Where Will My Child Live?

One of the biggest concerns for families of people with disabilities is housing. Where will your child live when they grow up? What happens when you can no longer provide daily care? In Japan, group homes (guruupu hoomu / グループホーム) are one of the most important answers to that question.

A group home, formally called kyoudou seikatsu enjo (共同生活援助), is a disability welfare service that provides a shared living arrangement where people with disabilities live together in a small, home-like setting in the community, with staff support for daily life.

Group homes are not institutions. They are designed to look and feel like ordinary houses or apartments, located in residential neighborhoods. The goal is for residents to live as part of the local community, with as much independence as possible, while receiving the support they need.

Who Can Use a Group Home?

Group homes are available to people with disabilities who need some level of support for daily life but want to live in the community rather than in a large residential facility. This includes people with intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health conditions, and developmental disabilities.

There is no restriction based on disability type or severity level. Whether your child has a ryouiku techou (療育手帳) graded A, B, or any other level does not determine whether they can apply. People with any shougai shien kubun (障害支援区分), or disability support classification, from non-applicable through level 6, can apply for group home services.

For physical disabilities specifically, the person must be under 65, or must have used disability welfare services before turning 65. There is no upper age limit for people with intellectual or mental health disabilities, though after age 65, the kaigo hoken (介護保険) long-term care insurance system generally takes priority. However, if the person does not have a dementia diagnosis, they can continue using a disability group home after 65.

Why Self-Care Matters More Than Disability Level

Here is something I found out from a counseling session at the welfare department in my city: your child’s disability grade matters far less than their self-care skills.

When a group home evaluates a potential resident, they look at what the person can actually do in daily life. Can they use the toilet independently? Can they bathe with minimal help? Can they dress themselves? Can they eat without one-on-one assistance? Can they follow a daily schedule? Can they manage basic safety (not leaving the stove on, not wandering at night)?

Group homes assess two types of abilities:

ADL (Activities of Daily Living / Nichijou Seikatsu Dousa / 日常生活動作): Basic self-care tasks like toileting, bathing, dressing, eating, and transferring (getting in and out of a bed, chair, or shower).
IADL (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living): More complex daily tasks like managing money, using transportation, shopping, organizing a daily routine, and communicating needs to staff.

The more self-care skills your child has, the more group homes will accept them. A person with a severe intellectual disability grading (A on the ryouiku techou) who has strong self-care skills may have more group home options than someone with a milder grading who cannot manage basic daily tasks independently. The grade on the disability handbook opens the door to services, but the self-care skills determine which specific homes will be a good fit.

This is one of the most important reasons to invest in building self-care skills from an early age. Every skill your child develops now is one that expands their housing options later. Toileting, bathing, dressing, eating, following routines, and communicating needs are all skills that directly affect where your child can live as an adult.

The Importance of Japanese

Group homes in Japan operate entirely in Japanese. Staff communicate in Japanese. House rules, daily schedules, and activity instructions are in Japanese. Other residents communicate in Japanese. Mealtimes, outings, and group activities are conducted in Japanese.

For the child of a foreign family, this means that understanding and being able to communicate in Japanese at a functional level is practically important for group home life. Your child does not need to read or write fluently, but being able to understand daily instructions, express basic needs, and interact with staff and housemates in Japanese makes group home life significantly easier and opens up more options.

If your child’s Japanese is limited, this is something to work on over time through school, therapy, and daily life. Some group homes may be more accommodating than others, but the reality is that Japanese is the language of daily life in these homes.

Types of Group Homes

Japan has three main types of disability group homes. The type determines how care and support are provided.

1. Kaigo Saabisu Houkatsugata (介護サービス包括型) / Inclusive Care Service Type

The group home’s own staff provide all daily care, including help with bathing, toileting, meals, and other personal care. Staff called sewanin (世話人) handle daily living support, and seikatsu shienin (生活支援員) provide direct care. This is the most common type and is suitable for residents with higher support needs.

2. Gaibu Saabisu Riyougata (外部サービス利用型) / External Service Type

The group home provides daily living support through its own staff, but personal care services like bathing and toileting assistance are provided by an outside home care agency (kyotaku kaigo jigyousho / 居宅介護事業所). This type may suit residents who need less hands-on care.

