If you and your family have just moved to Tokyo, finding the right Japanese preschool or kindergarten for your child can be a daunting prospect. You’re settling into a new country where English isn’t widely spoken, so it’s natural to wonder whether a local Japanese youchien or an international preschool is the better fit. Should you prioritize Japanese immersion to help your child integrate? Or would a bilingual or English-language environment set them up better for the future? We’ve got you covered.
In this blog, we’ll cover some of the things to look out for when choosing a preschool or daycare in Japan for your child, and we’ll also talk about the preschool and daycare system.
International Preschool vs. Local Youchien (幼稚園) in Japan: Which Is Right for Your Family?
Whether you’ve just welcomed a new addition to your family or recently moved to Japan, one of the first big decisions you’ll face is childcare. Should you go with a local hoikuen or youchien, or opt for an international kindergarten? The answer really depends on your situation, but here’s what you need to know about both.
Understanding the Local Options: Hoikuen and Youchien
Japan has an amazing, high-quality early childhood care. Enrolling your child in local hoikuen (保育園, daycare centers) and youchien (幼稚園, kindergartens) often means they will be educated in Japanese, which means your child will likely pick it up naturally. This is a great way to raise your child into a bilingual individual.
One thing to keep in mind: to enroll in a public hoikuen, at least one parent typically needs to be working, or actively seeking work. There’s a minimum monthly working hours requirement, though this varies by city. If that doesn’t apply to you, private options are available.
A common concern among expat parents is whether their child will lose fluency in their native language.
What we recommend — and what most families do — is to make the home language a firm household rule: Japanese stays at school, your language stays at home.
What About International Kindergartens?
International kindergartens in Japan operate quite differently from hoikuen and youchien. They aren’t regulated in the same way and technically fall under the category of aijien (愛児園). This means the staff and owners are not required to hold childcare licenses. Since the primary language is English (or another language, depending on the school), the language barrier isn’t a concern in the same way it is at local facilities.
The trade-off is that quality and structure can vary significantly from school to school, so it’s worth doing thorough research before committing.
What It’s Actually Like at a Local Hoikuen or Youchien as a Non-Japanese Speaker
It isn’t always easy, but it is doable. One family we know enrolled their son in a hoikuen in Minato-ku without speaking Japanese, and they’ve been there for years. The ward happens to be quite foreigner-friendly, and the teachers made a real effort: attempting English where they could, sending notes that the family translated with Google Translate, and generally going out of their way to be kind and accommodating.
What You Should Look for in a Tokyo Preschool
Ideally, you’ll want to start looking for places a year before you move to Japan, to ensure a smooth transition for your child. Here are some things to consider when choosing a preschool or daycare:
1. English Immersion or Bilingual Education?
When it comes to choosing a daycare or preschool, having multilingual support for your child can be helpful, especially if they don’t have any sort of exposure to the Japanese language beforehand. If you plan to stay in Tokyo for a few years, then a great option is to enroll your child in a preschool that focuses on English immersion or other languages, such as French or Chinese.
However, if you and your family plan to stay in Tokyo long-term, then we recommend that you choose a preschool that offers bilingual education. Not only will your child be exposed to the Japanese language at an early age, but there are so many benefits to raising a bilingual child, such as improved problem-solving skills, creativity, and being able to see and understand many different world perspectives.
2. International Curriculum
One thing to also consider when choosing a preschool or kindergarten is the curriculum. While you can consider enrolling your child in a preschool that follows the Japanese school curriculum, there are also international preschools in Tokyo that offer curricula such as Montessori, International Baccalaureate, or Reggio Emilia. Again, it depends on a variety of factors, such as whether you plan to stay in Japan long-term.
If you’re enrolling your child in an international preschool, it might be helpful to find out whether a school is accredited by organizations such as CIS (Council of International Schools), WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges), and the IB (International Baccalaureate).
