Shiraoi Town: child medical expense subsidy
In Shiraoi Town, 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: none. Co-payment: none. (As of April 1, 2025, Children and Families Agency survey.) There is no out-of-pocket charge for insured care, so it is effectively free.
In Hokkaido, 150 of 179 municipalities cover outpatient care through age 18, and Shiraoi Town is one of them.
Shiraoi Town is one of 124 municipalities in Hokkaido that meet all three conditions: coverage through age 18 for both outpatient and inpatient care, no income limit, and no co-payment.
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
- No(April 1, 2025)
- Co-payment
- No(April 1, 2025)
- Coverage through age 18
- Yes(April 1, 2025)
- Population
- 15,095(Resident register, 2024)
- Share under 15
- 6.8%(2020 census)
For applications, refunds and visits outside the prefecture, check the official website of Shiraoi Town.
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 limitchanged | No | No |
| Co-paymentchanged | No | No |
Changed since last year
- Outpatient · Covered until
- Until school entry → Age 18
- Inpatient · Covered until
- Age 12 → Age 18
- Income limit
- Yes / Yes → No / No
- Co-payment
- Yes / Yes → No / No
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 Shiraoi Town 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).
There is no out-of-pocket charge for insured care, so it is effectively free.
Are high school students covered in Shiraoi Town?
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 Shiraoi Town apply an income limit?
No (as of April 1, 2025).
There was one as of April 1, 2024, but it had been removed as of April 1, 2025.
Do the conditions differ between outpatient and inpatient care in Shiraoi Town?
No. Both are covered through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 18 (end of high-school age); income limit: no; co-payment: no.
Has Shiraoi Town changed its conditions since last year?
Yes. Compared with April 1, 2024, the following changed: outpatient age limit, inpatient age limit, Income limit, Co-payment. See the rows marked "changed" in the table above.
How does Shiraoi Town compare with other municipalities in Hokkaido?
In Hokkaido, 150 of 179 municipalities cover outpatient care through age 18, and Shiraoi Town is one of them.
Shiraoi Town is one of 124 municipalities in Hokkaido that meet all three conditions: coverage through age 18 for both outpatient and inpatient care, no income limit, and no co-payment.
If I move out of Shiraoi 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: Yoichi Town, Shibetsu City, Sunagawa City, Tobetsu Town, Yakumo Town, Betsukai Town, Mori Town, Ashibetsu City
Nursery and after-school club waiting lists in Shiraoi Town
Shiraoi Town had 0 children on the nursery waiting list as of April 1, 2026 (161 applicants, 161 enrolled; 0 waiting a year earlier). After-school clubs had 0 children waiting as of May 1, 2026 (preliminary; 139 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 | 161 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| Children enrolled in nurseries | 161 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| After-school club waiting list | 0 | May 1, 2026 (prelim.) |
| After-school club registrations | 139 | 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 Shiraoi Town
Shiraoi Town has 30 urban parks (207.8 ha), or 138.5 m² per resident (Rank 11 of 179 in Hokkaido). It has 1 libraries, 3 community centers, 2 nursery schools and 4 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 | 30 | Rank 32 of 179 in Hokkaido | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area | 207.8 ha | — | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area per residentDivided by the population of the city-planning area (MLIT's calculation) | 138.5 m² | Rank 11 of 179 in Hokkaido | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Libraries | 1 | Rank 79 of 179 in Hokkaido | 2021 |
| Community centers | 3 | — | 2021 |
| Nursery schools | 2 | Rank 94 of 179 in Hokkaido | 2023 |
| Kindergartens | 1 | — | 2024 |
| Elementary schools | 4 | — | 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 Shiraoi Town
- PopulationResident register, 2024
- 15,095Rank 43 of 179 in Hokkaido2024
- Share under 15
- 6.8%Rank 169 of 179 in Hokkaido2020 census
- Share 65 and over
- 45.8%2020 census
- Share of foreign residents
- 1.2%2020 census
- Net migration (move-ins minus move-outs)2024. A positive number means more people moved in than moved out
- -108Rank 68 of 179 in Hokkaido2024
- Births per 1,000 residents
- 2.5Rank 163 of 179 in Hokkaido2023
- Nursery schools
- 22023
- Nursery schools per 1,000 children under 15
- 1.81Rank 94 of 179 in Hokkaido2023
- Kindergartens
- 12024
- Elementary schools
- 42024
- Doctors per 10,000 residents
- 6.0Rank 128 of 179 in Hokkaido2022
- Clinics per 10,000 residents
- 3.32023
- General hospitals
- 12023
- Owner-occupied homes
- 83.4%2023
- Floor area per dwelling
- 117.5 m²2023
- Fiscal strength indexAbove 1 means local tax revenue covers standard spending
- 0.39Rank 30 of 179 in Hokkaido2022
- Restaurants
- 742021
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shiraoi Town | 15,095 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Yoichi Town | 16,954 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Shibetsu City | 16,440 | Age 15 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Sunagawa City | 15,231 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Tobetsu Town | 15,113 | Age 18 | No | Yes / No | 0 |
| Yakumo Town | 14,514 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Betsukai Town | 13,964 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Mori Town | 13,582 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 2 |
| Ashibetsu City | 11,243 | 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.