Applies to 3-5 year olds

From October 2019, all children aged 3 years to 5 years will be able to attend kindergarten and day care centers for free. Children aged 0 to 2 years from families in low income brackets who are not charged resident taxes (hikazei setai) will also be free.

 

Fees for lunches and snacks still apply

Actual costs for centers to provide school lunch and snacks will apply, except for the 3rd child in approved families. Transport fees related to center pick-up and drop-off still apply, as do fees for excursions, etc. Lunch fees vary from facility to facility, so please enquire directly at the center you use.

Fee System from October, 3-5 year olds:

 

 

This is a new service linking the west exit of Takasaki Station with restaurants and stores that are less accessible on foot. The “Omise Gururin Taxi” will run continuous circuits from 10am to 6pm daily. To hail the driver, just raise your hand. You can get on or off anywhere along the route.

Route: See map below

Cost: Free

 

 

Takasaki, Ta-machi 71, 2nd Floor

This center for families raising children and prospective parents offers useful information and advice in a range of related issues.

Child raising consultations & playroom

Staffed by public health nurses, childcare workers and educational experts, parents can access information and ask questions about raising their children. Principals of local nursery schools and kindergartens are available on a daily basis to give advice. The playroom has blocks and other simple toys where children can play freely or take a rest.

Open: Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-6pm. Closed public holidays.

Jobseeker help desk for parents

This desk offers information on job vacancies and training programs for parents looking to get back into the workforce.

Open: Tuesday-Friday, 10am-5pm. Closed public holidays.

Childcare Center “Kashinoki”

Provides childcare for children so parents can have some “me” time, attend to personal business, do the shopping, etc. Long-term or regular use is not possible.

Open: Everyday, 7:30am-10pm.

Age: 6 months-grade 3 elementary school children

Cost: 300 yen per hour

To use: Registration in advance is necessary.

 

 

The Kurabuchi Kodomo Observatory opened in March in Kurabuchi Mizunuma Park. The Observatory is home to a Mitaka 30cm astronomical telescope, allowing children (and adults!) to enjoy the beautiful starry sky of Kurabuchi. The telescope once belonged to the City Youth Science Center and was located in Suehiro-cho, but it fell out of use when it’s protective casing was damaged in the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake. It’s new home of Kurabuchi Mizunuma Park also has a soccer field and a trail run and is close to the popular hot springs of Aimagawa Onsen.

Observatory Hours: 7pm-9:30pm in April and May (times vary according to the season). Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Address: Kurabuchi-machi Mizunuma 2930

Entrance: Free

Website (Japanese) 

 

 

TELL offers a free, anonymous and confidential English-language telephone and chat service throughout Japan every day of the year.

• Safe, confidential space to discuss any issue
• Staffed by highly trained volunteers committed to providing emotional support, resources and connections.

Need to talk? We’re here to listen. Contact us from anywhere in Japan.

 

 

TELL Lifeline: 03-5774-0992

9am-11pm, 365 days a year

 

TELL Chat: telljp.com

Saturday 10:30pm-Sunday 9am

 

 

Children who are sick or recovering from illness can be cared for while parents work at the following special daycare centers in Takasaki. Prior registration is required. To use the service, please contact each individual facility to make a reservation.

 

Sugi-no-ko Noa (Kami-Nakai-machi)

TEL: 027-384-2686

Open: Monday-Friday,  8:15am-5:30pm.

Accepts: Children from 1 year of age up to elementary 3rd grade.

Maximum children per day: 7

Cost: Between 100 yen and 200 yen an hour, depending on symptoms.

Reservations: Call between 8am-5:30pm

 

Kame-san (Yanagawa-cho)

TEL: 027-329-7505

Open: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:30pm

Accepts: Children from 1 year of age to elementary school age

Maximum children per day: 5

Cost: 2,000 yen/day or 1,000 yen /4 hours

Reservations: Call between 8:30am-5:30pm

 

Arinko (Takamatsu-cho)

TEL: 027-321-1246 (Takasaki City Hall Child Care Division)

Open: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-6pm

Accepts: Children who fulfill all of the following points:

1. Resident of Takasaki
2. Normally attends kindergarten or daycare elsewhere but cannot attend temporarily due to illness or injury
3. Parents are unable to care for the child due to work commitments or their own illness/injury

Maximum children per day: 9

Cost: 2,000 yen/day

Reservations: Call 8:30am-5pm up until the day before, or 8:30-10:30am on the day.