3. Cultural Diversity and Global Learning
This might be helpful in choosing a preschool or daycare for your child. Cultural diversity can be beneficial to your child in helping them see the world from different perspectives, as they will be able to meet other children their age from all over the globe. It may also help if the preschool you choose focuses on global learning, especially if the curriculum puts a lot of emphasis on that as well.
4. Facilities
You should also consider what facilities a preschool or kindergarten has, as a stimulating learning environment is important to a child’s development. Look for places that have sufficient areas to allow for activities, play, and learning.
5. Location and accessibility
Especially if you’re not going to own a car and you’re opting to take public transport, location and accessibility is important when choosing a preschool for your child. You’ll also want to consider not just train station access, but also bus routes and how long it takes to get to the place on foot. Not only that, but you’ll need to consider the costs of taking public transport to get to the daycare or preschool, too.
6. Tuition and subsidy eligibility
Another thing to consider is tuition and subsidy eligibility when choosing a preschool or daycare. International preschools tend to have expensive tuition fees, more so than their municipal counterparts, so this is an important consideration to think about when choosing a facility for your child.
There are two types of facilities, each with different costs. For public facilities, the cost to enroll your child depends on your income, while costs for private facilities are decided by the institution.
7. Teacher qualifications and class size
Not only do you want the teachers to be qualified and experienced in early childhood education, but you’ll also want to consider class sizes when researching your options. We recommend finding a preschool or kindergarten with smaller class sizes to ensure that your child receives personalized attention in their development.
Extended childcare hours
Choosing a place with extended childcare hours is important, especially if both parents are working. Daycares or nurseries often have longer operational hours, usually from 7 am to 6 pm, when parents will usually get off from work, whereas kindergartens and preschools have shorter operational hours, usually from 9 am to 2 pm.
However, there is another type of daycare facility that offers not only preschool or kindergarten, but also daycare services as well. These facilities are called Kodomo-en (こども園), but they vary from place to place.
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Difference Between Youchien and Hoikuen: Preschool and Kindergarten System in Japan
In Japan, you’ll see that there are many types of childcare options, but the two main types of childcare facilities you’ll see mentioned online are Youchien (幼稚園), which are kindergartens and preschools, and hoikuen (保育園), which are nurseries and daycares.
The main difference between the two is that youchien are catered to children aged three to six (the age children usually start elementary school) and focus more on education than on childcare. Operational hours are shorter to fit with the school year.
On the other hand, hoikuen focus more on general childcare, and are catered towards infants and children aged zero to six. They tend to have longer operating hours, as hoikuen mainly care for the children of working parents.
To summarize, here’s a comparison between the two childcare options:
| Youchien (幼稚園) | Hoikuen (保育園) | |
| Purpose | Focused on education | Mainly focuses on childcare |
| Age range | Children aged three to six | Infants and children aged zero to six |
| General hours | Shorter operational hours to fit with the regular school year | Longer operational hours to cater to working parents. |
| Enrollment | Depends on whether the facility is a ninka (認可) or mu-ninka (無認可) | Depends on whether the facility is a ninka (認可) or mu-ninka (無認可) |
| Tuition | Kindergarten is free for children aged three to five with subsidies. | Licensed facilities are free for children aged zero to five. |
When can you enroll your children in a kindergarten in Japan?
The enrollment process can depend on the facility. For public facilities, or ninka (認可), enrollment is based on whether both parents are working a certain number of hours a day, and whether the parent applying is on maternity leave. This is because the ninka system prioritizes those who will need daycare services, such as single or working parents. Application is made through your local city hall, and can be submitted year-round, though generally the deadline to submit your application is around November or December.
For private facilities, or mu-ninka (無認可), the enrollment process can vary from facility to facility. Application is made through the facility itself, and can be made year-round. However, be prepared to go through an application process, such as attending open days or even interviews!
How much does it cost to put your children in kindergarten in Japan? Tuition and subsidy eligibility
Tuition can depend on facility to facility. In general, as of September 2025, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has made licensed daycare free for all children aged zero to five, regardless of income or how many children you have. Subsidies for unlicensed daycares (don’t worry, that just means that they have more flexibility on how they are run) may apply, but that depends on facility to facility.
