. Most visits last 20 to 30 minutes and are guided by a staff member.

What to Observe

Questions to Ask at the Visit

Preparing questions in advance makes the most of your visit. You do not need to ask all of them — pick the ones that matter most to your situation.

Tips for International Families

Hokatsu is stressful enough in Japanese. Here is what specifically helps when you are navigating it in a second language.

• Start at the municipal office first. Before visiting any nursery, go to your local 保育課 (childcare division at the city or ward office). Staff there can tell you exactly which nurseries are in your area, what your eligibility is, and how competitive your situation is likely to be. Many offices have multilingual support or can arrange a phone interpreter. Bring your 在留カード (residence card) and your employer's contact information.
• Ask about language support when you visit. Some nurseries have staff who speak English or another language, or have experience communicating via translation apps. This can make a significant difference in day-to-day communication — morning drop-off notes, illness calls, and event notices all arrive in Japanese.
• App-based communication is easier than paper notebooks. Nurseries that use a communication app often allow parents to receive messages in real time, which can be translated instantly on a smartphone. If language is a concern, ask specifically whether the nursery uses an app.
• List as many nurseries as possible on your application. Your application ranks nurseries in order of preference. The more you list, the better your statistical chance of placement. Do not limit yourself to two or three favorites — visiting eight and listing all eight is reasonable.
• Understand your 指数 (point score). Every applicant is assigned a numerical score — called 保育指数 (hoiku shisu) — and nursery places are allocated starting from the highest scorers. The exact criteria vary by municipality, but the most common factors are:
  • — Both parents working full-time: highest base score
  • — One parent full-time, one part-time: lower score
  • — One parent not working: lowest score
  • — Single-parent household: additional points in most areas
  • — Currently on parental leave: scoring varies by municipality — in some areas you receive the same points as an active worker, in others you score lower; confirm with your local 保育課

  Ask the municipal office (保育課) to show you how your situation is scored before you apply — this helps you understand how competitive your position is and whether to build in a backup plan.

• Have a backup plan. Even strong applicants do not always receive their first choice — or any 認可 place. Research 認可外 (unlicensed) options in your area in parallel, and ask the municipal office about any local subsidy schemes that can offset the higher fees.

Japanese Vocabulary