 

Nobi Nobi (Takazeki-machi)

TEL: 027-330-6049

Open: Monday-Friday, 8am-5:45pm

Accepts: Children from 6 months of age to 3rd grade of elementary school

Maximum children per day: 8

Cost: 2,000 yen/day or 1,000 yen /4 hours

Reservations: Call between 8am-5:30pm

 

Aozora (Shimokotori-machi)

TEL: 027-388-8731

Open: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:30pm

Accepts: Children from 1 year of age to 6th grade elementary school

Maximum children per day: 5

Cost: 2,000 yen/day or 1,000 yen /4 hours

Reservations: Call between 8:30am-5:30pm

 

 

Certain certificates issued by Takasaki City can now be obtained by using the multi-function copy machines at convenience stores.

 

What is needed to use the service?

You must have an Individual Number Card. It is a hard plastic card (shown below) with your photo and a computer chip. See the website below for information on how to get one:

https://www.kojinbango-card.go.jp/en/index.html

 

Certificates Available:

• Residence Certificate (juminhyo)  250 yen
• Family Registry (koseki) 400 yen
• Personal Seal Certificate (inkan toroku shomeisho) 250 yen
• Tax certificates (nozei shomeisho, kazei shomeisho) 250 yen

*All prices are 50 yen cheaper to receive at a convenience store than over the counter at city hall or branch offices.

Service Available at: Seven Eleven, Lawson, Family Mart, Circle K Sunkus, Save On, Ministop, etc. that have a multi-function copy machine.

Hours/Days of Use: Every day, 6:30am-11pm (except from 29th December to 3rd January).

 

Have you been refused an apartment for being foreign? Have you been excluded due to cultural differences? If you are experiencing problems like these, please call the Human Rights Bureau in the Ministry of Justice. This service is available in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, etc.

Ministry of Justice Human Rights Hotline

 

0570-090911

 

Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm

*Normal call charges apply

 

One-Stop Center for Families with Children

The Takasaki One-Stop Center for Families with Children is a place where parents can access a wide range of services and facilities including:

• Play room for babies and toddlers equipped with blocks, books and simple toys
• Rest space with diaper changing facilities and a feeding room.
• Consultation desk for parents to talk with pediatric nurses and nursery teachers about children’s development; assistance enrolling in nursery school/kindergarten (Tues-Fri, 10am-6pm, TEL: 027-393-6101).
• Consultation desk for parents wanting to return to the workforce after childcare leave (Tues-Fri, 10am-5pm, TEL: 027-393-6102).
• Childcare room “Kashi-no-ki” babysitting facility for children 6 months-8 years (Everyday 7:30am-10pm, 300 yen/hr, registration necessary TEL: 027-393-6103).

Location: Ta-machi 71, 2nd floor

*No carpark. Use public parking at own expense.

 

 

 Enrolment in Nursery Schools for 2018

Nursery schools (hoikuen) are facilities that take care of children due to parents’ work or other family situations. Enrolment is now open for places in Takasaki from April 2018. To meet requirements, parents must fulfil one of the criteria below:

• Employed for more than 64 hours in a month (4 hours 4 days a week or more).
• Actively seeking employment (child care available for up to 3 months)
• Be A full-time student
• Be Sick or injured themselves
• Caring for an ill or elderly family member
• Have suffered a house fire or the effects of a natural disaster
• A victim of abuse or DV

Applications: Pick up an application package from a Takasaki nursery school. Submit all required paperwork to your first preference nursery school by Friday 20th October 2017. Places will be prioritized following an evaluation process.

More Information: Child Care Division (Hoiku-ka) TEL: 027-321-1246