Tokyo Babysitter Subsidy 2026: Up to ¥2,500 an Hour, with Drop-in Care and Family Support Prices in 5 Wards

This page explains public subsidies in general terms. Conditions and application deadlines are set by each ward and by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, so ask your ward office or the contact listed for each program before you apply.

Tokyo’s babysitter subsidy (the “temporary childcare support program”) covers up to ¥2,500 per hour (¥3,500 from 22:00 to 7:00) for any reason, up to 144 hours a year per child. Children who attend nursery school and families on childcare leave are also eligible. You do not apply in advance. You apply to your ward after you use the service.

Besides babysitters, there are drop-in childcare services at nurseries and similar places, and Family Support (a neighborhood helper matching service, “Famisapo”). Setagaya’s “Hot Stay” and Family Support for preschool children are free of charge, and drop-in childcare facilities in Adachi and Ota cost ¥500 per hour. This page compares 5 wards (Setagaya, Nerima, Edogawa, Adachi and Ota) by eligible age, hourly price, and registration and application deadlines.

In short

Babysitter subsidy: ¥2,500 per hour (¥3,500 at night) and 144 hours a year per child, the same in all 5 wards.
What differs by ward: eligible age, and prices for drop-in childcare and Family Support.
Free: Setagaya’s Hot Stay and Family Support for preschoolers. Edogawa covers the first 50 babysitter hours of the year in full.
Final deadlines for the 2026 fiscal year are April 12, 2027 (Setagaya) and April 15, 2027 (Nerima, Edogawa, Adachi and Ota).

Checked with official pages on November 1, 2026 (Japan time). Prices and hours may change.

1. Babysitter subsidy, drop-in childcare and Family Support prices in 5 Tokyo wards

The babysitter subsidy is up to ¥2,500 per hour (¥3,500 from 22:00 to 7:00) and up to 144 hours a year per child in all 5 wards. What differs by ward is the eligible age and the prices for drop-in childcare and Family Support.

Ward	Babysitter subsidy: ages	Drop-in childcare at facilities	Family Support (per hour)
Setagaya	Up to 3rd grade of elementary school	Hot Stay: no cost to parents	Free for preschoolers, ¥500 for elementary school pupils (from October)
Nerima	Up to 3rd grade	Infant drop-in care: ¥1,500 for 3 hours (¥2,000 for age 0)	¥900 on weekdays, ¥1,000 on weekends and holidays
Edogawa	Preschoolers (the first 50 hours are fully subsidized)	Some nurseries are free (up to 5 times a month)	¥800 (14 hours a year are free)
Adachi	Preschoolers and 1st and 2nd graders on an after-school club waiting list	Temporary childcare ¥500 per hour	¥500 on weekday daytime, ¥800 on weekends and holidays
Ota	Preschoolers	Kids na Room ¥500 per hour	¥800 on weekday daytime, ¥900 at other times

For children with disabilities, the babysitter subsidy extends up to 6th grade in 4 wards (all except Adachi). The yearly cap rises to 288 hours for single-parent families, multiple births and children with disabilities in the 4 wards, and for multiple births only in Adachi.

2. Tokyo’s babysitter subsidy has two types: open to everyone, and for waiting-list families

The “temporary childcare support program” can be used for any reason, including by children who attend nursery school or kindergarten and by families on childcare leave. It is a scheme in which Tokyo Metropolitan Government pays part of the cost that wards and cities cover, and all 5 wards are on the list of participating wards and cities. The subsidy cap per child is ¥2,500 per hour from 7:00 to 22:00 and ¥3,500 from 22:00 to 7:00. Babysitter support program (temporary childcare support), Tokyo Bureau of Social Welfare (Japanese)

The subsidy covers only the fee for “pure childcare” provided by a Tokyo-certified operator. Enrollment fees, membership fees, transport, cancellation fees, insurance and diaper costs are not covered, and neither are housework help or taking siblings to and from nursery or school. The appendix to the Tokyo subsidy rules sets the caps and 144 hours a year (288 hours for children with disabilities, single-parent families and multiple births). FY2026 subsidy rules for temporary childcare support (PDF) (Japanese)

For use from October 1, 2026, one sitter can look after up to 2 siblings aged 1 or over and still qualify. The sitter must be a licensed nursery teacher or nurse, the place must be your home, and both the parent (in writing) and the operator must agree. Children aged 0 are not included.