For kindergartens, as of September 2025, kindergarten for children aged three to five has also been subsidized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government by ¥25,700 per month. Specific wards also offer subsidies unique to each ward; for example, Minato Ward offers a ¥100,000 per month subsidy for unlicensed daycares. In order to receive subsidies, you have to apply through your local Ward Office, or kuyakusho (区役所).
List of International Preschools and Kindergartens in Tokyo
Below is a list of recommended international schools and kindergartens in Tokyo. Contact each school to get more information about each program.
1. Ohana International School
This is a preschool that offers a play-based curriculum designed to develop many aspects of a child’s learning, including language skills, gross and fine motor skills, as well as emotional development. After-school programs focused on a range of activities are also available.
| Category | Details |
| Age Range | 15 months old to 5½ years old |
| Location | 3-12-36 Motoazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0046 |
| Tuition Costs | Contact the school for more information |
| Language | All classes are taught in |
2. Tokyo Children’s Garden
Tokyo Children’s Garden not only offers a Reggio Emilia-inspired, play-based curriculum, but bilingual education as well. Through various activities, such as field trips and arts and crafts, children can develop their confidence, social skills, and their curiosity for learning.
| Category | Details |
| Age Range | 18 months to 6 years old |
| Location | 1F, 5-2-9 Minamiazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0047 |
| Tuition Costs | Contact the school for more information |
| Language | All classes are taught in English |
3. Tokyo International School Kindergarten
This kindergarten is affiliated with Tokyo International School, and as such, has a curriculum inspired by the International Baccalaureate. Children are immersed in the English language whilst developing their creativity, critical thinking skills, and social growth.
| Category | Details |
| Age Range | 2 to 6 years old |
| Location | 1F Stanley Electric Head Office Building, 2-9-13 Nakameguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-0061 |
| Tuition Costs | Enrollment fee: JPY 200,000Annual tuition: JPY 1,201,890Daycare (Extended hours): JPY 670 per 30 minutes |
| Language | Classes are taught in English |
4. Tamagawa International Preschool
For parents who want to have their child acquire both the English and Japanese languages, Tamagawa International Preschool offers a bilingual program based on the International Baccalaureate. The school also offers extended childcare and even short-term programs for those staying in Tokyo for a short period of time.
| Category | Details |
| Age Range | 1 to 5 years old |
| Location | 1-17-5, Tsurumaki, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 154-0016 |
| Tuition Costs | Contact the school for more information |
| Language | Classes are taught in English and Japanese |
Final thoughts on choosing between local youchien/hoikuen and international kindergarten in Japan
Finding the right preschool or daycare for your child doesn’t have to be difficult; you just have to find one according to your needs and what you want in your child’s educational development. With the right choice, you can finally relax, not only knowing that your child will be taken care of, but also knowing that your child will have a smooth transition into elementary school later down the line.
Want your child to learn Japanese?
Learning a second language can be beneficial for a child’s development, and what better way to do that than to have them learn Japanese in Japan? With Coto Japanese Academy, we offer specialized courses for kids that focus on grasping a foundation in the Japanese language. Not only do we teach Japanese in small groups, ensuring that your child receives individualized support from our trained teachers, but we also offer field trips around Tokyo for our seasonal courses as well!
For more information on our Kids Courses, contact us by filling out the form below.
FAQ
When should I enroll my child in preschool in Japan?
We recommend enrolling your child in preschool at least one year before you move to Japan, as not only will the transition to your new life be smoother, but also you will ensure that your child’s development will not be disrupted.
How long is childcare leave in Japan?
Childcare Leave in Japan usually lasts from the first eight weeks of a child’s life (assuming that the mother takes maternity leave), up until their first birthday.
Do I need to speak Japanese in order to enroll my child in preschool or daycare?
It depends on the facility, but it’s an added advantage, especially if the facility you’re enrolling in doesn’t have multilingual support.
Can foreign kids go to public school in Japan?
Foreign children can attend public school in Japan if the parents wish to do so.
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