Kitami City: child medical expense subsidy
In Kitami City, Hokkaido, the child medical expense subsidy covers both outpatient and inpatient care through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 18 (end of high-school age). Income limit: yes. Co-payment: yes. (As of April 1, 2025, Children and Families Agency survey.)
In Hokkaido, 150 of 179 municipalities cover outpatient care through age 18, and Kitami City is one of them.
Kitami City does not meet no income limit and no co-payment of the three conditions (coverage through age 18, no income limit, no co-payment). In Hokkaido, 124 of 179 municipalities meet all three.
Municipalities call this program by different names (小児医療費助成, こども医療費助成, 乳幼児医療費助成, 子育て支援医療). This site uses the national survey's term, "child medical expense subsidy".
- Covered until (Outpatient)
- Age 18(April 1, 2025)
- Covered until (Inpatient)
- Age 18(April 1, 2025)
- Income limit
- Yes(April 1, 2025)
- Co-payment
- Yes(April 1, 2025)
- Coverage through age 18
- Yes(April 1, 2025)
- Population
- 110,046(Resident register, 2024)
- Share under 15
- 10.4%(2020 census)
For applications, refunds and visits outside the prefecture, check the official website of Kitami City.
Child medical expense subsidy
| Item | Outpatient | Inpatient |
|---|---|---|
| Covered untilchanged | Age 18 through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 18 (end of high-school age) | Age 18 through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 18 (end of high-school age) |
| Income limit | Yes | Yes |
| Co-payment | Yes | Yes |
Changed since last year
- Outpatient · Covered until
- Age 12 → Age 18
- Inpatient · Covered until
- Age 15 → Age 18
Changes from last year (as of April 1, 2024) to this year (as of April 1, 2025).
Source: Children and Families Agency, Survey on Municipal Child Medical Expense Subsidies (municipal form, attachment 3) (As of April 1, 2025). Last checked September 24, 2026
The national survey records conditions as of April 1 and is published in December. Some municipalities have expanded coverage since then. Confirm the current conditions on the municipality's official website.
Frequently asked questions
Until what age does Kitami City subsidize child medical expenses?
Both outpatient and inpatient care are covered through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 18 (end of high-school age) (as of April 1, 2025).
A co-payment is charged at the counter.
Are high school students covered in Kitami City?
Yes. Both outpatient and inpatient care are covered through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 18 (the end of the third year of high school).
High school students have been covered since April 2025 or earlier.
Does Kitami City apply an income limit?
Yes (as of April 1, 2025).
Do the conditions differ between outpatient and inpatient care in Kitami City?
No. Both are covered through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 18 (end of high-school age); income limit: yes; co-payment: yes.
Has Kitami City changed its conditions since last year?
Yes. Compared with April 1, 2024, the following changed: outpatient age limit, inpatient age limit. See the rows marked "changed" in the table above.
How does Kitami City compare with other municipalities in Hokkaido?
In Hokkaido, 150 of 179 municipalities cover outpatient care through age 18, and Kitami City is one of them.
Kitami City does not meet no income limit and no co-payment of the three conditions (coverage through age 18, no income limit, no co-payment). In Hokkaido, 124 of 179 municipalities meet all three.
If I move out of Kitami City, do the same conditions apply?
No. The subsidy is run by the municipality you live in, so the new municipality's conditions apply. Check its page on this site, and confirm the procedure on that municipality's official website.
Municipalities of similar size in Hokkaido: Tomakomai City, Obihiro City, Kushiro City, Ebetsu City, Otaru City, Chitose City, Muroran City, Iwamizawa City
Nursery and after-school club waiting lists in Kitami City
Kitami City had 0 children on the nursery waiting list as of April 1, 2026 (2,116 applicants, 2,113 enrolled; 0 waiting a year earlier). After-school clubs had 0 children waiting as of May 1, 2026 (preliminary; 1,424 registered).
| Item | Value | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery waiting list | 0 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| Waiting list a year earlier (April 1, 2025) | 0 | Apr 1, 2025 |
| Nursery applicants | 2,116 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| Children enrolled in nurseries | 2,113 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| After-school club waiting list | 0 | May 1, 2026 (prelim.) |
| After-school club registrations | 1,424 | May 1, 2026 (prelim.) |
"Waiting" follows the national definition: applicants not enrolled, excluding those on parental leave, those who want only a specific facility, and those who have paused their job search. Zero does not guarantee a place at a preferred facility. After-school club figures are preliminary and may be revised.
