Children & Family　子育て支援

But what are the differences between Japanese nursery schools (Hoikuen) and kindergartens (Yochien)?
ところで、保育園と幼稚園の違いはご存知でしょうか？

- The main difference between the two systems is that kindergartens are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) as early childhood education, offering one-three year programs, meant for 3, 4, and 5 year old children respectively.

Since preschool education is not considered compulsory, the majority of kindergartens are privately-run in Japan. In fact, all kindergartens in Matsudo City are currently private.

いちばん大きな違いは、幼稚園が幼児教育の施設として、文部科学省が管轄し、3歳から5歳の子どもたちに、一から三年の保育プログラムを提供していることです。日本では、幼児教育は義務とされていないため私立の幼稚園が多く、松戸市内の幼稚園はすべて私立となっています。

- In contrast, licensed nursery schools, both public and private, are managed by the city (Matsudo City, Childcare Division) as child welfare facilities established by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare under the concept of supporting daytime childcare. For this reason, nursery schools are open to children from appx. 0 years old until they enter elementary school, usually offering longer time period of childcare service than kindergartens.

対して、認可保育園や保育所は児童福祉の施設とみなされているため、厚生労働省に管轄されており、市の保育課が管理・運営しています。保育園は児童福祉の観点から、保育を必要とする家庭のために0歳から就学前までの期間、比較的長い時間子どもたちを預かることができます。

この違いにより、共働きや介護などで保育を長時間必要とする家庭は、これまでは幼稚園ではなく保育園を利用することが多くありましたが、最近では幼稚園と保育園の違いはあまりなくなってきています。

多くの幼稚園が、追加の利用料（助成あり）で「延長保育」を提供していますし、松戸市は市内数か所の駅近くで「送迎ステーション」という保育施設を設置し、幼稚園のバスが送迎するまでの預かり保育を可能にすることで、共働きの保護者が幼稚園を利用しやすくしています。
また、市内の保育園でも、幼稚園のように総合的な学習を保育に組み込んでいる施設が多くあります。

できるだけたくさんの保育施設を実際に見学していただいて、お子さまとご家族にとっていちばん合う居場所を見つけられることを願っています。

• Please contact the kindergarten of your choice for the details of each facility. （幼稚園の詳細については各園に直接、または松戸市幼児教育課にお問い合わせください）⇒ List of Kindergartens within Matsudo City / Early Childhood Education Division of Matsudo City (047-701-5126)
• For more information about nursery schools in Matsudo City, please refer to the "Guide and application documents for nursery schools in Matsudo" in the following chapter of this page, （保育園/所の詳細については、このページの次の章をご参照ください）or contact ⇒ Childcare Division of Matsudo City Hall (047-366-7351).

● Families applying for enrollment must carefully review the Application Guide and prepare all required documents.
　FY2027 English Guide to Nursery School Admissions / 令和9年度 利用申し込み案内（英語）
● Application guidelines change each fiscal year.
● The documents you submit are valid only for the fiscal year for which you applied, from April through March of the following year.
● If you wish to continue your application for the next fiscal year, you must reapply.
● Consider using the online application service through the Myna Portal※.
The application counter is expected to be very crowded in November. If you plan to apply at the counter, please come with plenty of time.
Mail applications are also accepted, but please note that applications by mail must arrive by the deadline.

※ Myna Portal

1. Choose language

2. Click on "Set your municipality", choose " 千葉県(ちばけん)" and " 松戸市(まつどし)"

3. In the search box, type in " 保育施設等(ほいくえんしせつとう)の 利用申込(りようもうしこみ)" (Application for childcare facility enrollment)

● Please note that for in-person and mail-in applications, an "application number" obtained in advance from the Matsudo City Online Application System※ is required.

※Matsudo City Online Application System

In the search box, type in "窓口(まどぐち)及(およ)び郵送(ゆうそう)による利用申込(りようもうしこみ)の事前申請(じぜんしんせい)" (Obtain an application number for in-person and mail-in applications for childcare facility enrollment)

The process of applying for and being admitted to a nursery school.