3. Nicchuu Saabisu Shiengata (日中サービス支援型) / Daytime Service Support Type

This type has 24-hour staffing and provides support during the daytime as well as at night. Most group homes primarily provide nighttime support because residents attend day programs, workshops, or jobs during the day. The Daytime Service Support type is designed for people with more severe disabilities or elderly residents who do not leave the home during the day.

4. Satellite-Type Housing

Some group homes also offer a sateraito gata juukyo (サテライト型住居), or satellite-type housing. This is a single-person apartment or unit located near the main group home. The resident lives alone but receives regular support visits from group home staff. This is designed as a stepping stone toward fully independent living and is time-limited.

What Does a Group Home Look Like?

Group homes are required to be located in residential areas and to look like ordinary houses from the outside. Most are converted private homes or apartments. Most group homes are converted private homes or apartment units located in residential neighborhoods. The majority are rented properties rather than owned..

Each group home unit has a maximum of 10 residents, though the average is about 6. Each resident has their own private room with a minimum floor area of 7.43 square meters (about 80 square feet), not counting closet space. Shared spaces typically include a kitchen, living room, and bathroom.

For new construction, the total resident capacity is limited to 10 per dwelling. Existing buildings converted to group homes can house up to 20 residents, and in special cases approved by the prefectural governor, up to 30.

Staffing

Every group home is required to have certain staff:

Saabisu Kanri Sekininsha (サービス管理責任者): Service Management Director. This person creates individual support plans for each resident and oversees the quality of support.
Sewanin (世話人): House staff. They help with daily routines, household tasks, meal preparation, and general living support. The minimum ratio is 1 sewanin for every 6 residents.
Seikatsu Shienin (生活支援員): Life support workers. They provide direct personal care such as bathing, toileting, and meal assistance. Required in the Inclusive Care type, with staffing ratios based on residents’ support needs.

Some group homes also have night staff (yakan shien / 夜間支援) for overnight support, and the Daytime Service Support type requires staff during daytime hours as well.

What Support Is Provided?

Group home services focus primarily on nighttime and early morning support, since most residents spend their days at work, day programs (seikatsu kaigo / 生活介護), or vocational training. The main services include:

Help with daily routines such as cooking, cleaning, and laundry
Personal care assistance (bathing, toileting, meals) as needed
Advice and support for daily life decisions and concerns
Coordination with workplaces, day service programs, and other agencies
Support for leisure activities and community participation
Creation of an individual support plan (kobetsu shien keikaku / 個別支援計画) tailored to each resident

Family Visits and Home Stays

A group home is your family member’s home, but that does not mean they are cut off from you. Family involvement is a normal and expected part of group home life.

Visiting the group home: Family members can visit the resident at the group home. Most homes have visiting guidelines, such as visiting hours and sign-in procedures, to respect the routines and privacy of all residents. Ask about visiting policies when you are evaluating group homes, as they vary from one home to the next.

Going home on weekends and holidays (kitaku / 帰宅 or kisei / 帰省): Residents can return home to stay with their family. Weekend visits, holiday stays during obon and New Year, and other family time are all normal. The group home system formally recognizes and supports this through the home return support addition (kitaku ji shien kasan / 帰宅時支援加算), which reimburses group home staff for coordinating the resident’s return home, including contacting the family, arranging transportation, and preparing the resident for the visit. For longer stays at home, a long-term home return support addition (chouki kitaku ji shien kasan / 長期帰宅時支援加算) covers stays of up to three months. These are part of the MHLW reimbursement framework, meaning home visits are not just allowed but formally built into the system.

To arrange a home stay, let the group home staff know in advance. They will help coordinate the logistics and may provide guidance on preparation. The group home remains the person’s primary residence throughout.

Outings with family (gaishutsu / 外出): Family members can take the resident out for day trips, meals, shopping, or other activities. The resident informs staff and follows the group home’s curfew, which is typically around 10 PM. As long as staff are informed in advance, outings with family are part of normal daily life.

Staying informed: Most group homes keep families informed through a communication notebook (renraku chou / 連絡帳), phone calls, or regular updates. Some homes hold periodic family meetings (kazoku kai / 家族会) where families can discuss their family member’s care, progress, and goals with staff. When choosing a group home, ask how and how often they communicate with families. A home that keeps families closely involved is usually a home that cares about its residents.

What Disability Handbooks and Recipient Certificates Do You Need?

