Otaru City: child medical expense subsidy
In Otaru 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 Otaru City is one of them.
Otaru 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
- 104,432(Resident register, 2024)
- Share under 15
- 8.2%(2020 census)
For applications, refunds and visits outside the prefecture, check the official website of Otaru 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 Otaru 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 Otaru 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 Otaru City apply an income limit?
Yes (as of April 1, 2025).
Do the conditions differ between outpatient and inpatient care in Otaru 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 Otaru 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 Otaru City compare with other municipalities in Hokkaido?
In Hokkaido, 150 of 179 municipalities cover outpatient care through age 18, and Otaru City is one of them.
Otaru 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 Otaru 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: Obihiro City, Kushiro City, Ebetsu City, Kitami City, Chitose City, Muroran City, Iwamizawa City, Eniwa City
Nursery and after-school club waiting lists in Otaru City
Otaru City had 0 children on the nursery waiting list as of April 1, 2026 (1,213 applicants, 1,193 enrolled; 0 waiting a year earlier). After-school clubs had 0 children waiting as of May 1, 2026 (preliminary; 968 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 | 1,213 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| Children enrolled in nurseries | 1,193 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| After-school club waiting list | 0 | May 1, 2026 (prelim.) |
| After-school club registrations | 968 | 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 Otaru City
Otaru City has 93 urban parks (129.8 ha), or 12.5 m² per resident (Rank 102 of 179 in Hokkaido). It has 1 libraries, 0 community centers, 21 nursery schools and 17 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 | 93 | Rank 17 of 179 in Hokkaido | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area | 129.8 ha | — | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area per residentDivided by the population of the city-planning area (MLIT's calculation) | 12.5 m² | Rank 102 of 179 in Hokkaido | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Libraries | 1 | Rank 103 of 179 in Hokkaido | 2021 |
| Community centers | 0 | — | 2021 |
| Nursery schools | 21 | Rank 79 of 179 in Hokkaido | 2023 |
| Kindergartens | 11 | — | 2024 |
| Elementary schools | 17 | — | 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 Otaru City
- PopulationResident register, 2024
- 104,432Rank 9 of 179 in Hokkaido2024
- Share under 15
- 8.2%Rank 151 of 179 in Hokkaido2020 census
- Share 65 and over
- 40.8%2020 census
- Share of foreign residents
- 0.5%2020 census
- Net migration (move-ins minus move-outs)2024. A positive number means more people moved in than moved out
- -467Rank 44 of 179 in Hokkaido2024
- Births per 1,000 residents
- 3.3Rank 134 of 179 in Hokkaido2023
- Nursery schools
- 212023
- Nursery schools per 1,000 children under 15
- 2.29Rank 79 of 179 in Hokkaido2023
- Kindergartens
- 112024
- Elementary schools
- 172024
- Doctors per 10,000 residents
- 27.8Rank 11 of 179 in Hokkaido2022
- Clinics per 10,000 residents
- 7.32023
- General hospitals
- 112023
- Owner-occupied homes
- 66.3%2023
- Floor area per dwelling
- 95.7 m²2023
- Fiscal strength indexAbove 1 means local tax revenue covers standard spending
- 0.47Rank 19 of 179 in Hokkaido2022
- Restaurants
- 6162021
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otaru City | 104,432 | Age 18 | Yes | 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 |
| Kitami City | 110,046 | 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 |
| Eniwa City | 70,446 | Age 15 | Yes | Yes / Yes | 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.