A. Youchien (Kindergarten/Preschool):
Youchien focuses on providing advanced learning before elementary school. Because their aim is education, Youchien is only available for children from 3 years old to six years old. Youchien keeps children for around 4 hours a day, not the entire day like Hoikuen/Nursery.
B.
Ninka-Hoikuen
(Authorized Daycare/Nursery):
At Ninka-Hoikuen, children are supervised by
caretakers for a longer period of time due to their parents having
to go to work or due to their parents’ health conditions. They may have basic learning classes but their focus is not education.
C. Ninkagai-Hoikuen (Unauthorized Daycare/Nursery):
Unlike Youchien and Ninka-Hoikuen, Ninkagai-Hoikuen do not need to follow strict rules and regulations. Thus, they can provide a variety of unique services/education that Youchien and Ninka-Hoikuen cannot offer. International preschools are an example of a Ninkagai-Hoikuen.
D. Nintei-Kodomoen (Kindergarten & Daycare):
It has aspects of both Youchien and Hoikuen – they can keep children for long hours while they also educate them.
|
|
Youchien |
Ninka-Hoikuen |
Ninkagai-Hoikuen |
|
Controlled by |
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology |
Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare |
Prefectural Governor |
|
Focus on |
Learning |
Day Care |
Depends |
|
Eligibility |
From 3 years old until 1st grade. |
From 0 years until 1st grade. Parents cannot provide care due to work or poor health. |
From 0 years until 1st grade |
|
Teaching License |
Kindergarten Teaching License |
Nursery School Teaching License |
If more than 6 children at school, 1/3 of staff must have Nursery School Teaching License |
|
Hours of Operation |
From about 9:00 to 14:00. |
From about 7:30 to
18:30. |
Up to the school. |
|
Fees |
Public Youchien: up to
the local government. |
Local government's decision depending on the household's income. |
Up to the school. |
|
Long Holiday |
Yes (Spring, Summer, and Winter). |
No. |
Up to the school. |
NOTE: The above chart does not include Nintei-Kodomoen because its system is a combination of Youchien and Ninka-Hoikuen. Please see Youchien and Ninka-Hoikuen for details on Nintei-Kodomoen.
