Sakai Town: child medical expense subsidy
In Sakai Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, the child medical expense subsidy covers both outpatient and inpatient care through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 20. 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 Ibaraki Prefecture, 44 of 44 municipalities cover outpatient care through age 18, and Sakai Town is one of them.
Sakai Town is one of 13 municipalities in Ibaraki Prefecture 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 20(April 1, 2025)
- Covered until (Inpatient)
- Age 20(April 1, 2025)
- Income limit
- No(April 1, 2025)
- Co-payment
- No(April 1, 2025)
- Coverage through age 18
- Yes(April 1, 2025)
- Population
- 24,769(Resident register, 2024)
- Share under 15
- 12.0%(2020 census)
For applications, refunds and visits outside the prefecture, check the official website of Sakai Town.
Child medical expense subsidy
| Item | Outpatient | Inpatient |
|---|---|---|
| Covered until | Age 20 through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 20 | Age 20 through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 20 |
| Income limitchanged | No | No |
| Co-payment | No | No |
Changed since last year
- Income limit
- 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 Sakai Town subsidize child medical expenses?
Both outpatient and inpatient care are covered through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 20 (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 Sakai Town?
Yes. Outpatient care is covered through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 20 and inpatient care through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 20.
Does Sakai 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 Sakai Town?
No. Both are covered through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 20; income limit: no; co-payment: no.
Has Sakai Town changed its conditions since last year?
Yes. Compared with April 1, 2024, the following changed: Income limit. See the rows marked "changed" in the table above.
How does Sakai Town compare with other municipalities in Ibaraki Prefecture?
In Ibaraki Prefecture, 44 of 44 municipalities cover outpatient care through age 18, and Sakai Town is one of them.
Sakai Town is one of 13 municipalities in Ibaraki Prefecture 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 Sakai 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 Ibaraki Prefecture: Namegata City, Ibaraki Town, Itako City, Takahagi City, Yachiyo Town, Shirosato Town, Tone Town, Oarai Town
Nursery and after-school club waiting lists in Sakai Town
Sakai Town had 0 children on the nursery waiting list as of April 1, 2026 (678 applicants, 673 enrolled; 0 waiting a year earlier). After-school clubs had 0 children waiting as of May 1, 2026 (preliminary; 440 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 | 678 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| Children enrolled in nurseries | 673 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| After-school club waiting list | 0 | May 1, 2026 (prelim.) |
| After-school club registrations | 440 | 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 Sakai Town
Sakai Town has 5 urban parks (9.7 ha), or 3.9 m² per resident (Rank 37 of 44 in the prefecture). It has 0 libraries, 2 community centers, 4 nursery schools and 5 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 | 5 | Rank 35 of 44 in the prefecture | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area | 9.7 ha | — | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area per residentDivided by the population of the city-planning area (MLIT's calculation) | 3.9 m² | Rank 37 of 44 in the prefecture | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Libraries | 0 | Rank 44 of 44 in the prefecture | 2021 |
| Community centers | 2 | — | 2021 |
| Nursery schools | 4 | Rank 18 of 44 in the prefecture | 2023 |
| Kindergartens | 2 | — | 2024 |
| Elementary schools | 5 | — | 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 Sakai Town
- PopulationResident register, 2024
- 24,769Rank 36 of 44 in the prefecture2024
- Share under 15
- 12.0%Rank 12 of 44 in the prefecture2020 census
- Share 65 and over
- 29.0%2020 census
- Share of foreign residents
- 3.7%2020 census
- Net migration (move-ins minus move-outs)2024. A positive number means more people moved in than moved out
- +120Rank 3 of 44 in the prefecture2024
- Births per 1,000 residents
- 4.9Rank 16 of 44 in the prefecture2023
- Nursery schools
- 42023
- Nursery schools per 1,000 children under 15
- 1.37Rank 18 of 44 in the prefecture2023
- Kindergartens
- 22024
- Elementary schools
- 52024
- Doctors per 10,000 residents
- 39.6Rank 3 of 44 in the prefecture2022
- Clinics per 10,000 residents
- 4.82023
- General hospitals
- 12023
- Owner-occupied homes
- 73.4%2023
- Floor area per dwelling
- 117.4 m²2023
- Fiscal strength indexAbove 1 means local tax revenue covers standard spending
- 0.67Rank 21 of 44 in the prefecture2022
- Restaurants
- 942021
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 Ibaraki Prefecture
| Municipality | Population | Outpatient until | Income limit | Co-payment (outpatient / inpatient) | Nursery waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sakai Town | 24,769 | Age 20 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Namegata City | 31,505 | Age 18 | No | Yes / Yes | 0 |
| Ibaraki Town | 30,523 | Age 18 | No | Yes / Yes | 0 |
| Itako City | 26,088 | Age 18 | No | Yes / Yes | 0 |
| Takahagi City | 25,769 | Age 18 | No | Yes / No | 0 |
| Yachiyo Town | 21,082 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Shirosato Town | 17,708 | Age 18 | No | Yes / Yes | 0 |
| Tone Town | 15,498 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Oarai Town | 15,461 | 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.