1. Apply to the Childcare Division of Matsudo City Hall by the deadline of the month you wish to use the nursery school. (By online, in-person or mail)
2. Based on the application form, the City will adjust the nursery school admission by managing and allocating limited daycare spots to children based on various criteria such as the parents' working status, family situation, and the order of application. You will be notified of the result by mail.
3. An interview with the parent and child will be held at the childcare facility where enrollment has been confirmed.
4. Your child can start using the nursery school.

※ For any additional documents required based on your household’s specific circumstances, please download from the Japanese-language page.

Please use the documents below for applications during the 2026 fiscal year (December 2026 to March 2027)

※ For any additional documents required based on your household’s specific circumstances, please download from the Japanese-language page.

• Japanese / 日本語版
• Chinese / 中国語版
• Vietnamese / ベトナム語版

■ Matsudo City, Childcare Division (Nursery School Admission Office)

TEL:047-366-7351　保育課(ほいくか) (入所入園担当室(にゅうしょにゅうえん たんとうしつ)）

■ Matsudo City Online Consultation System
Consultations about applying for daycare centers and the Childcare Pickup and Drop-off Station Program, etc.

Weekdays: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

(Appointments are for one-hour sessions)

Please make a reservation via designated [Reservation System]

Places for Children and Youth Division
TEL: 047-366-7347 子(こ)ども居場所課(いばしょか)

In Japanese, "Jido Te-a-te (児童手当), this is an allowance provided to those raising a child up to the age equivalent to the final year of high school.
＞ Matsudo City HP on Childcare Allowance System (Japanese)

In Japanese, "Kodomo Iryohi Josei (子ども医療費助成)", this system subsidizes partial or full medical expenses for the children until the end of the first March after they turn 18.
＞ Matsudo City HP on Medical Expense Subsidy for Children (Japanese)

Every month the 'Hot Room Shin Matsudo' playspace holds a casual gathering for foreign parents and their babies (generally up to the age of 3) called 'Min-guru' (=mingle). The session is also popular amongst parents with foreign spouses, parents who have lived overseas in the past, and those who have an interest in foreign cultures. It is completely free and open to anyone with a young child (including families who do not reside in Matsudo).

Matsudo City's Coordinator of International Relations Erin paid a visit to 'Hot Room Shin Matsudo' in early 2017. Read about her impressions of the foreign parents and babies session by clicking here.

• Date: Every 4th Sunday of the month
• Time: 1:00-2:00pm (Hours vary, please check the website)
• Location: 'Hot Room Shin Matsudo', Shin Matsudo 3-1-4
• Fee: FREE
• More info: Call or visit us to make a reservation
• Refer the below poster, provided by Hot Room Shin Matsudo

Information on the flyer is subject to change. Please check the website or contact them directly to confirm the latest information.

Hottoroom Shinmatsudo ほっとるーむしんまつど
TEL: 047-375-8737
(Tuesday through Sunday, 10am-6pm)
Email: hotroom_shinmatsudo@m-harmony.org
Address: 1F Shinmatsudo Mirai-kan, Shinmatsudo 3-1-4

毎月、ほっとるーむ新松戸では「海外パパママひろば　みんぐる」が開催されます。対象は、小さい子供（一般的に3歳未満）とその親たちです（市外在住でもかまいません）。外国人市民だけではなく、外国人と結婚している方や海外に住んだ経験がある方、海外の文化に興味がある方々の間でも人気がある広場です。参加は無料です。

松戸市の国際交流員エリンは、平成29年上旬にほっとるーむ新松戸を訪ねみました。エリンの 「海外パパママひろば」の印象についてぜひ読んでみてください。

• 日時：毎月第4日曜日、午後1時～2時（時間は変動しますので、ウェブサイトを確認してください）
• 場所：新松戸3丁目1の4　新松戸未来会館1階 （10時から18時、月曜は休日）
• 費用：無料
• 申し込み：要予約　お電話かひろばにて予約して参加してください。

以下のほっとるーむ新松戸のポスターもぜひご覧ください。

※ポスターの情報は最新ではありません。開催情報の詳細はウェブサイトやお電話にて確認してください。