Hourly childcare with no work requirement, free for up to 160 hours a month (the city adds 150 hours to the national 10 hours)
Ota City Children's Daycare-for-All Program "Otete Hiroba" / Ota City
Ota City Children's Daycare-for-All Program "Otete Hiroba"Ota CityFrom 6 months to age 2
Regardless of work, children can be left free for up to 160 hours a month
The city adds 150 hours to the national 10 hours a month160 hours a monthfree of charge (facilities in the city)
- The extra hours apply when you continue using the same facility in the city
- Actual costs such as event fees and food are charged separately
A program that lets you leave children from 6 months of age to age 2 by the hour, regardless of whether the parents work. Ota City expands on its own the "Children's Daycare-for-All program" that started nationwide in April 2026.
The national allowance is up to 10 hours a month. In Ota City, if after using those 10 hours at the same facility in the city you continue to use the same facility, 150 hours are added, for up to 160 hours a month in total. When children living in Ota City use facilities in the city, fees for up to 160 hours a month are free. Actual costs such as event fees, teaching materials, insurance and food are charged by each facility.
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
Children from 6 months of age to age 2 not attending a daycare center, certified center for early childhood education and care, small-scale childcare or similar (children aged 3 are not covered; children attending unlicensed childcare facilities are covered)
Notes
If the 10 hours are split between 2 or more facilities, the extra 150 hours cannot be used. For example, 5 hours at Facility A and 5 hours at Facility B does not qualify for the extra hours.To use the extra hours, a separate contract with the facility is needed.When using facilities outside the city, only up to 10 hours a month are free.Use is from 1 hour, and an advance interview with the facility is required before use.First apply to the city for use; once certified, an account for the "Children's Daycare-for-All Comprehensive Support System" is issued. Certification takes about 2 weeks.Use is first come, first served.It cannot be used together with the "Kindergarten Plaza Program for Infants," for ages 1–2.Contact: Child Development Support Section.