[Answer]
In Japan, nurseries are categorized as welfare facilities for
children, run under the supervision of the Health, Welfare and Labor Ministry. They
are designed for children whose parents cannot look after them during daytime
due to work and other reasons. Children should be aged between 0 and preschool
age to be admitted. There are roughly two types of nurseries:
1) Authorized nurseries meet minimum requirements stipulated by
the Child Welfare Law and are authorized by local governments. Fees can vary
depending on the parents’ income, the children’s age and the place they live.
2) Non-authorized nurseries include so-called baby hotels and day
care centers and do not necessarily have authorization from local governments.
Each facility charge differing fees for their services.
To be admitted to an authorized nursery, you need to produce valid reasons,
such as work commitments, for not being able to look after their children
during daytime. Application can be made at your city office. In some regions,
it takes some time before you can actually put your child into a nursery
if there are many children waiting to be admitted.
To put your child into an unauthorized nursery, however, you don’t
need special reasons for doing so. Application should be made at each facility.
It is advisable you check the facility before deciding which nursery you would
like to put your child into. You can visit Osaka E-care Net to look for childcare facilities.
Alternatively an authorized day
care-kindergarten facility has been recently introduced, which accepts children
other than those who lack family care. As part of the ongoing measure to
promote functional unification of kindergarten and day care center, several
such facilities have been operating in Osaka. Child-Rearing
Support Division/Child Affairs Office/ Osaka Prefecutural Government 06-6944-6984