Many families are planning to apply for nursery school (hoikuen) from April next year.
In Fukuoka City, nursery school applications open in October, so now is the best time to visit schools and check which one is right for your child.

This guide explains the application process for certified nursery schools in Fukuoka City and shares easy visit points especially for international parents.

What Is a Certified Nursery School (Ninka Hoikuen)? 🌸

A certified nursery school is officially approved by the national and city government as a safe place that follows childcare rules.

• Nursery fees depend on your household income and how many children you have.
• The City of Fukuoka decides which school your child will attend. Parents do not sign contracts directly with the school.
• Applications are submitted at the Children and Future Section (Kodomo Mirai-ka) of your local ward office.

👉 In this article, we explain the application steps for certified nursery schools and important checkpoints for school visits.

⚠️ Note: Besides certified nursery schools, there are also non-certified (ninka-gai) nursery schools in Fukuoka. Always check whether the school you are interested in is certified or non-certified. Procedures are different!

Application Flow for Certified Nursery Schools in Fukuoka 🍼

📅 General Schedule

1️⃣ School Visit (September–October)
Choose the nursery schools you are interested in and call to book a visit.

2️⃣ Application (Starting October)
Applications open in October for children who want to enter from the following April.
Submit the application form at your ward office (Children and Future Section).

📍 There are three application deadlines. If possible, apply by the first deadline. The later you apply, the harder it may be to get into your preferred school.

3️⃣ Result (Around February)
You will receive a notification in February.
If your child is accepted, the nursery school will hold an orientation meeting before starting the new school year in April 🌸

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How to Visit and Check Nursery Schools in Fukuoka ✨

1️⃣ Start with a School Visit

• Select a nursery school you are interested in.
• Call the school to book a visit.
• During the visit, you can observe the children’s daily life, meals, and teachers.

👉 This is also the right time to ask about halal meals, allergy-friendly options, or other special needs.

✅ Visit Checklist

• 🍴 Meals: Do they provide allergy support or religious meal options?
• 🛝 Play areas: Are the rooms and playground clean and safe?
• 👩‍🏫 Teachers: Do they speak kindly to children and parents?
• 🧸 Toys & books: Are there fun and safe play materials for children?
• 🕐 Hours: Do the school hours match your work and family schedule?
• 🏥 Health & safety: How do they handle accidents or illness?

⚠️ Without visiting, there may be a mismatch later:

• “The school looked different from the website.”
• “Their childcare style did not match my parenting style.”
• “The rules for extended childcare were not what I expected.”

Especially for families where both parents work, the right school choice is very important for balancing work and childcare

2️⃣ How to Find Nursery Schools in Fukuoka

Many parents say: “I don’t know which nursery schools are near my home.”
This is especially true for international families who are new to Fukuoka.

You can also check the current availability on this map:
📍 Nursery Facility Vacancy Map – Fukuoka City

You can search for certified nursery schools (Ninka Hoikuen) here:
📄 Fukuoka City Nursery School List (PDF, Japanese only…sorry)

Contact Us

If you have any questions or worries about nursery schools or the application process in Fukuoka City, feel free to contact us through this blog’s email form. We are happy to help international parents find the right childcare!→inquiry