Shimonoseki City: child medical expense subsidy
In Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, the child medical expense subsidy covers outpatient care 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 18 (end of high-school age). 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 19 municipalities in Yamaguchi Prefecture, only Shimonoseki City, Iwakuni City and Sanyoonoda City (3) cover outpatient care to Age 15. The other 16 cover it through age 18.
Shimonoseki City does not meet coverage through age 18 of the three conditions (coverage through age 18, no income limit, no co-payment). In Yamaguchi Prefecture, 15 of 19 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 18(April 1, 2025)
- Income limit
- No(April 1, 2025)
- Co-payment
- No(April 1, 2025)
- Coverage through age 18
- No (outpatient to Age 15, inpatient to Age 18)(April 1, 2025)
- Population
- 243,422(Resident register, 2024)
- Share under 15
- 11.0%(2020 census)
For applications, refunds and visits outside the prefecture, check the official website of Shimonoseki 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 18 through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 18 (end of high-school age) |
| 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 Shimonoseki City subsidize child medical expenses?
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 18 (end of high-school age) (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 Shimonoseki City?
Outpatient coverage ends through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 15 (end of junior high school), so high school students are not covered for outpatient care, but inpatient care is covered through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 18 (end of high-school age).
Does Shimonoseki City apply an income limit?
No (as of April 1, 2025).
Do the conditions differ between outpatient and inpatient care in Shimonoseki City?
Yes. Outpatient care is 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); inpatient 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).
Has Shimonoseki 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 Shimonoseki City compare with other municipalities in Yamaguchi Prefecture?
Of the 19 municipalities in Yamaguchi Prefecture, only Shimonoseki City, Iwakuni City and Sanyoonoda City (3) cover outpatient care to Age 15. The other 16 cover it through age 18.
Shimonoseki City does not meet coverage through age 18 of the three conditions (coverage through age 18, no income limit, no co-payment). In Yamaguchi Prefecture, 15 of 19 municipalities meet all three.
If I move out of Shimonoseki 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 Yamaguchi Prefecture: Yamaguchi City, Ube City, Shunan City, Iwakuni City
Nursery and after-school club waiting lists in Shimonoseki City
Shimonoseki City had 0 children on the nursery waiting list as of April 1, 2026 (4,871 applicants, 4,788 enrolled; 0 waiting a year earlier). After-school clubs had 108 children waiting as of May 1, 2026 (preliminary; 2,631 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 | 4,871 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| Children enrolled in nurseries | 4,788 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| After-school club waiting list | 108 | May 1, 2026 (prelim.) |
| After-school club registrations | 2,631 | 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 Shimonoseki City
Shimonoseki City has 408 urban parks (366.7 ha), or 15.9 m² per resident (Rank 7 of 19 in the prefecture). It has 6 libraries, 34 community centers, 34 nursery schools and 42 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 | 408 | Rank 1 of 19 in the prefecture | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area | 366.7 ha | — | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area per residentDivided by the population of the city-planning area (MLIT's calculation) | 15.9 m² | Rank 7 of 19 in the prefecture | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Libraries | 6 | Rank 15 of 19 in the prefecture | 2021 |
| Community centers | 34 | — | 2021 |
| Nursery schools | 34 | Rank 18 of 19 in the prefecture | 2023 |
| Kindergartens | 18 | — | 2024 |
| Elementary schools | 42 | — | 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 Shimonoseki City
- PopulationResident register, 2024
- 243,422Rank 1 of 19 in the prefecture2024
- Share under 15
- 11.0%Rank 10 of 19 in the prefecture2020 census
- Share 65 and over
- 35.4%2020 census
- Share of foreign residents
- 1.5%2020 census
- Net migration (move-ins minus move-outs)2024. A positive number means more people moved in than moved out
- -1,265Rank 13 of 19 in the prefecture2024
- Births per 1,000 residents
- 5.0Rank 10 of 19 in the prefecture2023
- Nursery schools
- 342023
- Nursery schools per 1,000 children under 15
- 1.21Rank 18 of 19 in the prefecture2023
- Kindergartens
- 182024
- Elementary schools
- 422024
- Doctors per 10,000 residents
- 29.3Rank 3 of 19 in the prefecture2022
- Clinics per 10,000 residents
- 10.72023
- General hospitals
- 202023
- Owner-occupied homes
- 63.8%2023
- Floor area per dwelling
- 95.5 m²2023
- Fiscal strength indexAbove 1 means local tax revenue covers standard spending
- 0.54Rank 10 of 19 in the prefecture2022
- Restaurants
- 1,0512021
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 Yamaguchi Prefecture
| Municipality | Population | Outpatient until | Income limit | Co-payment (outpatient / inpatient) | Nursery waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shimonoseki City | 243,422 | Age 15 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Yamaguchi City | 185,982 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 6 |
| Ube City | 156,438 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Shunan City | 134,733 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Iwakuni City | 124,568 | 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.