Prenatal & infant checkups,mostly covered by 22 vouchers (~¥123,000)
Official name
Maternal & infant checkup vouchers (in-Tokyo) — 妊婦健康診査・産婦健康診査・1ヶ月児健康診査(都内契約医療機関)
When you register your pregnancy at Minato Ward (妊娠届出), you receive your maternal & child health handbook (母子健康手帳) together with a packet of 22 vouchers covering checkups during and after pregnancy.
Each voucher has a per-visit cap. If you receive checkups at contracted clinics within Tokyo, the voucher is applied at the counter — no out-of-pocket payment unless the clinic charges more than the cap. Caps are uniform across Tokyo's 23 wards. From April 2026 (R8.4), three new postpartum vouchers were added: 2 maternal postpartum checkups (within 2 months of birth) and 1 one-month-old infant checkup. Total voucher count rose from 19 to 22, and total coverage rose to about ¥123,000. For checkups outside Tokyo (e.g., during 里帰り出産, returning home for childbirth), use a separate reimbursement program — see the "outside-Tokyo" page.PER-VOUCHER CAP (R8 RATES)
Initial prenatal checkup (1st)
11,670JPY
Subsequent prenatal checkups (2nd–14th, each)
5,460JPY
Prenatal ultrasound (each, up to 4)
5,300JPY
Cervical cancer screening (1)
3,400JPY
Maternal postpartum checkup (NEW R8.4, ×2 within 2 months of birth)
5,000JPY
One-month-old infant checkup (NEW R8.4, days 27–41 after birth)
6,000JPY
Total cap (all 22 vouchers used)
~123,250JPY
Vouchers cover the listed standard checkup items. Optional tests (NIPT prenatal screening, 4D ultrasound, etc.) are not covered. Always confirm with the clinic before your visit whether they accept Minato vouchers.
VOUCHER PACKET
22 vouchers in your packet
All 22 vouchers are issued at once when you receive your maternal & child health handbook.
Initial prenatal checkup (1 voucher)
cap ¥11,670
Subsequent prenatal checkups (13 vouchers)
cap ¥5,460 each
Prenatal ultrasound (4 vouchers)
cap ¥5,300 each
Cervical cancer screening (1 voucher)
cap ¥3,400
Maternal postpartum checkup (2 vouchers, NEW)
cap ¥5,000 each
One-month-old infant checkup (1 voucher, NEW)
cap ¥6,000
ELIGIBILITY
Who can use these vouchers
Anyone registered as a Minato Ward resident at the time of pregnancy registration
Both Japanese citizens and foreign residents qualify. Resident registration (住民登録) is the only requirement — there is no income test, no nationality test. The vouchers come with the maternal & child handbook and are issued for free.
Foreign residents
If you have a residence card (在留カード) and a Minato Ward residence registration (住民票), you receive the same vouchers. The maternal handbook itself comes in multiple languages (English, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian) — request your preferred language at the counter.
If you move to Minato during pregnancy
Bring your old maternal handbook and unused vouchers from your previous municipality. Minato will exchange them for Minato vouchers usable at Tokyo clinics.
Vouchers can only be used at Tokyo contracted clinics
The voucher system covers most clinics within Tokyo's 23 wards and the Tama area. For checkups outside Tokyo (other prefectures, including 里帰り出産), use the separate "outside-Tokyo reimbursement" program — pay first at the out-of-Tokyo clinic, then claim back from Minato within 1 year of birth.
HOW TO USE
At your checkup visit
- Bring the voucher booklet, your maternal & child handbook, and your health insurance card
- At the reception, hand the relevant voucher to the clinic staff
- If the clinic's fee is at or below the cap, you pay nothing at the counter
- If the clinic charges above the cap (e.g., your initial prenatal at ¥13,000 vs. ¥11,670 cap), you pay only the difference (¥1,330)
- Optional procedures (4D ultrasound, NIPT, etc.) are billed separately and fully self-pay
Most Tokyo OB-GYN clinics handle the voucher system smoothly. A few private clinics opt out — call ahead to confirm acceptance. The Minato Health Center (みなと保健所, +81-3-6400-0084) can verify if a specific clinic is in-network.
FAQ
Common questions
What is NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing)? Is it covered?
NIPT is a blood test for fetal chromosomal abnormalities. It is optional, costs ¥150,000–¥200,000, and is not covered by these vouchers. If you want NIPT, ask your clinic; it is usually offered around 10–14 weeks of pregnancy.
If my pregnancy ends in miscarriage or stillbirth, what happens to unused vouchers?
Unused vouchers are no longer needed and don't need to be returned. The vouchers are not reimbursable as cash. There is no penalty for not using them all.
My doctor recommends more than 14 prenatal checkups (high-risk pregnancy). Are extra checkups covered?
Voucher coverage is capped at 14 prenatal checkups + 4 ultrasounds, regardless of pregnancy risk. Additional checkups are billed at the standard fee. However, high-risk pregnancy may be covered partially under your health insurance, so check with the clinic.
Postpartum checkup (R8.4 NEW) — what is it for?
Maternal postpartum checkup is a screening for postpartum depression and physical recovery. Two vouchers are issued, usable within 2 months of delivery at any Tokyo clinic. The new R8.4 program reflects the rising recognition of postpartum maternal health.
One-month-old infant checkup (R8.4 NEW) — separate from the standard infant 1-month checkup at the hospital?
This voucher covers the standard 1-month infant checkup conducted at days 27–41 after birth. Most birth hospitals conduct this checkup as part of their postnatal services; the voucher offsets the cost. If you give birth outside Tokyo, use the outside-Tokyo reimbursement program for this voucher too.
SOURCES