Kinokawa City: child medical expense subsidy
In Kinokawa City, Wakayama Prefecture, the child medical expense subsidy covers outpatient care through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 18 (end of high-school age) and inpatient care through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 24. 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 Wakayama Prefecture, 29 of 30 municipalities cover outpatient care through age 18, and Kinokawa City is one of them.
Kinokawa City is one of 29 municipalities in Wakayama 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 18(April 1, 2025)
- Covered until (Inpatient)
- Age 24(April 1, 2025)
- Income limit
- No(April 1, 2025)
- Co-payment
- No(April 1, 2025)
- Coverage through age 18
- Yes(April 1, 2025)
- Population
- 58,920(Resident register, 2024)
- Share under 15
- 11.1%(2020 census)
For applications, refunds and visits outside the prefecture, check the official website of Kinokawa City.
Child medical expense subsidy
| Item | Outpatient | Inpatient |
|---|---|---|
| Covered until | Age 18 through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 18 (end of high-school age) | Age 24 through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 24 |
| 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 Kinokawa City subsidize child medical expenses?
Outpatient care is covered through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 18 (end of high-school age) and inpatient care through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 24 (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 Kinokawa City?
Yes. Outpatient care is covered through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 18 (end of high-school age) and inpatient care through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 24.
Does Kinokawa City apply an income limit?
No (as of April 1, 2025).
Do the conditions differ between outpatient and inpatient care in Kinokawa City?
Yes. Outpatient care is 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); inpatient care is covered through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 24 (income limit: no; co-payment: no).
Has Kinokawa 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 Kinokawa City compare with other municipalities in Wakayama Prefecture?
In Wakayama Prefecture, 29 of 30 municipalities cover outpatient care through age 18, and Kinokawa City is one of them.
Kinokawa City is one of 29 municipalities in Wakayama 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 Kinokawa 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 Wakayama Prefecture: Wakayama City, Tanabe City, Hashimoto City, Iwade City, Kainan City, Shingu City
Nursery and after-school club waiting lists in Kinokawa City
Kinokawa City had 0 children on the nursery waiting list as of April 1, 2026 (1,361 applicants, 1,361 enrolled; 0 waiting a year earlier). After-school clubs had 17 children waiting as of May 1, 2026 (preliminary; 611 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 | 1,361 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| Children enrolled in nurseries | 1,361 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| After-school club waiting list | 17 | May 1, 2026 (prelim.) |
| After-school club registrations | 611 | 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 Kinokawa City
Kinokawa City has 13 urban parks (53.9 ha), or 9.5 m² per resident (Rank 11 of 30 in the prefecture). It has 2 libraries, 16 community centers, 11 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 | 13 | Rank 5 of 30 in the prefecture | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area | 53.9 ha | — | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area per residentDivided by the population of the city-planning area (MLIT's calculation) | 9.5 m² | Rank 11 of 30 in the prefecture | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Libraries | 2 | Rank 15 of 30 in the prefecture | 2021 |
| Community centers | 16 | — | 2021 |
| Nursery schools | 11 | Rank 18 of 30 in the prefecture | 2023 |
| Kindergartens | 2 | — | 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 Kinokawa City
- PopulationResident register, 2024
- 58,920Rank 3 of 30 in the prefecture2024
- Share under 15
- 11.1%Rank 12 of 30 in the prefecture2020 census
- Share 65 and over
- 33.1%2020 census
- Share of foreign residents
- 0.7%2020 census
- Net migration (move-ins minus move-outs)2024. A positive number means more people moved in than moved out
- -69Rank 6 of 30 in the prefecture2024
- Births per 1,000 residents
- 4.9Rank 9 of 30 in the prefecture2023
- Nursery schools
- 112023
- Nursery schools per 1,000 children under 15
- 1.68Rank 18 of 30 in the prefecture2023
- Kindergartens
- 22024
- Elementary schools
- 172024
- Doctors per 10,000 residents
- 25.3Rank 11 of 30 in the prefecture2022
- Clinics per 10,000 residents
- 10.72023
- General hospitals
- 42023
- Owner-occupied homes
- 85.3%2023
- Floor area per dwelling
- 126.4 m²2023
- Fiscal strength indexAbove 1 means local tax revenue covers standard spending
- 0.41Rank 9 of 30 in the prefecture2022
- Restaurants
- 1512021
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 Wakayama Prefecture
| Municipality | Population | Outpatient until | Income limit | Co-payment (outpatient / inpatient) | Nursery waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kinokawa City | 58,920 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Wakayama City | 352,941 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 16 |
| Tanabe City | 67,316 | Age 15 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Hashimoto City | 58,792 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Iwade City | 53,900 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Kainan City | 46,492 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 16 |
| Shingu City | 25,822 | 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.