Tokyo Kindergarten for toddlers

Hi Everyone,

We will be moving to Tokyo in early 2025.
Our sweet little toddler will be 3 years old when we land in Japan and we are currently looking at private and Government subsidised local kindergartens around Shinagawa and Minato-Ku areas.
Adding that my wife speak Japanese which will make things easier for us.

My questions are:

Local Government Kindergarten:
I understand that the local government kindergartens will accept the child based on the area of residence meaning that an existing address is a must.
Considering that it may take a few weeks or even a month to obtain an address due to “house hunting” I’m a little worried.

Could you share the application process ?
My main concern is the timing, meaning how fast can my toddler start attending the kindergarten.
Can you apply at any time ? Or based on “terms” ?

Local Private Kindergarten:
Can you apply to a private local kindergarten given the fact that you are not in Japan (yet) + do not have an address ?

In terms of the cost, is it different from international kindergartens ? I’m asking because the internationals aren’t in our budget

Do you have to provide sort of a “proof” for your visa application e.g evidence of relocating to Japan ? It does make sense to me that any kindergartens would like to have an “assurance” that they don’t keep 1 space for only the min tuition fee.

Recommendations:
Do you have a recommendation on local kindergartens in Shinagawa and or Minato-ku ?
We are a mixed European-Asian family, and ideally looking for a local kindergarten with foreign kids / English speaking sensei.

Thank you very much for taking the time reading my post. Highly appreciate any piece of advise.

I have emailed several kindergartens and waiting for reply…

I checked Minato-ku’s information on kindergarten:
FY2024 (started in April 2024) for the public ones, applications were accepted on Nov. 20, 21, & 22 in person, or to be received by 22 if posted by snail mail, and they required that the families are residents in Minato-ku (those “scheduled to move in” were not allowed).
If there had been more applicants, they would have done a lottery, but for FY2024, lottery didn’t take place. If the kindergartens are not full, they do accept later applications, but usually by December they want the parents to start getting ready, meaning getting the kids go through health check-up, conducting an interview (with parents and the kid), getting the uniforms ready (if applicable), etc.

The difference between public and private ones seems to be mainly in the fees. (The average figure mentioned in one website is 170,000 yen vs. 350,000 yen.)

Here is a list of private kindergartens in Minato-ku (in English):
https://www.city.minato.tokyo.jp/kyouikushomu/kodomo/gakko/yochien/shi...

If you come at the beginning of the year and want get your child enrolled from April right away, asking your employer for house hunting earlier, possibly narrowing down on the area, and asking a private kindergarten if they accommodate your child right away might be easier than with public ones.

When it comes to finding kindergarten with non-Japanese kids or English-speaking teachers, I guess you’d have to ask the individual kindergarten, or ask your employer for their experience.

(I’m Japanese, and have helped a non-Japanese friend when she wanted to send her child to a child care center, and then onto a public elementary school, even though in a different ward of Tokyo. Unless you send your child to an international one, they expect that you bring a local friend/an interpreter with you, and that you can read all the newsletter and brochures in Japanese that they send out.) I hope someone with experience can contribute with more insight.
Best wishes.