To apply for a group home, your family member needs two things:

1. A Disability Disability Handbook (Techou / 手帳)

The person must hold one of Japan’s three disability disability handbooks: the shintai shougaisha techou (身体障害者手帳, physical disability disability handbook), the ryouiku techou (療育手帳, intellectual disability disability handbook), or the seishin shougaisha hoken fukushi techou (精神障害者保健福祉手帳, mental health disability handbook). See our articles on each of the three disability disability handbooks for details.

2. A Recipient Certificate (Jukyuusha Shou / 受給者証)

The person must have a jukyuusha shou (受給者証), the recipient certificate issued by the municipality. This recipient certificate must specifically authorize kyoudou seikatsu enjo (共同生活援助), which is the formal service name for group home living. To get this recipient certificate, the municipality must assess the person’s shougai shien kubun (障害支援区分), or disability support classification.

The shougai shien kubun assessment is separate from the recipient certificate grading. It evaluates the person’s specific support needs on a scale from non-applicable to level 6 (most intensive). Even people assessed as non-applicable can use group homes. The assessment looks at daily living abilities, behavior, communication, and medical needs.

You apply for the jukyuusha shou at the shougai fukushi ka (障害福祉課), the disability welfare section of your ward or city office.

Trial Stays: Try Before You Decide

Taiken Riyou / 体験利用

One of the most valuable and least known features of the group home system is the trial stay program. Before committing to a group home, your family member can try living there for a short period to see if it is the right fit.

Here is how it works:

Total days: Up to 50 days per year.
Maximum per stay: Up to 30 consecutive days at a time.
Multiple homes: You can use the trial stay at more than one group home. For example, you could try 20 days at one home and 30 days at another, as long as the total does not exceed 50 days in the year.
What happens during the trial: The person moves into an available room at the group home and lives there alongside the other residents, following the same daily schedule, eating the same meals, and receiving the same support. It is a full immersion into what life at that home would be like.
Eligible facilities: Trial stays are available at the Inclusive Care Service type and the Daytime Service Support type.
Who can use it: People currently living at home, in a residential facility, or in a hospital who are considering group home living.

How to Arrange a Trial Stay

Step 1: You need a jukyuusha shou that includes authorization for kyoudou seikatsu enjo (group home services) with taiken riyou (trial stay) specified. Apply for this at your ward office.
Step 2: Work with your consultation support specialist (soudan shien senmonin / 相談支援専門員) to identify group homes you would like to try and arrange the stays.
Step 3: Contact the group home directly to confirm availability and schedule the trial.
Step 4: After the trial, discuss the experience with your family member, the group home staff, and your consultation support specialist. Was it a good fit? Did your family member feel comfortable? Were the staff attentive?

The trial stay is covered under the same income-based copayment system as regular group home services. The cost during the trial is similar to what it would be if the person lived there full time.

Use the trial stay. It is one of the best tools available for making sure a group home is the right fit. Living somewhere for a few days or weeks reveals things that a one-hour visit never will: how the staff handle nighttime, how meals work, how the other residents interact, and whether your family member feels at home there.

How Much Does It Cost?

Group homes are a government-funded disability welfare service, so residents do not pay the full cost. The fee structure uses the same income-based copayment system as other disability welfare services, with monthly caps based on household income. For adults aged 18 and over, the “household” for income purposes means only the person with the disability and their spouse, not their parents. This means most adults with disabilities who do not work full-time fall into the low-income category and pay nothing for the service itself.

For current copayment caps: MHLW: User Fees for Disability Services

Group home residents in the low-income categories are also eligible for a rent subsidy (hosoku kyuufu / 補足給付) toward their housing costs. Ask your ward office about the current amount.

In addition to the service copayment, residents typically pay for their own food, utilities, and personal expenses. Food costs are set by each group home individually. Make sure you ask about all additional costs when visiting, as they can vary significantly between homes.

How to Apply

Here is the general flow for applying to live in a group home:

Step 1: Visit the shougai fukushi ka (障害福祉課) at your ward or city office and apply for disability welfare services, specifically for kyoudou seikatsu enjo (group home services).
Step 2: The municipality will assess the person’s shougai shien kubun (障害支援区分), the disability support classification. This assessment involves interviews and evaluations and can take up to about one month.
Step 3: Work with a soudan shien jigyousho (相談支援事業所), a consultation support agency, to create a saabisu tou riyou keikaku (サービス等利用計画), a service use plan that includes group home placement.
Step 4: The municipality issues the jukyuusha shou (受給者証), the recipient, authorizing group home services.
Step 5: Search for group homes, visit potential homes, and arrange trial stays to find the right fit.
Step 6: Enter into a contract with the chosen group home and move in.

