Babysitters in Japan for traveling families

How sitters are regulated

In Japanese law, babysitting counts as private childcare (居宅訪問型保育). Since April 2016, anyone who looks after even one child as a business must notify the prefecture, or the city in larger cities, within a month of starting, and report every year. Since 2019, a sitter who is not a licensed childcare worker or nurse is expected to have completed set training.

Checking a sitter against the official list

There is no single national list. Tokyo publishes one for most of the city, while some wards, such as Minato, Bunkyo, Shinagawa and Setagaya, keep their own. Kyoto and Osaka publish theirs, and the national search site ここdeサーチ covers registered providers. The lists are in Japanese, and Tokyo notes its list may be out of date.

Being on a list shows the sitter told the authorities they exist. It is not an inspection or a recommendation.

Agencies, apps and hotels

• Agencies employ or contract their own sitters.
• Matching sites and apps connect you with individual sitters. The government publishes which sites meet its guideline.
• Hotels: some large hotels arrange a sitter in your room, usually for staying guests only and with a few days' notice. Ask whether the sitter speaks English.

The government's checklist for parents

Japan's Children and Families Agency (こども家庭庁) advises parents to choose on trust, not price, and to:

• Meet the sitter before the booking, and hand your child only to that same person.
• Check the company name, the sitter's name and contact details, and a photo ID.
• Ask to see any qualification they mention, such as a 保育士 (licensed childcare worker) card.
• Confirm the sitter or the company is insured.
• If care happens anywhere other than your room, see the place first.
• Agree how you will stay in touch during the booking, and what happens in an emergency.
• Ask for a short report on how it went when you pick up.

English-speaking sitters

Several private services offer English-speaking sitters who come to hotels and rentals in the big cities. Apply the same checks to them.

How far ahead to book

There is no fixed rule. Hotels typically want a few days' notice; private sitters vary. Book early for school holidays and evenings.

Where TabiTots fits

TabiTots lists babysitters and local childcare providers alongside schools and activities. We check each provider's registration before they can take a booking, you see their details up front, and you book in English or Japanese. Our checks do not replace yours: use the checklist above too.