Kawasaki City: child medical expense subsidy (小児医療費助成事業)
Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture covers child medical expenses for both outpatient and inpatient care through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 18 (end of high-school age), with no income limit and no co-payment, from September 2026 (city website, checked September 24, 2026). The national survey (as of April 1, 2025) recorded 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: outpatient yes, inpatient no. There is no out-of-pocket charge for insured care, so it is effectively free.
In the national survey (as of April 1, 2025), of the 33 municipalities in Kanagawa Prefecture, only Yokohama City and Kawasaki City (2) cover outpatient care to Age 15. The other 31 cover it through age 18.
In the national survey (as of April 1, 2025), kawasaki City 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 Kanagawa Prefecture, 30 of 33 municipalities meet all three.
Kawasaki City calls this program "小児医療費助成事業". This site uses the national survey's term, "child medical expense subsidy".
- Covered until (Outpatient)
- Age 18(from September 2026, official site)national survey (as of April 1, 2025): Age 15
- Covered until (Inpatient)
- Age 18(from September 2026, official site)national survey (as of April 1, 2025): Age 15
- Income limit
- No(from September 2026, official site)national survey (as of April 1, 2025): No
- Co-payment
- No(from September 2026, official site)national survey (as of April 1, 2025): outpatient yes, inpatient no
- Coverage through age 18
- Yes(from September 2026, official site)
- Population
- 1,535,141(Resident register, 2024)
- Share under 15
- 12.3%(2020 census)
For applications, refunds and visits outside the prefecture, check the official website of Kawasaki City.
Child medical expense subsidy
From September 2026, Kawasaki City extends the subsidy through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 18 and abolishes the 500-yen outpatient co-payment that applied from the 4th grade of elementary school. There is no income limit. This is newer than the national survey shown above (as of April 1, 2025). Official website (checked September 24, 2026)
| 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-payment | Yes | No |
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 Kawasaki 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) (from September 2026, official website).
There is no out-of-pocket charge for insured care, so it is effectively free.
Are high school students covered in Kawasaki 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 September 2026.
Does Kawasaki City apply an income limit?
No (from September 2026, official website).
Do the conditions differ between outpatient and inpatient care in Kawasaki 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: no; co-payment: no.
Has Kawasaki City changed its conditions since last year?
No. The national surveys as of April 1, 2024 and April 1, 2025 record the same conditions.
However, according to the official website, the conditions changed from September 2026. From September 2026, Kawasaki City extends the subsidy through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 18 and abolishes the 500-yen outpatient co-payment that applied from the 4th grade of elementary school. There is no income limit. This is newer than the national survey shown above (as of April 1, 2025).
How does Kawasaki City compare with other municipalities in Kanagawa Prefecture?
In the national survey (as of April 1, 2025), of the 33 municipalities in Kanagawa Prefecture, only Yokohama City and Kawasaki City (2) cover outpatient care to Age 15. The other 31 cover it through age 18.
In the national survey (as of April 1, 2025), kawasaki City 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 Kanagawa Prefecture, 30 of 33 municipalities meet all three.
If I move out of Kawasaki 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 Kanagawa Prefecture: Yokohama City, Sagamihara City, Fujisawa City, Yokosuka City, Hiratsuka City
Nursery and after-school club waiting lists in Kawasaki City
Kawasaki City had 0 children on the nursery waiting list as of April 1, 2026 (37,005 applicants, 36,161 enrolled; 0 waiting a year earlier). After-school clubs had 0 children waiting as of May 1, 2026 (preliminary; 20,300 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 | 37,005 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| Children enrolled in nurseries | 36,161 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| After-school club waiting list | 0 | May 1, 2026 (prelim.) |
| After-school club registrations | 20,300 | 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 Kawasaki City
Kawasaki City has 1,195 urban parks (615.9 ha), or 4.0 m² per resident (Rank 26 of 33 in the prefecture). It has 14 libraries, 13 community centers, 447 nursery schools and 118 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 | 1,195 | Rank 2 of 33 in the prefecture | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area | 615.9 ha | — | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area per residentDivided by the population of the city-planning area (MLIT's calculation) | 4.0 m² | Rank 26 of 33 in the prefecture | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Libraries | 14 | Rank 19 of 33 in the prefecture | 2021 |
| Community centers | 13 | — | 2021 |
| Nursery schools | 447 | Rank 3 of 33 in the prefecture | 2023 |
| Kindergartens | 78 | — | 2024 |
| Elementary schools | 118 | — | 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 Kawasaki City
- PopulationResident register, 2024
- 1,535,141Rank 2 of 33 in the prefecture2024
- Share under 15
- 12.3%Rank 8 of 33 in the prefecture2020 census
- Share 65 and over
- 19.6%2020 census
- Share of foreign residents
- 2.5%2020 census
- Net migration (move-ins minus move-outs)2024. A positive number means more people moved in than moved out
- +6,461Rank 5 of 33 in the prefecture2024
- Births per 1,000 residents
- 7.2Rank 1 of 33 in the prefecture2023
- Nursery schools
- 4472023
- Nursery schools per 1,000 children under 15
- 2.36Rank 3 of 33 in the prefecture2023
- Kindergartens
- 782024
- Elementary schools
- 1182024
- Doctors per 10,000 residents
- 24.8Rank 6 of 33 in the prefecture2022
- Clinics per 10,000 residents
- 6.92023
- General hospitals
- 332023
- Owner-occupied homes
- 46.1%2023
- Floor area per dwelling
- 63.9 m²2023
- Fiscal strength indexAbove 1 means local tax revenue covers standard spending
- 1.02Rank 7 of 33 in the prefecture2022
- Restaurants
- 4,1902021
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 Kanagawa Prefecture
| Municipality | Population | Outpatient until | Income limit | Co-payment (outpatient / inpatient) | Nursery waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kawasaki City | 1,535,141 | Age 15 | No | Yes / No | 0 |
| Yokohama City | 3,753,398 | Age 15 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Sagamihara City | 716,494 | Age 18 | Yes | Yes / No | 0 |
| Fujisawa City | 445,041 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 7 |
| Yokosuka City | 379,041 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 1 |
| Hiratsuka City | 256,549 | 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.