Group home services are authorized in three-year periods and can be renewed. There is no overall time limit on how long someone can live in a group home.

Family Visits and Home Stays

A group home is your family member’s home, but that does not mean they are cut off from you. Family involvement is a normal and expected part of group home life.

Choosing the Right Group Home

What to evaluate when choosing a group home:

Visit in person. Every group home has its own atmosphere, routines, and personality. Visit at least three before deciding. Ask to visit during an active time (mealtimes, evening routines) to see how the home actually operates.
Ask about self-care expectations. What level of independence do they expect from residents? What happens if your family member needs more help than expected?
Ask about staffing. How many staff are present at different times of day? Is there overnight staff? What happens if a resident needs help at 2 AM?
Ask about daytime support. If your family member does not attend a day program or job, will the home provide daytime staffing? Only the Daytime Service Support type is required to do this.
Ask about meals. Who prepares meals? Can dietary needs be accommodated? What does a typical menu look like? What is the food cost?
Meet the other residents. Your family member will be living with these people. Do the residents seem comfortable and happy? Is the age range and disability profile similar to your family member’s?
Ask about communication with families. How does the home keep parents informed? Is there a communication notebook? Regular meetings? Phone calls when something happens?
Ask about the individual support plan. How do they create and review goals for each resident? How often is the plan updated?
Ask about activities and community participation. Does the home organize outings, events, or community activities? Or do residents mostly stay inside?
Use the trial stay. This is the single best way to evaluate whether a home is right.

Practical Tips

Start looking early. Popular group homes often have waiting lists, especially in urban areas. It is not too early to begin researching and visiting options years before you expect to need one.
Build your child’s self-care skills now. Toileting, bathing, dressing, eating, and following daily routines are the skills that expand housing options. Every skill your child gains opens more doors.
Work on Japanese. Group home life happens in Japanese. The more your child can understand and communicate, the smoother the transition will be.
Connect with a soudan shien jigyousho (consultation support agency). They can help you navigate the application process, find group homes in your area, coordinate trial stays, and build the service use plan. See our article “Consultation and Support Centers for Families.”
Consider location. A group home close to the person’s day program, workplace, or family makes visits and daily life easier.
Understand the full cost. The service copayment is only part of it. Ask about food costs, utility charges, and any other fees.
Search for group homes in your area using the WAMNET provider search, the government-affiliated service directory.
For a full overview of all disability welfare services including group homes: see our article “Disability Welfare Services in Japan: A Complete Overview.”
For long-term planning that includes group home placement: see our article “Planning for Life After You’re Gone: The Oyanaki Ato Guide.”

Key Terms

Japanese Term	English
Guruupu hoomu / グループホーム	Group home
Kyoudou seikatsu enjo / 共同生活援助	Communal living support (formal name)
Taiken riyou / 体験利用	Trial stay
Sewanin / 世話人	House staff / caretaker
Seikatsu shienin / 生活支援員	Life support worker
Shougai shien kubun / 障害支援区分	Disability support classification
Jukyuusha shou / 受給者証	Recipient certificate
Hosoku kyuufu / 補足給付	Supplementary benefit (rent subsidy)
Sateraito gata / サテライト型	Satellite-type housing
Soudan shien jigyousho / 相談支援事業所	Consultation support agency
Nichijou seikatsu dousa / 日常生活動作 (ADL)	Activities of daily living

Useful Resources

MHLW: Disability Welfare Services (障害福祉サービス等):

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/hukushi_kaigo/shougaishahukushi/service/index_00001.html

MHLW: Service Application Procedures (サービスの利用手続き):

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/bunya/shougaihoken/service/riyou.html

MHLW: User Fees for Disability Services (利用者負担):

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/hukushi_kaigo/shougaishahukushi/service/hutan1.html

MHLW: Group Home Standards and Guidelines (共同生活援助ガイドライン):

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/12401000/001669957.pdf

MHLW: Group Home Report and Data (共同生活援助に係る報酬・基準):

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/12401000/000670104.pdf

MHLW: Consultation Support (相談支援): https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/hukushi_kaigo/shougaishahukushi/service/soudan_shien.html

WAMNET Provider Search (福祉医療機構): https://www.wam.go.jp/

Group Homes in Japan for People with Disabilities