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English Babysitting Services in Japan

Choosing the right childcare support for your family

By Rachel Crane |
March 18, 2025 |
Families

Finding an experienced, flexible, English-speaking babysitting service in Japan might sound like a tall order. But with more mothers working full-time and demand for bilingual childcare increasing, there are plenty of great foreign-friendly childcare options around Japan.

Juggling a job and family life is no mean feat, particularly in Japan. The country’s demanding professional culture doesn’t leave a lot of room to work flexibly. This can mean parents aren’t always available for daycare pick-ups, sick days and school holidays. The pressure is even greater for foreign families, who may not have grandparents and other relatives near enough to call on in times of need. In these situations, hiring a nanny or utilizing English babysitting services in Japan can help lighten the load.

Babysitters can provide flexible childcare both in and beyond the family home. Although it remains a pricier option, the Japanese government has begun subsidizing babysitting services in order to help support young families. What’s more, a desire to expose children to English and other foreign languages from an early age means that multilingual babysitting services are also widely available. So, if you’re searching for an English-language babysitting service in Japan, look no further than our handy guide.

The Rise of Babysitting in Japan

Traditionally, hiring a babysitter has been far less common in Japan than in the West. Until relatively recently, Japanese women were expected to stop working after marriage and devote themselves to homemaking and childrearing. The idea of mothers delegating childcare duties to strangers was even considered somewhat distasteful. However, the advancement of women in the Japanese workplace coupled with growing economic pressures means dual-income households are becoming the norm. As a result, it’s now increasingly acceptable for parents to pay for extra help.

Daycare vs. Babysitting

When it comes to childcare services in Japan, there are two main options: daycare and babysitting.

Daycare

Daycare centers are appealing because they’re more affordable than private babysitters. In fact, the Japanese government plans to make daycare services entirely free for children under the age of two starting September 2025. However, parents’ long work hours often exceed daycare pick-up times. Moreover, the demand for daycare services in Japan far outweighs the number of places currently available.

Babysitters

Babysitters, on the other hand, provide a host of advantages that daycare simply can’t offer. To start with, they can devote their full attention to the small number of children in their care. Unlike daycare workers, babysitters can also work as much or as little as needed to fit around each family’s unique schedule.

Many Japanese families also see the value in hiring foreign or multilingual babysitters. Having a multilingual babysitter can give kids a head start when it comes to learning a foreign language. One side effect of this trend is that foreign families looking for English-language childcare will have no shortage of options to choose from.

Babysitter Qualifications in Japan

Although anyone can work as a babysitter in Japan, as of 2016 all professional babysitters must be registered with their local government office. Reputable babysitting services will also employ strict systems to vet employees. There are no formal qualifications, but companies generally employ a multi-tiered screening process to ensure they provide safe and reliable child care to families. Some companies even require employees to complete special training in childcare, etiquette and first aid.

How Much Does A Babysitter Cost?

Child studying at home How Much Does It Cost?

Prices for babysitting services generally start at a very reasonable ¥2,000 to ¥3,000 per hour. However, it’s often cheaper to sign up for an annual membership fee with your babysitting service of choice. Paying for membership can lower services’ hourly rates and save you money in the long run. It’s also worth noting that babysitting services usually charge higher rates early in the morning and very late at night (after 10 p.m.). Extra services such as taking kids on trips, bathing and helping with household tasks can also incur an extra charge.

Government Discount for Babysitting Services

In 2015, the Japanese government introduced babysitting service discount coupons for employees of participating companies. In order to take advantage of the subsidy, you need to be a full-time employee of a company registered with the All Japan Childcare Association (ACSA). If your own employer isn’t signed up, it’s worth talking to your HR manager to suggest they take advantage of the scheme. You must also be enrolled in the company’s health insurance plan.

The discount coupons are available to parents with a child in the third grade of elementary school or below or a child in the sixth grade of elementary school or below with additional needs. For those eligible, companies can provide coupons offering a ¥2,200 discount on a range of babysitting services. Parents can receive up to two coupons per child per day. This system gives parents the option to hire slightly more affordable childcare when needed while continuing to work as usual.

Foreign-Friendly Babysitting Services to Try

Foreign-friendly babysitting services employ sitters who speak English and other languages. Some can send overnight babysitters to support parents who work night shifts, and many sitters will come to travelers’ hotels in major cities around Japan. Children of all ages can benefit from the services, and several also provide postnatal and newborn care. Take a look at these foreign-friendly babysitting services for more details.

1. CareFinder

CareFinder is a service that allows parents to find freelance foreign-language speaking babysitters across the country. All of their sitters go through a strict screening process and are government-registered.

Location: Nationwide.
Price: From ¥1,500 per hour plus transportation and transaction fees.

2. Babysitters

Japan’s first foreign-language babysitting service employs 25-30 sitters in major cities around Japan. All of their sitters are fluent in English, with many speaking additional languages.

Location: Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka.
Price: ¥3,000 per hour plus transportation. Extra fees apply for weekends, holidays and early morning/late night hours.

3. Chez Vous

Chez Vous is a housekeeping and babysitting service based primarily in Tokyo and Kanagawa. They employ a number of experienced bilingual and foreign babysitting staff.

Location: Tokyo and Kanagawa. Inquire for availability in other areas.
Price: Regular Plan (more than once a month); ¥3,200 per hour plus ¥1,000 transportation. Spot Plan (one-time only) ¥4,500 per hour plus ¥1,000 transportation fee. Extra fees apply for weekends, holidays, and early morning/late night hours.

4. Poppins

Poppins is a female-owned babysitting service inspired by the traditional British nanny system. Their Japanese staff provide ‘educational care’ in both English and Japanese. They also run three private nursery schools in Tokyo.

Location: Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto and Ashiya (Hyogo).
Price: Inquire via the contact form on the website for details.

5. Honey Clover

Honey Clover matches parents with a babysitter who meets their requirements, including multilingual sitters. Service members have the option either to accept a babysitter chosen by Honey Clover or search for one themselves.

Location: Nationwide.
Price: Negotiated between parents and sitters, plus transportation and matching fees.

Have you had experience using English babysitting services in Japan? Let us know in the comments.

English Babysitting Services in Japan

The Rise of Babysitting in Japan