Key costs in raising kids in Japan

Raising kids anywhere comes with some pretty hefty costs, and Japan is no exception to that rule. If you're moving here with children in tow, you might already be bracing yourself for some of the big expenses like education and childcare. However, according to a new survey by Biz Hits, what really drains the wallet isn't always what you'd expect.

Nearly 500 parents across Japan shared their thoughts on the child-related costs that shocked them the most, and the answers painted a picture of how the little things like everyday clothes and shoes often become major budget items.

Clothes, shoes, and diapers (a.k.a. the small drops that fill a bucket)

At the top of the list was everyday clothes, with a third of parents saying clothing costs significantly more than they expected. Kids grow fast and get messy (one thing I personally found out fast was how badly mikan juice stains clothing…something I didn't expect!) and need new sizes almost every season. One thing parents in the study mentioned was that oftentimes, kids clothes cost as much as adult clothes do!

Shoes were the next thing on the list, which is something that also requires frequent replacing because of growth. Some parents mentioned buying new shoes every few months, and certainly if you live in some parts of Japan (like out here in Niigata!) you’ll also be buying them new snow boots each season. Something to consider, perhaps, when choosing where to live.

The cost of diapers for little ones also ranked highly. Even when factoring in sales or bulk purchases, using multiple diapers a day over years is a big expense.

The everyday items like clothes, shoes, and diapers were mentioned by parents as one of their biggest expenses. 

Education and extracurricular costs

Lessons and cram schools can be major ongoing expenses, especially if you have more than one child. Parents in the survey spoke about swimming, piano, rhythmic gymnastics, and tutoring fees stacking up, along with gear, competition costs, and travel. One mother with three children reported spending over 100,000 yen per month on extracurricular activities!

Cram schools also surprised many of the survey respondents with their hidden extras. Spring, summer, and winter intensive courses can multiply monthly fees, and families aiming for elite schools said they easily spent close to a million yen annually on tuition and materials.

Unexpected big spenders

Some of the biggest sticker shocks came from the one-off but culturally important items. Studio photo shoots for events like Shichi-Go-San and Coming of Age Day often exceed 50,000 yen, and sometimes go as high as 80,000 yen, depending on costume rentals and photo packages. Not a small chunk of change by any stretch!

School bags (randoseru) which are often purchased before entering elementary school commonly cost 50,000 to 100,000 yen. Uniforms (even at public schools) often come with extra costs for gym clothes, bags, and accessories. Even school trips surprised families, with some domestic trips reaching into the tens of thousands of yen. One parent recalled paying nearly 240,000 yen for a study trip overseas.

Which costs feel worth it?

Despite the costs, many parents said certain spending felt worthwhile, especially when it came to shared experiences. Travel was the number one category parents felt good about investing in, followed by extracurricular lessons and leisure. These categories were noted not just for creating family memories, but helping kids grow emotionally and socially.

If you're raising kids in Japan, a lot of the list probably feels pretty accurate. I definitely think that the smaller costs like clothes and shoes are the things that end up being the "many drops in a bucket" that make a substantial dent in finances. I'm grateful for blogging here on City-Cost, because I've been able to offset a lot of expenses relating to clothes and shoes for my kids with that extra income.

I think overall the list was a good reminder that spending meaningfully is important, especially when it comes to family experiences like vacations. I don't think they always need to be flashy and cost a bomb, but it made me think about what I'll try to plan (on a reasonable budget!) for summer.

If you're raising children in Japan, were the list items things you resonated with? Are there any other major costs that you've noticed that weren't covered?