Counting The Yen: Cost Of Giving Birth in Japan

Considering having a baby, but unsure of the costs? Here, we bring you a vital summary of information about likely costs, as well as available subsidies.

Childbirth comes with its fair share of joy and stress. On the one hand, there’s the fun of shopping for clothes and choosing a name that also works cross-culturally. But, on the other hand, you’ll have to deal with the cost of giving birth in Japan.

On the surface, giving birth in Japan is expensive. It will easily cost several hundreds of thousands of yen, making it one of the most expensive countries in the world.

Luckily, however, you and your partner will not have to pay all of these costs. Because Japanese leaders have been concerned about the declining birth rate for decades, local governments and the national government have been trying to encourage couples to have more children. In fact, there are a variety of government benefits for having children available, ranging from financial incentives to free services.

As with many aspects of having children, there are many things to consider. So, we’ve created this overview of the costs of giving birth to give you an idea of what to expect, from average prices to government refunds.

Prenatal Costs

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Prenatal check-ups are not covered by Japanese health insurance. But, you can receive a discount coupon book from your ward office to help with the costs. Prenatal care in Japan consists of around 14-15 check-ups throughout the pregnancy, usually costing ¥5,000-¥8,000 per visit (when using the coupons) and up to ¥30,000 for visits that require extra tests. You can learn more about all prenatal tests and pre-birth preparation with our list of must-read articles if you’re pregnant in Japan.

The Cost of Giving Birth in Japan

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It’s important to prepare for the fact that it does indeed cost a bundle to give birth in Japan. Below is an overview of the charges and average costs you can expect to pay.

Basic Hospital Birth Fee

This is where the costs begin to escalate. In 2023, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare surveyed over 1,700 medical institutions across the country. The national average cost for an uncomplicated natural birth across public and private institutions in 2022 was about ¥482,000. For public hospitals alone, the average was ¥463,000, while private ones were about ¥506,000. As for clinics and midwifery centers, people paid approximately ¥479,000 on average.

Individual facilities set their own prices, resulting in a wide range of price tags. As a result, some prefectures are cheaper than others. For example, the most expensive place to give birth was Tokyo (¥605,000), while the least expensive was Kumamoto Prefecture (¥361,000). Zeroing in on public hospitals, Tokyo was again the costliest (¥562,000), and Tottori Prefecture was the cheapest (¥359,000).

Private Rooms

Many hospitals offer private rooms as an option. The cost varies depending on whether you opt for one with a bathroom, couch, TV and other equipment. The extra daily cost for a private room can range from ¥10,000 to ¥70,000 and beyond.

Epidural 

Not all hospitals can administer epidurals, and less than 10% of delivering mothers request one in Japan. But for those that do, it will cost anywhere from ¥100,000 to ¥200,000. It is also important to note that even if the institution lists an epidural as an option, you may have to book it in advance and may not have the chance to change your mind later.

Induction 

Note that in addition to the cost of the induction itself (which may be in the range of ¥10,000-¥30,000), you may end up staying in the hospital longer if it takes time for your labor to start, which means paying for more days there.

Water Birth 

Water births are quite rare in Japan, and few places offer them as an option. For those hospitals that offer waterbirth, extra fees may run from ¥30,000 to ¥50,000.

After Hours and Holidays

The onset of labor isn’t usually something one can control, but the parents of babies wishing to make a move at an inconvenient time (try to avoid New Year’s by all means) will likely be slapped with additional fees often in the ¥20,000-¥30,000 range. When researching medical institutions, you can sometimes check if they will add extra fees or not on their costs pages.

High-risk Delivery and VBACs

These also incur additional costs, particularly VBACS, which may incur a fee of ¥70,000.

Finding Your Best Birth Facility

For a more accurate view of the costs for specific hospitals, cost information is often available on the facility’s official website, or you can also refer to the billing department for an estimate and breakdown of charges. Note also that most hospitals require you to pay a deposit around the time you enter your third trimester, so get the cash ready way in advance. If you need some tips for choosing a birth facility in Japan, we’ve got you covered too!

Japan’s Financial Incentives for Giving Birth

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Free money! Well, not really, but insurance payouts feel good, don’t they? If you are insured by Japan’s National Health Insurance (NHI) or you are employed by a company in Japan (or you are a dependent to someone who is insured), you are entitled to receive those benefits.

Childbirth and Childcare Lump-Sum Grant 

While childbirth is not covered by Japanese health insurance per se, a “childbirth and childcare lump-sum grant” of up to ¥500,000 is payable per child to help families with the costs of the birth. You can receive this either as a reimbursement or have it paid directly to the hospital (meaning you only need to pay the difference upon discharge).

Municipal and Prefectural Perks

Depending on the area in which you live, your local municipality may also offer additional subsidies and childcare support. For example, expectant mothers who are residents of Fukuoka City are eligible to receive ¥50,000 upon official confirmation of pregnancy and an additional ¥50,000 following a visitation by a municipal nurse after the birth. Some employee insurance plans may also provide an additional lump sum payment, so if you or your husband are employed and have shakai hoken (social insurance with a company), make sure to consult your workplace regarding your rights as a future mama.

Deductibles

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C-sections, on the other hand, are surgeries, so they are naturally covered by health insurance (of course, aside from hospital room costs). As with other medical care, your copayment will be 30% up to a certain “major medical costs.” Costs paid in excess of your deductible (paid to a single healthcare provider within a billing month) can be reimbursed on application (to the ward office in the case of NHI).

Alternatively, if you are an NHI member, you can apply at the ward office beforehand to receive a certificate to submit to the hospital so that you don’t have to pay for any costs beyond the amount of your deductible. The same could be true for those with employee health insurance: please speak to your company contact person.

Tax Deductions

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On a final positive note, medical expenses (including birth costs and prenatal care) meeting a certain threshold (usually, a minimum of ¥100,000) over the tax year are able to be deducted from your income tax liability. As such, you will likely be able to receive a tax rebate by filing a return (kakutei shinkoku) by March 15th of the following year. For more information, please consult your local municipality or the angel admin at your office.

Have you or your partner had a baby in Japan? Let us know the costs and benefits that most surprised you below.

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This article was initially written by Rosie Blakely but has been updated by Elizabeth Sok with the latest information for 2024.

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