School pickup & after-school care

From the school gate
to your front door.

When work runs past pickup time, a CareFinder sitter collects your child from school or daycare and looks after them at home — snacks, homework, play — until you're back. Interviewed, insured, and someone your child gets to know.

Find an after-school sitter Registration is free. Post your weekly schedule and sitters who match apply to you.

Trusted since 2013Over 50,000 sittings for more than 6,000 families.

Every sitter interviewedOver 1,000 sitters individually screened since 2013.

Insured up to ¥500 millionSompo Japan liability insurance on every booked sitting.

Rated 4.9 / 5 by familiesSitters with roots in more than 60 countries and regions.

A typical afternoon

What after-school care looks like

Regular, dependable care built around your child's routine — with the same sitter each time, ideally.

Pickup at the gate

Your sitter meets your child at school, daycare or the after-school program at the agreed time and walks or escorts them home.

Snack & settle

A snack, a change of clothes, and time to decompress after a long school day.

Homework & reading

Gentle homework support and reading together — in English or Japanese, as you prefer.

Play until you're home

Games, crafts and outdoor time, then a proper handover when you walk in the door.

Pricing

Clear rates, agreed before you book

Each sitter's profile shows their hourly rate. For regular pickups, agree the weekly pattern and price with your sitter up front.

Regular pickups work best on the subscription plan

Rates are set per sitter and shown on their profile — confirm before booking
Weekly after-school care adds up quickly, so the 11% subscription fee usually beats the 22% free-plan fee
Transportation for the sitter is covered at actual cost

Two simple plans

Free plan: ¥0 per month, with a 22% (tax incl.) fee per sitting — good for trying it out or occasional bookings.
Subscription plan: ¥3,278/month (tax incl.), with the fee reduced to 11% (tax incl.) — better value once sittings become regular.
You can switch plans anytime. The sitter's transportation costs are covered by the family at actual cost.

How it works

From sign-up to your first booking

Register for free

It takes a few minutes, and registration alone costs nothing.

Post your job

Enter dates, area, your children's ages and preferences. Sitters who match apply, and you compare profiles and reviews.

Choose a plan

After seeing who applied, pick the plan that fits how often you'll book. You can change it later.

Agree terms & book

Discuss the details and rate with your sitter — interview first if you like — then book once you both agree.

See the full step-by-step process on our How it works page →

CareFinder sitter helping a schoolgirl with homework at a table

CareFinder sitters

Why families trust CareFinder
with the school run

Interviewed one by one. Since 2013 our team has individually screened over 1,000 applicants, checking identity, experience and suitability.
Consistency matters. Post a recurring job and book the same sitter each week, so pickup is a familiar face — not a stranger at the gate.
Bilingual by design. Sitters with roots in 60+ countries — helpful for international-school families and for ouchi eigo afternoons.
Insured, every time. Sompo Japan liability insurance up to ¥500 million covers every sitting booked through CareFinder.

What parents say

From families who booked through CareFinder

Reviews left by parents through CareFinder's review system after their sittings.

She helped me pick up my 2-year-old daughter at daycare and took care of her during my work.

★★★★★— Ruka

She takes my 7-year-old son swimming to the local pool every week. They have a blast, and she is unphased by his 7-year-old antics.

★★★★★— Melissa

As our regular babysitter, she has built solid bonds with our 8-year-old daughter and our family.

★★★★★— Natsuki

FAQ

School pickup FAQ

Can a babysitter legally pick my child up from school in Japan?

Yes, provided the school or daycare has your authorization. Most schools ask parents to register the sitter's name in advance — check your school's pickup policy and share the sitter's details with them.

Can the sitter walk or take public transport with my child?

Yes. Agree the route and mode of transport with your sitter in advance and note it in the job post, so expectations are clear from the first pickup.

Can I book the same sitter every week?

Yes — post a recurring job and book the sitter you've chosen for the weekly pattern. Many families keep the same after-school sitter for years.

What if our plans change?

Cancellation is free until 48 hours before the sitting starts. Between 48 and 24 hours, 50% of the sitting fee applies, and within 24 hours, 100%. The same policy applies to every sitter, so there are no surprises.

How are sitters vetted?

Every applicant is interviewed individually — identity, background, experience and qualifications are checked, and only those who pass our internal screening join CareFinder. For sitters caring for infants and toddlers, we also confirm the municipal notifications required by law.

Is there insurance during sittings?

Yes. Sittings booked through CareFinder are covered by Sompo Japan liability insurance, with coverage up to ¥500 million.

From the school gateto your front door.