Aira City: child medical expense subsidy
In Aira City, Kagoshima Prefecture, the child medical expense subsidy covers both outpatient and inpatient care through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 15 (end of junior high school). 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.
Of the 43 municipalities in Kagoshima Prefecture, only Kagoshima City, Ibusuki City, Hioki City, Kirishima City and Aira City (5) cover outpatient care to Age 15. The other 37 cover it through age 18.
Aira City does not meet coverage through age 18 of the three conditions (coverage through age 18, no income limit, no co-payment). In Kagoshima Prefecture, 37 of 43 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 15(April 1, 2025)
- Covered until (Inpatient)
- Age 15(April 1, 2025)
- Income limit
- No(April 1, 2025)
- Co-payment
- No(April 1, 2025)
- Coverage through age 18
- No (both to Age 15)(April 1, 2025)
- Population
- 78,123(Resident register, 2024)
- Share under 15
- 14.4%(2020 census)
For applications, refunds and visits outside the prefecture, check the official website of Aira City.
Child medical expense subsidy
| Item | Outpatient | Inpatient |
|---|---|---|
| Covered until | Age 15 through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 15 (end of junior high school) | Age 15 through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 15 (end of junior high school) |
| Income limit | No | No |
| Co-paymentchanged | No | No |
Changed since last year
- 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 Aira City subsidize child medical expenses?
Both outpatient and inpatient care are covered through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 15 (end of junior high school) (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 Aira City?
No. Outpatient care is covered through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 15 (end of junior high school) and inpatient care through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 15 (end of junior high school).
Does Aira City apply an income limit?
No (as of April 1, 2025).
Do the conditions differ between outpatient and inpatient care in Aira City?
No. Both are covered through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 15 (end of junior high school); income limit: no; co-payment: no.
Has Aira City changed its conditions since last year?
Yes. Compared with April 1, 2024, the following changed: Co-payment. See the rows marked "changed" in the table above.
How does Aira City compare with other municipalities in Kagoshima Prefecture?
Of the 43 municipalities in Kagoshima Prefecture, only Kagoshima City, Ibusuki City, Hioki City, Kirishima City and Aira City (5) cover outpatient care to Age 15. The other 37 cover it through age 18.
Aira City does not meet coverage through age 18 of the three conditions (coverage through age 18, no income limit, no co-payment). In Kagoshima Prefecture, 37 of 43 municipalities meet all three.
If I move out of Aira 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 Kagoshima Prefecture: Kagoshima City, Kirishima City, Kanoya City, Satsumasendai City, Izumi City, Hioki City, Amami City, Ibusuki City
Nursery and after-school club waiting lists in Aira City
Aira City had 5 children on the nursery waiting list as of April 1, 2026 (2,031 applicants, 1,969 enrolled; 11 waiting a year earlier). After-school clubs had 17 children waiting as of May 1, 2026 (preliminary; 1,310 registered).
| Item | Value | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery waiting list | 5 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| Waiting list a year earlier (April 1, 2025) | 11 | Apr 1, 2025 |
| Nursery applicants | 2,031 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| Children enrolled in nurseries | 1,969 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| After-school club waiting list | 17 | May 1, 2026 (prelim.) |
| After-school club registrations | 1,310 | 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 Aira City
Aira City has 64 urban parks (59.4 ha), or 7.9 m² per resident (Rank 31 of 43 in the prefecture). It has 2 libraries, 8 community centers, 14 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 | 64 | Rank 5 of 43 in the prefecture | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area | 59.4 ha | — | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area per residentDivided by the population of the city-planning area (MLIT's calculation) | 7.9 m² | Rank 31 of 43 in the prefecture | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Libraries | 2 | Rank 27 of 43 in the prefecture | 2021 |
| Community centers | 8 | — | 2021 |
| Nursery schools | 14 | Rank 32 of 43 in the prefecture | 2023 |
| Kindergartens | 6 | — | 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 Aira City
- PopulationResident register, 2024
- 78,123Rank 5 of 43 in the prefecture2024
- Share under 15
- 14.4%Rank 9 of 43 in the prefecture2020 census
- Share 65 and over
- 31.4%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
- +423Rank 5 of 43 in the prefecture2024
- Births per 1,000 residents
- 7.4Rank 5 of 43 in the prefecture2023
- Nursery schools
- 142023
- Nursery schools per 1,000 children under 15
- 1.28Rank 32 of 43 in the prefecture2023
- Kindergartens
- 62024
- Elementary schools
- 172024
- Doctors per 10,000 residents
- 19.1Rank 18 of 43 in the prefecture2022
- Clinics per 10,000 residents
- 8.32023
- General hospitals
- 92023
- Owner-occupied homes
- 70.1%2023
- Floor area per dwelling
- 93.2 m²2023
- Fiscal strength indexAbove 1 means local tax revenue covers standard spending
- 0.51Rank 4 of 43 in the prefecture2022
- Restaurants
- 2312021
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 Kagoshima Prefecture
| Municipality | Population | Outpatient until | Income limit | Co-payment (outpatient / inpatient) | Nursery waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aira City | 78,123 | Age 15 | No | No / No | 5 |
| Kagoshima City | 591,263 | Age 15 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Kirishima City | 123,070 | Age 15 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Kanoya City | 98,626 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Satsumasendai City | 90,536 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Izumi City | 51,405 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Hioki City | 46,134 | Age 15 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Amami City | 40,239 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Ibusuki City | 37,207 | Age 15 | 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.