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家Chapter 06 · Family

The Japanese school system

Enroll your kids and handle school life, step by step

Verified by Keigo · June 23, 2026Source: MEXT · 外国人の子供の就学 ↗5 steps

Enrolling your child in a Japanese public school

Public elementary & junior high are tuition-free for foreign children. Not compulsory for non-citizens — but you have the right to enrol.

  1. 1

    Register your move at the city office

    Bring everyone's residence cards. Registering your address is what starts the school process.

  2. 2

    Apply at the board of education

    Submit a school-enrollment application. They assign your designated school by your home address (school district).

  3. 3

    Bring the documents

    Child's & parents' 在留カード, 住民票, proof of address; for a mid-year transfer, the previous school's records.

  4. 4

    Grade placement

    The school year starts in April; your child's grade is set by their age as of April 1.

  5. 5

    Budget for the non-tuition costs

    Tuition is free, but plan for school lunch (給食費 ~¥4,000–5,000/mo), supplies and materials (教材費).

After-school care (学童 / 放課後児童クラブ)

Full daysin long holidays (summer)Autumn–winterapply for April

Public

学童
Run by the ward · apply at the ward office
~¥4,000 – ¥7,000 /mo
Open until ~6:00 PM–7:00 PM
  • Same application window as nursery
  • Proof both parents work is usually needed
  • Summer-holiday slots fill fast

Private

民間学童
Private-sector clubs
Pricier
Open until ~8:00 PM–9:00 PM
  • Some with English
  • Costs more than the ward's 学童

For elementary kids of working parents. Exact steps & documents vary — confirm with your city.

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Enrolling Your Child in a Japanese School

How to enroll your child in school in Japan as a foreign family — public vs private, procedures and support.

Already picked your child's school? The map below is mostly useful before enrollment. For daily teacher comms (renrakucho communication notebook, absence notices, parent-teacher meetings), the AI letter writer is what you actually want.

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For elementary kids of working parents: care after school until ~6–7pm, and full days during long holidays (summer). Public 学童 run by the ward (~¥4,000–7,000/mo) and private 民間学童 (pricier, some with English). Apply at the ward office — April places are advertised the previous autumn–winter (same window as nursery); proof both parents work is usually needed, and summer-holiday slots fill fast.

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