Source: Children and Families Agency, Summary of Nursery Care Status (April 1, 2026) / Children and Families Agency, Status of After-School Clubs (May 1, 2026, preliminary)
Parks, libraries, community centers and nursery schools in Kitami City
Kitami City has 181 urban parks (285.8 ha), or 28.0 m² per resident (Rank 77 of 179 in Hokkaido). It has 8 libraries, 8 community centers, 13 nursery schools and 22 elementary schools.
Urban parks: MLIT inventory as of March 31, 2025. Libraries and community centers: e-Stat, 2021. Nursery and elementary schools: e-Stat.
| Item | Value | Rank in prefecture | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban parks | 181 | Rank 11 of 179 in Hokkaido | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area | 285.8 ha | — | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area per residentDivided by the population of the city-planning area (MLIT's calculation) | 28.0 m² | Rank 77 of 179 in Hokkaido | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Libraries | 8 | Rank 74 of 179 in Hokkaido | 2021 |
| Community centers | 8 | — | 2021 |
| Nursery schools | 13 | Rank 124 of 179 in Hokkaido | 2023 |
| Kindergartens | 7 | — | 2024 |
| Elementary schools | 22 | — | 2024 |
Source: MLIT, Inventory of Urban Parks (end of FY2024, as of March 31, 2025) / e-Stat, Statistical Observations of Municipalities 2026 (Statistics Bureau of Japan)
Population, share of children, net migration and doctors in Kitami City
- PopulationResident register, 2024
- 110,046Rank 8 of 179 in Hokkaido2024
- Share under 15
- 10.4%Rank 61 of 179 in Hokkaido2020 census
- Share 65 and over
- 33.6%2020 census
- Share of foreign residents
- 0.4%2020 census
- Net migration (move-ins minus move-outs)2024. A positive number means more people moved in than moved out
- -410Rank 39 of 179 in Hokkaido2024
- Births per 1,000 residents
- 5.0Rank 36 of 179 in Hokkaido2023
- Nursery schools
- 132023
- Nursery schools per 1,000 children under 15
- 1.08Rank 124 of 179 in Hokkaido2023
- Kindergartens
- 72024
- Elementary schools
- 222024
- Doctors per 10,000 residents
- 22.5Rank 22 of 179 in Hokkaido2022
- Clinics per 10,000 residents
- 5.92023
- General hospitals
- 122023
- Owner-occupied homes
- 59.6%2023
- Floor area per dwelling
- 94.8 m²2023
- Fiscal strength indexAbove 1 means local tax revenue covers standard spending
- 0.44Rank 23 of 179 in Hokkaido2022
- Restaurants
- 5322021
Source: e-Stat, Statistical Observations of Municipalities 2026 (Statistics Bureau of Japan)
"—" means e-Stat has no value for this item (the Housing and Land Survey does not cover towns and villages).
Compare with similar-sized municipalities in Hokkaido
| Municipality | Population | Outpatient until | Income limit | Co-payment (outpatient / inpatient) | Nursery waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitami City | 110,046 | Age 18 | Yes | Yes / Yes | 0 |
| Tomakomai City | 165,590 | Age 18 | No | Yes / Yes | 0 |
| Obihiro City | 160,810 | Age 15 | No | Yes / Yes | 1 |
| Kushiro City | 154,271 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Ebetsu City | 118,055 | Age 15 | No | Yes / Yes | 0 |
| Otaru City | 104,432 | Age 18 | Yes | Yes / Yes | 0 |
| Chitose City | 97,355 | Age 12 | Yes | Yes / Yes | 0 |
| Muroran City | 74,855 | Age 18 | No | Yes / Yes | 0 |
| Iwamizawa City | 74,204 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
Outpatient age limit, income limit and co-payment are the national survey values as of April 1, 2025.
Page updated: . You may quote this table. Please credit Machishirabe and the original survey.