Children's Healthcare and Vaccinations in Japan

Pediatric care in Japan’s health system

Children in Japan receive healthcare through the same insurance system as adults, with important additional subsidies that make pediatric care very affordable. The primary specialty for children’s health is shōnika (小児科, pediatrics). Most communities have dedicated pediatric clinics, and larger hospitals have pediatric departments.

After your child is enrolled in health insurance — typically as a dependent under a parent’s NHI or shakai hoken — and you have registered the birth at the municipal office, the next step is applying for the child medical expense subsidy (子ども医療費助成, kodomo iryōhi josei). This subsidy is administered by each municipality and covers the standard 30% copayment for medical care, effectively making most pediatric visits free or nearly free for eligible children.

Finding a pediatrician

Selecting a primary pediatric clinic early — before your child is ill — gives you a regular provider who knows your child’s history. A shōnika clinic provides routine check-ups, vaccinations, and management of common childhood illnesses. For anything requiring specialist input (cardiology, neurology, orthopedics), the pediatric clinic will provide referrals.

Finding a pediatrician with English capability can be done through the same channels as finding other English-speaking doctors: JNTO’s directory, expat community forums, and prefectural hospital language support lists.

Japan’s childhood vaccination schedule

Japan’s routine vaccination (定期接種, teiki sesshu) schedule begins at two months of age. All routine vaccines are provided free of charge through the municipal vaccination program. To access them:

1. Contact your municipal office or check online for the local vaccination schedule and designated vaccination sites
2. Use the vaccination coupons (予防接種予診票) provided by the municipal office — these must be presented at each vaccination appointment
3. Bring your boshi kenkō techō to record every vaccination

Key vaccines in the routine schedule (as of 2024 update):

• BCG (tuberculosis): given at 5 months
• 4-in-1 (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, inactivated polio): starting at 2 months
• Hepatitis B: starting at 2 months
• Hib: starting at 2 months
• Pneumococcal (PCV): starting at 2 months
• Measles-rubella (MR): 1st dose at 12 months, 2nd dose between 5–6 years
• Varicella (chickenpox): 2 doses starting at 12 months
• Japanese encephalitis: 2 doses starting at 3 years
• HPV: for 12–16 year olds as a routine vaccine (after being paused; now actively recommended again)

Voluntary vaccines (任意接種, nin’i sesshu) — including influenza, meningococcal, and hepatitis A — are recommended but not part of the free routine schedule; these are self-pay at the standard copayment.

Mandated health examinations

The Japanese government mandates three publicly funded health examinations for young children: at 3–4 months, 18 months, and 3 years. These are conducted through the municipal public health center or in partnership with pediatric clinics. They cover:

• Anthropometric measurements plotted on growth curves
• Developmental milestone screening (motor, language, social development)
• Medical examination for congenital conditions
• Dental check (from 18 months onward)
• Parental health and wellbeing screening

Bring your boshi kenkō techō to every health examination. The examiner records results directly in the handbook.

Pediatric emergencies

For pediatric emergencies outside regular clinic hours, the same after-hours system applies as for adults — call 119 for serious emergencies, or #7119 to assess severity. Some municipalities designate specific pediatric emergency clinics (小児救急, shōni kyūkyū) on evenings and weekends with pediatric staff.

Last reviewed: September 2026