Bunkyo City ▸ Raising children ▸ School Lunch Fee Support Payment (for students attending schools other than city-run schools)
● RAISING CHILDREN

An amount equal to school lunch fees, ¥5,600–¥6,700 a month, for students at private and national schools

School Lunch Fee Support Payment (for students attending schools other than city-run schools) / Bunkyo City
School Lunch Fee Support Payment (for students attending schools other than city-run schools)Bunkyo CitySchools other than city-run elementary and junior high schools
An amount equal to school lunch fees, from ¥5,600 a month, for children at private and national schools
Amount equal to school lunch fees (monthly, FY2026)¥5,600–¥6,700Varies by grade
  • Up to 6 months' worth paid in 2 installments a year
  • Apply only the first time, through LINE or by mail
Based on the official sourceKosodate Tokyo

This is the city's own program that pays an amount equal to school lunch fees to parents of students living in Bunkyo City who attend elementary or junior high schools other than city-run ones (private, national, Tokyo metropolitan, etc.). School lunches at city-run elementary and junior high schools have been free since September 2023. Even if your child brings a packed lunch, they are covered if they meet the requirements.

The amount is a monthly rate by grade; for FY2026 (April 2026–March 2027), it is ¥5,600 for the lower grades of elementary school, ¥5,900 for the middle grades, ¥6,300 for the upper grades and ¥6,700 for junior high school (for FY2025 it was ¥4,600, ¥4,900, ¥5,500 and ¥5,800). Up to 6 months' worth is paid in 2 installments a year.

You only need to apply the first time; no application is needed after that. Apply through LINE or by mail. For the first half of FY2026 (April–September), first-time applications are accepted from November 12, 2026 to January 15, 2027 (must arrive), and payment is scheduled for February 26, 2027. For people receiving it continuously, payment is scheduled for January 29, 2027. For the second half (October–March), a notice is expected to arrive around late May 2027.

Nationality and residence status

The official page (checked in October 2026) sets no condition on nationality or residence status that we found. Eligibility follows the official conditions, not the language of this page; many programs require resident registration in the municipality.

Who is eligible

Parents of students living in the city who attend elementary or junior high schools other than city-run ones

Notes

FY2026 monthly rates: lower elementary ¥5,600, middle elementary ¥5,900, upper elementary ¥6,300, junior high ¥6,700.FY2025: ¥4,600, ¥4,900, ¥5,500 and ¥5,800.First half of FY2026: first-time applications November 12, 2026 – January 15, 2027 (must arrive), payment scheduled for February 26, 2027.Changes for continued payments accepted December 4–25, 2026; continued payments made on January 29, 2027.Applications for the second half of FY2025 (October–March) closed on July 24, 2026.If the child attends a Tokyo metropolitan school and is covered by Tokyo's free school lunch or the support payment for reducing the cost of meal substitutes,or if school lunch fees are fully paid through the school attendance encouragement program or the city's school expense assistance,this payment cannot be received.

Official sources

Open the official page (Japanese)

Raising children in Bunkyo City

The same program in other municipalities

← All programs in Bunkyo City