Children’s health, checkups and vaccinations
After your child is born, it helps to check early about infant health checkups, vaccinations, a regular pediatrician and where to seek advice for sudden fever.
Last updated: October 9, 2026
Decision flow when unsure
Check the date, eligible age and what to bring
Ask the office of your municipality of residence
Three things to remember
Check records and vaccination questionnaires or tickets
Check eligible ages and appointment dates
Check schedules and locations for routine vaccines
Four things to check first
1. Infant and child health checkups
These checkups help monitor growth, development, nutrition and early signs of illness. Municipalities provide the statutory 18-month and 3-year checkups nationwide. Other checkups, such as those at one month, three to six months, nine to eleven months or five years, vary by municipality in availability, location, cost and notices.Official information from the Children and Families Agencyand the guidance of your registered municipality should be checked.
| Checkup | Points to confirm |
|---|---|
| At one month and similar ages | Check what your municipality and medical institutions offer |
| Three to six months | Growth, feeding and head control |
| Nine to eleven months | Development, solid foods and movement |
| 18 months | Provided by municipalities; development, teeth and daily habits |
| Three years | Provided by municipalities; development, hearing, vision and daily habits |
| Five years | Ask whether your municipality offers this checkup |
2. Vaccinations
Keep the municipality’s vaccination questionnaires and tickets with the Maternal and Child Health Handbook. If forms are lost or do not arrive, ask your municipality how to obtain replacements.
Routine vaccinations have eligibility ages and intervals. Missing the relevant period can mean losing public funding and needing an optional self-paid vaccination. That does not always mean the child cannot receive it. Some vaccines have medical age limits, and exceptions can apply for circumstances such as long-term illness. If a deadline is missed, ask your doctor and municipality promptly.
After moving, forms from the previous municipality may no longer be accepted. Confirm vaccination records and documents in the new municipality. Check the appointment date, requirements and eligible period when booking.
Information checked October 12, 2026.Ministry of Health: Vaccination Q&A。
The national health emergency management institute published a 2026 vaccination schedule. Eligible vaccines, ages and spacing differ; vaccination locations, booking systems and forms also differ by municipality.Official 2026 vaccination scheduleUse it as a reference, and confirm with your municipality and medical facility.
Check notices
Review vaccination tickets and questionnaires sent by the municipality.
Confirm timing
Check eligible ages and intervals between doses.
Book
Arrange the vaccination with a pediatric clinic or other provider.
Record
Record completed vaccinations in the Maternal and Child Health Handbook.
Bring vaccination records from your home country and ask a doctor or municipality how to coordinate the Japanese schedule.
3. If your child becomes ill
Important clarification:If vaccination forms are missing or have not arrived, you moved, or vaccinations were given overseas, ask the municipality where you live about replacements, eligible ages, dose intervals and records. Even after the publicly funded period, exceptions such as long-term illness may apply, so consult a doctor and municipality. Eligibility for child medical cost assistance and recipient certificates also varies locally.
4. What foreign families should check
| Maternal and Child Health Handbook | Ask your municipality about multilingual materials or explanations |
| Checkup notices | Notices from a former municipality may not apply after moving |
| Vaccination records | Keep overseas records and bring them to medical appointments |
| Medical cost assistance | Rules and eligible ages differ by municipality |
| Interpretation and language | Check pediatric clinics for support in your preferred language |
5. Items to prepare in advance
6. Read next
Notes by residence and employment status
Official information
Checkups, vaccination arrangements and child medical cost subsidies differ by municipality. Check the guidance where you live.