Attending a prenatal class is a valuable experience. Want to join one but don’t know what to expect from a class in Japan? Here is one Mama’s experience.

“Hee, hee, whoo.” The women with swollen bellies rest between the legs of their partners and concentrate on breathing. The partners sit, avoiding eye contact with one another as they try to coach their significant others. A sprightly yet soft-spoken woman walks the aisles, encouraging the women to breathe. The sounds of determined breathing echo through the stuffy room. That was my Hollywood-influenced image of what a prenatal class would look like. It loomed before me, an awkward rite of passage that I thought every pregnant couple had to traverse. Would a prenatal class in Japan be the same? Here is what you need to know about where to enroll and my personal experience.

Prenatal Classes in Japan

[

](https://cdn.savvytokyo.com/app/uploads/2021/09/iStock-2221815211.jpg)Some classes target both parents, while others focus on the mother.

You decide to be diligent and want to start learning about this birthing business. Where to begin? Your local city health center in Japan will probably provide prenatal classes for prospective parents, free of charge. You should be able to find this information in the pregnancy packet you received when registering your pregnancy in Japan. Your hospital may also offer prenatal classes. 

The majority of classes are offered in Japanese only. I think that joining a local class is beneficial even if you have only a basic grasp of the language. There are also some great English options available. Classes may target both parents (両親学級 ryoshin gakkyu) or focus on the mother only (母親学級 hahaoya gakkyu).

Whether you go alone or with your partner, attending a prenatal class in Japan offers the following benefits:

• Attending a prenatal class in Japan can boost your confidence. 

• It can take some of the unknown out of the daunting process of childbirth, particularly helpful in a foreign country. 

• It can also equip you with techniques for coping with pain during labor. 

• A prenatal class can even provide you with a community of parents-to-be and prepare your partner to be an involved and supportive player during the big event. 

Where to Sign Up

[

](https://cdn.savvytokyo.com/app/uploads/2021/09/iStock-1284723427.jpg)Start at your local city health center or by inquiring at your hospital of choice.

Here’s a short list of places to enroll in prenatal classes in Japan. If you don’t live in Tokyo, there are online options, too!

• Shinjuku City Office (for Shinjuku residents only)

• Minato City Public Health Center (offers mother and parent classes)

• Shibuya City Office  (parent classes) 

• Aiiku Hospital (offers online and in-person classes in English)

• Tokyo Pregnancy Group (online classes in English)

• Shimizu Maternity Clinic (prenatal classes and maternity yoga for mothers only)

• Baby Shower Japan (online and in-person prenatal classes)

• Childbirth Education Center (online and in-person classes, offered in English/Japanese)

My Prenatal Class Experience in Japan

[

](https://cdn.savvytokyo.com/app/uploads/2021/09/iStock-1063148786.jpg)New-found knowledge, community and confidence to enter this new chapter.

I participated in hahaoya gakkyu sessions offered by my local hospital. The class cost about ¥5,000 and consisted of five, two-hour sessions spread over several months.

The First Class

While the class focused on mothers, fathers were welcome to attend as well. All of us tentatively strode into the first class, hand-in-hand. We took our seats and hoped that there was no detailed talk about breastfeeding or tearing “down there.” 

Instead, the day’s activities included jikoshokai (self-introductions), a “guess my due date” game and a lecture from a junior doctor. The latter informed us about several things that could go wrong during our pregnancies, what red flags to look out for and offered caution not to gain too much weight.

A Winding Route

The following three classes took us on a winding route through lifestyle and nutrition during pregnancy (no bike riding or chocolate eating allowed). We also had a session on pregnancy-safe exercises and a review of baby supplies we should prepare. There were also lessons on the development of the fetus during pregnancy, breastfeeding and baby-holding.

The Last Lap

The final class was held on a Saturday so that fathers could attend. We discussed the stages of labor and delivery, toured the hospital, watched a very non-intimidating birth video and reviewed a list of things to bring to the hospital. We also covered how to call, arrive at and check in at the hospital. 

The best part was when the fathers were encouraged to put on pregnancy suits and reach things on the floor. The purpose of the exercise was to help them develop empathy toward their partners. The men’s embarrassed looks, complemented by the smug grins and snapping of photos by the mothers, were classic.

My Takeaways

Although I could only grasp the main points of the material due to my limited Japanese, I enjoyed the light atmosphere of the prenatal classes. It also served as a great place to meet other mommies-to-be in my neighborhood. I can tell you that nothing beats the feeling of solidarity that comes from being part of a group of women approaching the great unknown of childbirth for the first time! 

I would recommend joining a local prenatal class in Japan, particularly if you are short in the “pregnant friends” department. Even if you don’t speak Japanese well, there might be at least one English speaker in the class, although you may have to take the first step in striking up a conversation. 

I was deeply grateful to the kind midwife who facilitated the course. She spoke slowly to me and took time after each class to check whether I needed additional clarification. We also received a coursebook outlining most of what was covered so I was able to decipher missed information later on.

The Reunion

Six months after the final class, the hospital organized a reunion of the mothers from our group. We all attended with our 3-month-old babies in tow. It was a great time sharing birth stories, admiring our cute babies, raising concerns, asking questions and offering advice to one another. One of the hospital’s nutritionists also stopped by to offer advice on introducing solids.

Overall, the experience and friends I made (with whom I still have occasional contact) were definitely a welcome addition to my pregnancy and birth journey.

Helpful Resources

Here are some other good resources to ease those mom-to-be jitters:

• Key Family Policy Changes in Japan in 2026

• Epidurals in Japan: The Growing Support for Pain Relief During Labor

• Counting the Yen: the Cost of Giving Birth in Japan

• Tokyo Mothers Group 

Happy delivery, fellow mamas!

This article was originally written by Rosie Blakely and updated by Suzanne Bhagan