The other type, the “operator partnership type”, is for families such as those whose children could not get into a nursery. With a subsidy voucher, you can use a sitter for ¥150 per hour at any time of day. It can be used Monday to Saturday from 7:00 to 22:00, up to 11 hours a day and 220 hours a month with a standard childcare certification. Tokyo and the ward pay most of the fee billed by the operator, and because the subsidy is non-taxable income you do not need to file a tax return. Babysitter support program (operator partnership type), Tokyo Bureau of Social Welfare (Japanese)

On Tokyo’s list (updated September 8, 2026), Setagaya, Ota, Adachi and Edogawa offer the operator partnership type, and Nerima is not on the list.

3. Setagaya: Hot Stay is free for parents, and Family Support is free for preschoolers

From April 2026, Setagaya made some drop-in childcare free for all households with its own funds, including Hot Stay and nursery drop-in care. Hot Stay is childcare for any reason, such as a hair salon visit or a class, for children from 4 months old up to preschool age. Registration and cancellation fees may apply depending on each facility’s rules. Drop-in care at ward-run nurseries is free from 8:30 to 17:00, and at private nurseries and others it is free up to 8 hours a day. Types of drop-in childcare and fee reductions (Setagaya) and Hot Stay drop-in childcare (both Japanese)

The Family Support Center’s honorarium changed for activities from October 1, 2026: free for preschoolers, and ¥500 per hour for 1st to 6th graders. The half price for a second sibling no longer applies, and the amount is set per child. A user member is a parent living in the ward with a child from 5 months old to 6th grade. It is short-term care, in principle up to 3 hours for age 0 and up to 4 hours for age 1 and over. Cancelling after 17:00 the day before costs ¥800. Changes to the starting age in April 2026 and the honorarium in October (Setagaya) (Japanese)

The babysitter subsidy (temporary childcare support) is for children up to 3rd grade (up to 6th grade for children with disabilities), with no advance application. After use, you gather the breakdown sheet, the requirements certificate, the receipt and the statement and apply online. The deadlines are quarterly: January 14, 2027 for use from October to December, and April 12, 2027 for the final one (use from January to March). The ward office does not accept applications, and the contact is the contractor Adecco (03-4455-5321). Setagaya babysitter support program (temporary childcare support) (Japanese)

The operator partnership type began in April 2026. It is for parents of children on a waiting list and parents whose childcare leave has ended, and families using night-time childcare are not eligible in Setagaya. Of the regular fee of ¥2,460 per hour, the ward and Tokyo pay ¥2,310, and the user pays ¥150. You get an account at the counter in the Second Annex of the ward office, applying at least 10 days (excluding weekends and holidays) before you start. Setagaya babysitter support program (operator partnership type) (Japanese)

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4. Nerima: “Piyopiyo” drop-in care starts at ¥1,500 for 3 hours

At Nerima’s infant drop-in care “Piyopiyo”, one unit (3 hours) costs ¥1,500 for age 1 and over and ¥2,000 for age 0. You can leave your child for any reason. It is for children who live in the ward, from 6 months old to before elementary school. It runs at 5 places (Nerima Piyopiyo on the 4th floor of Coconeri, Hikarigaoka, Seki, Oizumi and Nukui). Before using it you need a parent-and-child interview and registration at one of the facilities (by phone appointment, about 30 minutes). One “childcare start support ticket” covers one unit. Infant drop-in care (Nerima) (Japanese)

Family Support costs ¥900 per hour on weekdays and ¥1,000 on weekends, holidays and the year-end and New Year period, from 7:00 to 20:00. User members are parents of children from 58 days old to 6th grade, and you join by online application or by post. “Famisapo Home”, which looks after children at 6 health consultation centers in the ward, runs from 9:00 to 17:00 for ¥900 per hour, and you can book from 9:00 on the same date 2 months before. Family Support program (Nerima) and Famisapo Home (both Japanese)

The babysitter subsidy is for children up to 3rd grade (up to 6th grade for children with disabilities), for a wide range of reasons such as a parent’s overtime, illness, a break or school events. The deadline is around the 15th of each month, and the final one is April 15, 2027 (must arrive by then). Online applications need a My Number card and the “xID” smartphone app, and you can also apply by post. The contact is the contractor’s call center (0120-221-266, weekdays 9:00 to 17:00). Babysitter support program (temporary childcare support), Nerima (Japanese)

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5. Edogawa: the first 50 babysitter hours are fully subsidized

