Soja City: child medical expense subsidy
In Soja City, Okayama 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 27 municipalities in Okayama Prefecture, only Kurashiki City, Kasaoka City and Soja City (3) cover outpatient care to Age 15. The other 24 cover it through age 18.
Soja City does not meet coverage through age 18 of the three conditions (coverage through age 18, no income limit, no co-payment). In Okayama Prefecture, 23 of 27 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
- 69,625(Resident register, 2024)
- Share under 15
- 13.9%(2020 census)
For applications, refunds and visits outside the prefecture, check the official website of Soja 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-payment | No | 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 Soja 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 Soja 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 Soja City apply an income limit?
No (as of April 1, 2025).
Do the conditions differ between outpatient and inpatient care in Soja 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 Soja City 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 Soja City compare with other municipalities in Okayama Prefecture?
Of the 27 municipalities in Okayama Prefecture, only Kurashiki City, Kasaoka City and Soja City (3) cover outpatient care to Age 15. The other 24 cover it through age 18.
Soja City does not meet coverage through age 18 of the three conditions (coverage through age 18, no income limit, no co-payment). In Okayama Prefecture, 23 of 27 municipalities meet all three.
If I move out of Soja 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 Okayama Prefecture: Okayama City, Kurashiki City, Tsuyama City, Tamano City, Kasaoka City, Akaiwa City, Maniwa City
Nursery and after-school club waiting lists in Soja City
Soja City had 10 children on the nursery waiting list as of April 1, 2026 (1,881 applicants, 1,788 enrolled; 3 waiting a year earlier). After-school clubs had 0 children waiting as of May 1, 2026 (preliminary; 1,369 registered).
| Item | Value | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery waiting list | 10 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| Waiting list a year earlier (April 1, 2025) | 3 | Apr 1, 2025 |
| Nursery applicants | 1,881 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| Children enrolled in nurseries | 1,788 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| After-school club waiting list | 0 | May 1, 2026 (prelim.) |
| After-school club registrations | 1,369 | 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 Soja City
Soja City has 73 urban parks (80.7 ha), or 12.2 m² per resident (Rank 16 of 27 in the prefecture). It has 1 libraries, 27 community centers, 13 nursery schools and 13 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 | 73 | Rank 4 of 27 in the prefecture | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area | 80.7 ha | — | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area per residentDivided by the population of the city-planning area (MLIT's calculation) | 12.2 m² | Rank 16 of 27 in the prefecture | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Libraries | 1 | Rank 25 of 27 in the prefecture | 2021 |
| Community centers | 27 | — | 2021 |
| Nursery schools | 13 | Rank 21 of 27 in the prefecture | 2023 |
| Kindergartens | 15 | — | 2024 |
| Elementary schools | 13 | — | 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 Soja City
- PopulationResident register, 2024
- 69,625Rank 4 of 27 in the prefecture2024
- Share under 15
- 13.9%Rank 3 of 27 in the prefecture2020 census
- Share 65 and over
- 28.1%2020 census
- Share of foreign residents
- 2.3%2020 census
- Net migration (move-ins minus move-outs)2024. A positive number means more people moved in than moved out
- +75Rank 4 of 27 in the prefecture2024
- Births per 1,000 residents
- 7.1Rank 2 of 27 in the prefecture2023
- Nursery schools
- 132023
- Nursery schools per 1,000 children under 15
- 1.36Rank 21 of 27 in the prefecture2023
- Kindergartens
- 152024
- Elementary schools
- 132024
- Doctors per 10,000 residents
- 9.8Rank 23 of 27 in the prefecture2022
- Clinics per 10,000 residents
- 6.62023
- General hospitals
- 32023
- Owner-occupied homes
- 69.7%2023
- Floor area per dwelling
- 113.3 m²2023
- Fiscal strength indexAbove 1 means local tax revenue covers standard spending
- 0.58Rank 4 of 27 in the prefecture2022
- Restaurants
- 1532021
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 Okayama Prefecture
| Municipality | Population | Outpatient until | Income limit | Co-payment (outpatient / inpatient) | Nursery waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soja City | 69,625 | Age 15 | No | No / No | 10 |
| Okayama City | 695,690 | Age 18 | No | Yes / No | 0 |
| Kurashiki City | 473,670 | Age 15 | No | No / No | 3 |
| Tsuyama City | 95,030 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Tamano City | 54,130 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Kasaoka City | 44,030 | Age 15 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Akaiwa City | 42,490 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Maniwa City | 40,778 | 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.