Shinjuku City to Provide Free School Lunches or Equivalent Cash Benefit

The Shinjuku City Board of Education is making school lunches at Shinjuku City schools free of charge to reduce the financial burden on families raising children. For households with children attending private schools or similar institutions, the city will provide a cash benefit equivalent to the cost of school lunches at Shinjuku City schools. This benefit will be paid in three installments per year.

● Students attending Shinjuku City schools [Free school lunches]
No school lunch fees will be collected from parents/guardians. Public funds will cover the full cost. (No procedures required.)
● Students attending private schools, etc. [Cash benefit]
A notification will be sent in late May to households eligible for the first payment.

Eligibility

Children who meet all of the following conditions:
・ Of school age (from the first grade of elementary school to the third year of junior high school) in FY2026 and not enrolled in a Shinjuku City school.
・ Recorded in the Shinjuku City Board of Education’s school-age register on each reference date.
Notes:
1. Children enrolled in a Shinjuku City school who do not receive school lunches due to food allergies or other reasons may also be eligible.
2. If you have special circumstances such as domestic violence, please contact the office listed under Inquiries below.

Reference Dates

First payment: May 1, 2026
Second payment: September 10, 2026
Third payment: January 10, 2027

Payment Amount

Elementary school students: 69,000 yen per year
Junior high school students: 87,000 yen per year

Application Procedure

Please mail the confirmation form enclosed with the notification in the return envelope provided by Friday, July 31, 2026 (postmark valid).
Note: In principle, no procedures are required for households that received the third payment last fiscal year and residents of households that were registered in Shinjuku City on January 1, 2026 and received the school entrance financial awards, since their bank account information will be carried over.

For more information, please visit the Shinjuku City website.
 

April 15, 2026