Edogawa’s babysitter subsidy fully covers the childcare fee for the first 50 hours of the fiscal year. After 50 hours, the cap of ¥2,500 per hour (¥3,500 at night) applies. It is for preschoolers (up to 6th grade if the disability requirement is met), 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with no daily or monthly hour limit. With 2 children, each child has 144 hours, and siblings cannot share leftover hours. Applications are due on the 10th and 25th of each month, and the final one is April 15, 2027 (must arrive by then). The ward also publishes a table comparing certified operators (as of October 1, 2026). FY2026 babysitter support program (temporary childcare support), Edogawa (Japanese)

Drop-in childcare at nurseries and similar places takes preschool children for any reason, such as a hospital visit, a wedding or funeral, or a break. Prices differ by facility, and some facilities are free thanks to a ward subsidy, for up to 5 times a month per child (across facilities combined). You must register at the facility in advance. Temporary childcare (Edogawa) (Japanese)

The Family Support Center’s fee is ¥800 per hour per child from 8:00 to 19:00, Monday to Saturday, and ¥900 at other times and on Sundays, holidays and the year-end and New Year period. From April 2026, 14 hours a year per requesting member are free, and you get back the fee you paid by applying (the deadline for FY2026 is April 2, 2027). A requesting member must live or work in the ward. To join, you watch an explanation video and apply by post or online, or attend a registration briefing held on the third Wednesday of each month. What is the Family Support Center (Edogawa) and How to become a requesting member (both Japanese)

Edogawa Family Support Center: introduction for requesting members (Edogawa City official YouTube)

For the operator partnership type for waiting-list families, the ward subsidizes the childcare part of the ¥150-per-hour user fee by up to ¥33,000 a month more. It is for children born on or after April 2, 2023, and you apply every 2 months. Fee subsidy for the operator partnership type (Edogawa) (Japanese)

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6. Adachi: temporary childcare and care support both start at ¥500 per hour

Adachi’s temporary childcare costs ¥500 per hour per child for any reason (meals and snacks are extra), and you can leave your child by the hour. It is for preschool children of families raising them at home. Every facility needs a reservation in advance, and ward-run nurseries take phone reservations from the 1st of the month before the day you want. For pre-registration at the 14 ward-run nurseries, you register provisionally on the ward website and then have an interview. Temporary childcare (Adachi) (Japanese)

The “child care and escort support program”, where a supporter looks after a child at your home or theirs, is for families with children from age 0 to elementary school. It costs ¥500 per hour on weekdays from 8:00 to 18:00 and ¥800 on weekends, holidays, early mornings and nights. There is a yearly registration fee of ¥2,400, and booking is in principle 3 days ahead. Child care and escort support program (Adachi) (Japanese)

The Adachi Family Support Center is run by the Adachi Council of Social Welfare under contract with the ward. Prices are again ¥500 per hour on weekdays from 8:00 to 18:00 and ¥800 at other times, and ¥500 per trip for escort only. User members are parents (living or working in the ward) of children from 6 months old to elementary school age, and you must attend a registration briefing. A prior meeting takes 10 days to 2 weeks. Adachi Family Support Center program (Adachi) and Briefing schedule (Adachi Council of Social Welfare) (both Japanese)

The babysitter subsidy is for preschoolers, and from FY2026 also for 1st and 2nd graders who are on a waiting list for an after-school club. The cap is 144 hours a year per child, rising to 288 hours for multiple births. Monthly use is totaled separately for daytime and night, with periods under 1 hour dropped. The application deadline is around the 15th of the month after use, and the final one is April 15, 2027. Babysitter support program (temporary childcare support), Adachi (Japanese)

For the operator partnership type for waiting-list families, the ward subsidizes the ¥150-per-hour user fee further so it is free, and also covers the sitter’s transport up to ¥20,000 a month. A condition is that you wrote at least 2 nurseries on your nursery application. Babysitter support program (waiting-list support), Adachi (Japanese)

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7. Ota: Kids na Room costs ¥500 per hour, and Family Support starts at 6:00

Ota’s drop-in childcare room “Kids na Room Omori” costs ¥500 per hour (¥250 for a second and later child in the same household), and you can leave your child for any reason. It is for children living in the ward from 5 months old to before school age, Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 18:00. Before first use you visit to register, and reservations by phone or fax open from the 1st of the month before the day you want (on the 1st, 9:00 to 10:00, online applications are also accepted). On September 24, 2026 it moved to the 4th floor of Smile Omori (4-6-7 Omorikita). Temporary childcare room “Kids na Room Omori” (Ota) (Japanese)

Drop-in care is also available at more than 20 places, including Kids na Room Rokugo, Haginaka children’s center and nurseries. Prices and ages differ by facility. Facilities offering drop-in childcare (Ota) (Japanese)

