TsukubaCityInformation
City of Science and Nature

Difference between Kindergarten and Nursery School

Children go to nursery school while their parents work. Kindergarten is a precursor to regular school. Nursery schools have longer operating hours to help working parents. Kindergartens are generally limited to 4 hours per day (some offer extended care), as children of that age cannot study longer than that in a day.

Nursery schools provide help for parents who hold full time jobs or who, for other reasons, cannot provide full-time care for their children. Nursery schools can accept children up to age 5. There are 23 public and 8 private nursery schools in Tsukuba.

Applying for Nursery Schools

First Round: fall of previous year

Families who live in Tsukuba can send their children to nursery schools if their children are eligible for group care. After Nov 1, please pick up a "Guide to Nursery School Admittance" (Japanese only) and an application form at the Children's Services Division at Tsukuba city hall (1st floor, Desk 2). You can also find copies at the Kukizaki Branch Office, at each city hall branch, at the Yoshinuma Satellite Office, and at each nursery school.

Apply for the first round at the Sakura City Hall Branch on the following days: Dec 2 (Kukizaki), Dec 5/6 (Yatabe), Dec 7 (Oho), Dec 8 (Toyosato), Dec 9 (Tsukuba), Dec 12/13 (Sakura), Dec 14, 15, 16. Please register your child on the designated day for the area that you live in.

After the first round application deadline has passed, the initial screening and selection of new attendees will be conducted. A second round will follow, and new entries will be selected. Please refer back to the October Issue of Tsukuba Newsletter, Koho Tsukuba or check with the Children's Division, Nursery Schools Administrator. Pick up applications at the Children's Division (Sakura Branch of City Hall), reception counters of all branches of City Hall; Kukizaki Branch Office; Yoshinuma Satellite City Hall Office, and at all nursery schools. Contact: Childrens Services Division, Preschool Manager.

Second Round: January 4 to February 10, 2006

Excluding weekends, holidays at the Kukizaki Branch of the City Hall, Children's Services Division, Lifestyle Division, 9am to 11:30am, 1pm to 4pm.

Please look at the "Guide to Nursery School Admittance" to see what you must bring to the application process at the city hall. Applications will be accepted from 9am to 11:30am and from 1pm to 4pm. If you are not able to go on the designated day, please go on one of the other days mentioned above. The second round of applications will be accepted from January 4 to February 10, 2006 at the Children's Services Division of the Sakura Branch and at the Kukizaki Branch from 9am to 11:30am and from 1pm to 4pm on regular workdays.

Please note:

1. Incomplete application forms will not be accepted.
2. If your child is already in a nursery school and you would like to move him/her to a different school next year, please use this same application form.
3. If there is not enough room in a particular nursery school, your child may be placed on a waiting list. This list will be evaluated once a month until March 2006.
4. If you apply to start in any month after April, you must apply by the 10th of the previous month. Your child will be put on the waiting list with the other children.

Contact: Children's Services Division

Nursery School Availability (Apr 2006 to Mar 2007 School Year)

(as of October 2005)

Contact: Childrens Services Division

Nursery Schools in Tsukuba

Topics: Education
Relevant for: Newcomers, Residents

Please note: While all efforts have been made to offer accurate and up-to-date information on this site, the information is presented as a guideline and is subject to change without notification. Phone numbers, addresses, and/or policies may have changed since this page was created. Please contact the appropriate section of the City Hall for confirmation of information and city policies.