Prenatal care, hospital visits, and the Mother and Child Health Handbook.
A complete guide to maternity care in Japan — prenatal checkups, choosing a hospital, and support services for international families.
June 9, 2020 · Updated: May 17, 2026
BenefitsHaving a child in Japan comes with real financial support — grants, allowances, subsidies, and tax breaks — but they're run by different offices and easy to miss. This guide gathers every one in the order you'll meet them, from pregnancy through your child's early years, each linking to a full guide.
July 13, 2026
BenefitsUnemployment benefits are not lost when you stop working for pregnancy or a baby. One filing at Hello Work holds them for up to four years, until you are ready to job-hunt again.
July 13, 2026
BenefitsMedical costs over ¥100,000 in a year can come back as a tax refund — and the year you give birth is usually the year it is worth claiming. What counts, what does not, and how to file.
July 13, 2026
BenefitsIf a doctor signs you off work before maternity leave begins, employer health insurance can pay roughly two-thirds of your salary for that gap. Who qualifies, how much it pays, and how to file the claim.
July 7, 2026
BenefitsA salary-based payment for employees on maternity leave, separate from the flat ¥500,000 childbirth grant. What it pays, who qualifies, and how the claim works alongside your employer.
July 5, 2026
PregnancyJapan recommends around 14 prenatal checkups during pregnancy, all partially subsidized through a municipal voucher system. Here's how the schedule works, what gets tested, and what to expect at each visit.
July 4, 2026
DocumentsJapan is replacing the traditional health insurance card with the My Number Card. As an international resident, understanding how マイナ保険証 works — and what happens if you choose not to switch — can save you time and confusion at the hospital.
June 26, 2026
BenefitsJapan's health insurance includes a monthly cap on what you pay out of pocket. For pregnant women and new parents, knowing how it works — and when it applies — can mean saving tens of thousands of yen on a C-section, a pregnancy complication, or a NICU stay.
June 26, 2026
PregnancyMiscarriage is more common than many people realize — around 1 in 7 recognized pregnancies. This guide covers the 4 official types used in Japan, how they are diagnosed, what surgical treatment involves, and what the statistics say about future pregnancies.
June 14, 2026
PregnancyJapan's standard prenatal check-ups include 8 infection screening tests — most done at the first visit. Here is what each test looks for, when it happens, and what a positive result means for your pregnancy.
June 14, 2026
PregnancyJapan's Maternity Mark (マタニティマーク) signals to people around you that you are pregnant and may need a seat or some consideration. Here is what it is, where to get one, and how to use it as an international resident.
June 13, 2026
BenefitsA clear guide to 産休 (maternity leave) and 育休 (parental leave) in Japan — how long each lasts, how much you get paid, the 2025 bonus for fathers, and whether international families qualify.
June 9, 2026
PregnancyPregnant in Japan and not sure what to do next? This step-by-step guide covers your first OB/GYN visit, getting your boshi techo, prenatal checkup vouchers, what to avoid, and your rights at work.
June 9, 2026
PregnancyPrenatal testing in Japan — routine ultrasounds, NIPT, and amniocentesis explained. What each test involves, when it's done, and how much it costs.
June 8, 2026
DocumentsHow to get Japan's Boshi Techou (Mother and Child Health Handbook) free from your city hall — multilingual PDF downloads, digital version, and what it records.
June 9, 2020 · Updated: May 17, 2026
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