The honorarium for Family Support Ota is ¥800 per hour on weekdays from 9:00 to 17:00 and ¥900 at other times, and you can use it from 6:00 to 22:00. User members live or work in the ward and are parents of a child from 4 months old to about 12 years old (elementary school). To join, you watch the explanation video on the ward’s official YouTube (about 10 minutes) and then send or bring the application form and the viewing confirmation form to the Omori office. Family Support Ota (Ota) (Japanese)

Registration guide for user members of Family Support Ota (Ota City official YouTube)

The babysitter subsidy is for preschoolers (up to the end of the fiscal year in which a child with disabilities turns 12). If you moved in during the fiscal year, hours used in your previous municipality count toward the 144 hours. Apply around the 15th of the month after use, and the final deadline is April 15, 2027 (must arrive by then). The contact is the call center (0120-462-887, weekdays 9:00 to 17:00). Ota babysitter support program (temporary childcare support) (Japanese)

Ota’s operator partnership type is for children who were put on a waiting list for 0 to 2-year-old classes, and the user fee is ¥150 per hour. For households paying resident tax, that share is also subsidized up to ¥33,000 a month (¥24,000 for short-hours childcare certification). Guide to the babysitter support program (Ota) (Japanese)

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8. What differs among the 5 wards before you use the babysitter subsidy or drop-in care

Even with the same Tokyo subsidy, Setagaya and Nerima cover up to 3rd grade, while Edogawa, Adachi and Ota focus on preschoolers, and application deadlines and contacts differ by ward.

In many wards, babysitter subsidy applications are handled not by the ward office but by a contractor’s office or call center. Setagaya says its ward counters do not accept application documents.

Even with a certified operator’s sitter, childcare by a person who cannot issue Tokyo’s requirements certificate is not subsidized. When you sign a contract, tell them you want to use the temporary childcare support program and choose a sitter who can issue the certificate. Requests through matching services are not covered, and Tokyo notes that Kidsline requires a separate contract.

For drop-in childcare, Adachi’s ward-run nurseries and Ota’s Kids na Room Omori take reservations from the 1st of the month before the day you want. Ota asks that enquiries about openings on the 1st of the month wait until the next day or later. Family Support needs a prior meeting with a supporting member, and Adachi says arranging it takes 10 days to 2 weeks.

9. If your child has a fever, drop-in care and Family Support may not take them

Some drop-in facilities and Family Support cannot take a sick child. Nerima’s Piyopiyo does not accept children with illness, and Ota’s Kids na Room Omori cannot take children on days when they have a fever or feel unwell. Edogawa’s and Adachi’s Family Support also cannot help when a child is sick. For the babysitter subsidy, Setagaya and Ota include the extra fee for caring for sick or recovering children among the subsidized costs. For phone consultations and night-time clinics when a child suddenly runs a fever at night, see our page on what to do when a child has a fever at night in Tokyo (Japanese).

Common questions

Can I use the babysitter subsidy if my child attends nursery school?

Yes. The temporary childcare support program does not depend on childcare certification. Setagaya, Edogawa and Adachi say children who attend nursery school or kindergarten and families on childcare leave are also eligible.

With 2 siblings, can we share 288 hours?

No. The cap is 144 hours per child, and Edogawa says siblings cannot share leftover hours. The cap is 288 hours for children from multiple births, children with disabilities and single-parent families, and in Adachi only for multiple births.

I am also thinking about a nursery place starting in April

The operator partnership type for waiting-list families is for households that applied to a nursery and were put on a waiting list. For application deadlines, see our page on nursery entry in April 2027 in Tokyo’s 23 wards (Japanese).

Sources

29 pages we checked

Checked with official pages on November 1, 2026 (Japan time).

1. Babysitter subsidy, drop-in childcare and Family Support prices in 5 Tokyo wards

2. Tokyo’s babysitter subsidy has two types: open to everyone, and for waiting-list families

3. Setagaya: Hot Stay is free for parents, and Family Support is free for preschoolers

4. Nerima: “Piyopiyo” drop-in care starts at ¥1,500 for 3 hours

5. Edogawa: the first 50 babysitter hours are fully subsidized

6. Adachi: temporary childcare and care support both start at ¥500 per hour

7. Ota: Kids na Room costs ¥500 per hour, and Family Support starts at 6:00

8. What differs among the 5 wards before you use the babysitter subsidy or drop-in care

9. If your child has a fever, drop-in care and Family Support may not take them

Can I use the babysitter subsidy if my child attends nursery school?

With 2 siblings, can we share 288 hours?

I am also thinking about a nursery place starting in April

Sources

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