Did you know Nishinomiya City has a babysitter subsidy program? If you were thinking, “Wait, isn’t that only in Tokyo wards and places like that?” it turns out Nishinomiya’s support is actually just as generous as the Kanto area.
(Info provided by Iroha @ Nishitsu SP)
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So what kind of program is it? In 3 quick lines!
- Who’s eligible: Nishinomiya residents with children from 6 months old to 6th grade
- What it covers: On days when your child can’t attend daycare due to illness or injury, the city subsidizes half the cost of a registered sitter
- Limit: 40,000 yen per year / per child
It actually seems to hold up pretty well compared with Kanto municipalities
| Municipality | Annual limit | Subsidy rate |
|---|---|---|
| Nishinomiya City | 40,000 yen | 50% |
| Adachi Ward | 40,000 yen | 50% |
| Chiyoda Ward | 40,000 yen | 50% |
| Shibuya Ward | 100,000 yen | Hourly-rate system |
“Shibuya is on another level…” but Nishinomiya is on par with Adachi and Chiyoda wards. Pretty surprising to see Nishinomiya standing shoulder to shoulder with them.
What would a typical use case look like?
According to a Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare survey, one fever means an average of 1.8 days off, and many data points show families using this kind of service around 2 to 3 times a year. Even if you use a sitter charging 2,000 yen per hour for 8 hours x 5 days, your out-of-pocket cost of just under 40,000 yen gets cut in half, bringing it to about 20,000 yen. For families with a preschooler who “gets a fever now and then,” this could feel like a big help!
Before using it, keep these 3 points in mind!
- Enrollment fees and transportation costs are not covered
Things like a “3,000 yen registration fee + 1,000 yen transportation cost” are apparently out of pocket. - Siblings are counted separately
For two children, you can receive 40,000 yen x 2 - Applications must be submitted within 6 months after use
You can apply through Nishinomiya Smart Application. Be careful, because if you forget, it becomes invalid.
Eligible providers fall into these 2 categories
- All Japan Childcare Services Association member providers
☎ 03-5363-7455 (Hours: Weekdays 9:00-17:00) - Cabinet Office “Babysitter Dispatch Program” discount ticket handling providers
*As long as the provider matches either one, it’s OK!
*For details on the program, required documents, and more, please check the official Nishinomiya City page.
Finally
As of April 1 this year, Nishinomiya City’s number of children on daycare waiting lists was apparently 76, down 45 from the previous year. It was still the second worst, but things seem to be gradually improving. Since many families raising children are moving to Nishinomiya, we hope to keep sharing programs and systems that may not be widely known yet.
*Iroha @ Nishitsu SP, thank you for the information!!
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