Japan introduces a room charge for multi-bed rooms in long-term care insurance facilities — about 8,000 yen a month (effective 1 August 2025)
Source material is a Japanese government announcement (in Japanese); this page is a summary.
From 1 August 2025, residents of multi-bed rooms (with a floor area of 8 square metres or more per person) at 'other type' (その他型) and 'sanatorium type' (療養型) long-term care health facilities and 'type II' long-term care medical facilities face a new room charge of about 8,000 yen a month.
Key facts
| Effective date | 1 August 2025 (Reiwa 7, 1 August) |
|---|---|
| Facilities covered | Multi-bed rooms at 'other type' (その他型) and 'sanatorium type' (療養型) long-term care health facilities and at 'type II' long-term care medical facilities |
| Who is covered | Residents of multi-bed rooms at those facilities where the care room floor area per person is 8 square metres or more |
| Room charge | About 8,000 yen a month (room-charge-equivalent deduction of ▲26 units a day) |
| Rise in standard cost amount (accommodation costs) | +260 yen a day for multi-bed room users at facilities that charge a room charge |
| Standard cost amount (accommodation costs) | 697 yen a day (21,000 yen a month) where a room charge is levied; 437 yen a day (13,000 yen a month) where it is not |
| Protection for low-income residents | No increase in burden for user burden categories 1 to 3, thanks to the supplementary benefit (burden ceiling of 0 yen for category 1 and 430 yen a day, or 13,000 yen a month, for categories 2 and 3) |
| Stays away from the facility | The room-charge-equivalent deduction does not apply while the resident is staying away |
| Legal basis | Fiscal 2024 (Reiwa 6) revision of long-term care fees; partial entry into force of Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Notification No. 86 of Reiwa 6 |
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From 1 August 2025, residents of multi-bed rooms at some long-term care health facilities ('other type' and 'sanatorium type') and long-term care medical facilities ('type II') have a room-charge-equivalent deduction applied, introducing a new room charge of about 8,000 yen a month. It covers people in multi-bed rooms at those facilities where the floor area per person is 8 square metres or more. The standard cost amount (accommodation costs) rises by 260 yen a day, but people in user burden categories 1 to 3 (low income) are protected by the supplementary benefit (補足給付) so that their burden does not increase. The room-charge-equivalent deduction does not apply during stays away from the facility.
Background — why this change
It is introduced as part of the partial entry into force on 1 August 2025 of the notification partially amending the criteria for calculating the cost of designated in-home services and related matters (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Notification No. 86 of Reiwa 6), based on the discussions on the fiscal 2024 (Reiwa 6) revision of long-term care fees. The Long-Term Care Benefit Expenses Subcommittee of the Social Security Council decided on the measure on the basis of discussions about fairness of burden with people receiving care at home, and about each facility's function, living environment and actual use, and set the start date at August in Reiwa 7 (2025) so that users of multi-bed rooms would have enough notice.
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
Summaries reflect national-level programs. Municipal (city/ward/town) programs may differ — confirm with the official desk before applying.
FAQ
What is a multi-bed room (多床室)?
It is a shared care room used by several people. This measure covers residents of multi-bed rooms where the care room floor area per person is 8 square metres or more.
Does it cover every long-term care health facility and long-term care medical facility?
No. It covers only multi-bed rooms at 'other type' (その他型) and 'sanatorium type' (療養型) long-term care health facilities and at 'type II' long-term care medical facilities. Facilities that do not meet these conditions are not covered.
Will low-income residents pay more?
People in user burden categories 1 to 3 are protected by the supplementary benefit (補足給付) so that their burden does not increase. For those already receiving the supplementary benefit, the burden ceiling does not change.