Shibecha Town: child medical expense subsidy
In Shibecha Town, Hokkaido, the child medical expense subsidy covers outpatient care until school entry (age 6) and inpatient care through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 12 (end of elementary school). Income limit: none. Co-payment: yes. (As of April 1, 2025, Children and Families Agency survey.)
Shibecha Town does not meet coverage through age 18 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)
- Until school entry(April 1, 2025)
- Covered until (Inpatient)
- Age 12(April 1, 2025)
- Income limit
- No(April 1, 2025)
- Co-payment
- Yes(April 1, 2025)
- Coverage through age 18
- No (outpatient to Until school entry, inpatient to Age 12)(April 1, 2025)
- Population
- 6,836(Resident register, 2024)
- Share under 15
- 11.9%(2020 census)
For applications, refunds and visits outside the prefecture, check the official website of Shibecha Town.
Child medical expense subsidy
| Item | Outpatient | Inpatient |
|---|---|---|
| Covered until | Until school entry until school entry (age 6) | Age 12 through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 12 (end of elementary school) |
| Income limit | No | No |
| Co-payment | Yes | Yes |
No change since April 1, 2024
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 Shibecha Town subsidize child medical expenses?
Outpatient care is covered until school entry (age 6) and inpatient care through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 12 (end of elementary school) (as of April 1, 2025).
A co-payment is charged at the counter.
Are high school students covered in Shibecha Town?
No. Outpatient care is covered until school entry (age 6) and inpatient care through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 12 (end of elementary school).
Does Shibecha Town apply an income limit?
No (as of April 1, 2025).
Do the conditions differ between outpatient and inpatient care in Shibecha Town?
Yes. Outpatient care is covered until school entry (age 6) (income limit: no; co-payment: yes); inpatient care is covered through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 12 (end of elementary school) (income limit: no; co-payment: yes).
Has Shibecha Town changed its conditions since last year?
No. The national surveys as of April 1, 2024 and April 1, 2025 record the same conditions.
How does Shibecha Town compare with other municipalities in Hokkaido?
Shibecha Town does not meet coverage through age 18 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 Shibecha Town, 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: Mukawa Town, Abira Town, Esashi Town (枝幸町), Shiranuka Town, Setana Town, Esashi Town (江差町), Takasu Town, Ozora Town
Nursery and after-school club waiting lists in Shibecha Town
Shibecha Town had 0 children on the nursery waiting list as of April 1, 2026 (136 applicants, 136 enrolled; 0 waiting a year earlier). After-school clubs had 0 children waiting as of May 1, 2026 (preliminary; 82 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 | 136 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| Children enrolled in nurseries | 136 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| After-school club waiting list | 0 | May 1, 2026 (prelim.) |
| After-school club registrations | 82 | 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 Shibecha Town
Shibecha Town has 14 urban parks (65.2 ha), or 162.9 m² per resident (Rank 7 of 179 in Hokkaido). It has 1 libraries, 7 community centers, 5 nursery schools and 6 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 | 14 | Rank 59 of 179 in Hokkaido | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area | 65.2 ha | — | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area per residentDivided by the population of the city-planning area (MLIT's calculation) | 162.9 m² | Rank 7 of 179 in Hokkaido | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Libraries | 1 | Rank 53 of 179 in Hokkaido | 2021 |
| Community centers | 7 | — | 2021 |
| Nursery schools | 5 | Rank 13 of 179 in Hokkaido | 2023 |
| Kindergartens | 0 | — | 2024 |
| Elementary schools | 6 | — | 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 Shibecha Town
- PopulationResident register, 2024
- 6,836Rank 69 of 179 in Hokkaido2024
- Share under 15
- 11.9%Rank 28 of 179 in Hokkaido2020 census
- Share 65 and over
- 34.2%2020 census
- Share of foreign residents
- 1.3%2020 census
- Net migration (move-ins minus move-outs)2024. A positive number means more people moved in than moved out
- -75Rank 107 of 179 in Hokkaido2024
- Births per 1,000 residents
- 4.8Rank 52 of 179 in Hokkaido2023
- Nursery schools
- 52023
- Nursery schools per 1,000 children under 15
- 5.81Rank 13 of 179 in Hokkaido2023
- Kindergartens
- 02024
- Elementary schools
- 62024
- Doctors per 10,000 residents
- 4.4Rank 152 of 179 in Hokkaido2022
- Clinics per 10,000 residents
- 1.52023
- General hospitals
- 12023
- Owner-occupied homes
- —2023
- Floor area per dwelling
- —2023
- Fiscal strength indexAbove 1 means local tax revenue covers standard spending
- 0.23Rank 90 of 179 in Hokkaido2022
- Restaurants
- 412021
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shibecha Town | 6,836 | Until school entry | No | Yes / Yes | 0 |
| Mukawa Town | 7,221 | Age 18 | Yes | Yes / Yes | 1 |
| Abira Town | 7,214 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Esashi Town (枝幸町) | 7,199 | Until school entry | Yes | Yes / Yes | 0 |
| Shiranuka Town | 7,003 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Setana Town | 6,730 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Esashi Town (江差町) | 6,607 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Takasu Town | 6,463 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Ozora Town | 6,441 | 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.