Pre-kindergarten Classes
Classes where children who have not yet started kindergarten can come and spend time with us.
There are three: Nobinobi Land, a group for two- and three-year-olds; Piyopiyo, a play group for one-year-olds and their parents; and KIDS WORLD, parent-and-child exercise for ages 0–3. Come and play to your heart’s content with our teachers, toys and play equipment. You can also use Atsugi City’s Daredemo Tsuen childcare scheme at Den-en.
Nobinobi Land
A group for two- and three-year-olds, under the theme “bursting with energy, bursting with smiles”. Once a week, a good long play with our kindergarten teachers.
What it is for
With hand-made materials and all sorts of play equipment, children learn through play what it means to do things with friends (cooperation), to invent their own games (imagination) and to manage for themselves (independence). Learning while playing and enjoying themselves, they grow in body and mind.
Classes and days
- Ichigo class
- Tuesdays 10:15–11:30 (12 places)
- Banana class
- Thursdays 10:15–11:30 (12 places)
- How often
- Once a week, 75 minutes — a 32-session programme over the year
Who it is for (2026 school year)
- Two-year-olds
- Born 2 April 2023 – 1 April 2024
- Three-year-olds
- Born 2 April 2022 – 1 April 2023
Fees (2026 school year)
- Joining fee (once only)
- 5,000 yen
- Materials (per year)
- 8,000 yen
- Monthly fee
- 5,500 yen
How to join
- Pick up an application form (both Ichigo and Banana classes are enrolling)
- Hand in the form and complete the paperwork
- Pay the fees and collect the materials
Before you come
- • All classes bring the two- and three-year-olds together.
- • We close enrolment once the places are full.
- • Please ask us about the dates for picking up and handing in application forms.
Piyopiyo
Somewhere parents and children can relax together. Play with the kindergarten’s toys and spend an unhurried hour with other children of a similar age — and their families.
What it is for
A place for parents and children to relax together. Families chat among themselves, and our staff are there to listen if something about raising your child is on your mind.
What happens
- Playing with the kindergarten’s toys
- Finger play, cuddles and kamishibai storytelling
- Chatting with other families, and talking to our staff about raising children
The details
- Who it is for
- One-year-olds, born 2 April 2024 – 1 April 2025
- Where
- The Nobinobi wing (multi-purpose room), Atsugi Den-en Kindergarten
- When
- 10:30–11:30 You are welcome to arrive late or leave early.
- What to bring
- A drink and a towel
- Places
- Twelve pairs per session (one child with one adult)
- Letting us know
- Call us on 046-223-7543, or use the enquiry form — just let us know.
Dates for the 2026 school year
- MayFri 15, Fri 22, Fri 29
- JuneFri 5, Fri 12, Fri 19
- JulyFri 3, Fri 10
- SeptemberFri 11, Fri 18, Fri 25
- OctoberFri 2, Fri 9, Fri 16, Fri 30
- NovemberFri 6, Fri 13, Fri 27
- DecemberFri 4, Fri 11
- JanuaryFri 15, Fri 22
- FebruaryFri 5, Fri 12, Fri 19
- MarchFri 5
We hold about three sessions a month. Come on whichever day suits you.
Before you come
- • You only need to come on the days you want to.
- • If a session is cancelled because of the weather, or a date changes, we let you know by email.
- • If a lot of families want to come, we may have to limit numbers on the day.
KIDS WORLD
Walking, running, rolling, jumping. A class that turns the movements of everyday life into games, so parent and child can enjoy moving together.
What it is for
Walking, running, rolling, jumping — the movements everyone makes every day, turned into games for parent and child to enjoy together. In a kindergarten setting, close to their parent and among children of their own age, they grow in sociability and independence.
Groups
- Who it is for
- Children aged 0–3 who have not yet started kindergarten
- Kangaroo group
- 10:00–10:50
- Panda group
- 11:00–11:50
- Choosing
- Choose whichever time suits you. Both are in the morning.
Dates for the 2026 school year (10 sessions)
- First term
- Fri 17 Apr, Fri 8 May, Fri 12 Jun, Fri 10 Jul
- Second term
- Fri 4 Sep, Sat 17 Oct (little ones’ sports day), Fri 13 Nov, Fri 4 Dec
- Third term
- Fri 22 Jan, Fri 12 Feb
Fees (2026 school year)
- Annual registration (on joining)
- 1,000 yen Free for members of Nobinobi Land.
- Coloured cap
- 700 yen
How to sign up
To join, please use the sign-up form below. We enrol all year round — just ask us if you would like to know more.
Before you come
- • The Kangaroo group (from 10:00) is currently the busier of the two. The Panda group (from 11:00) has more room, so do consider it.
- • Dates may change because of school events.
Daredemo Tsuen (childcare open to all children)
A national scheme that lets children who do not usually attend a nursery or kindergarten spend up to 10 hours a month with us, whether or not their parents work. Atsugi Den-en Kindergarten is one of the providers in Atsugi City. Applications go to Atsugi City through a dedicated online system, not to the kindergarten.
What we value
- We treat every child as an individual and support healthy growth of body and mind in a safe, reassuring setting.
- We listen to parents and work together with families to ease the worries and load of raising children.
- Feel free to talk to us about any parenting concerns. As a kindergarten open to the community, we support the growth of every child.
Places at Den-en (2026)
For children living in Atsugi who do not attend a nursery, kindergarten or certified childcare centre. Children at unlicensed childcare facilities can also use it. At Den-en we take one- and two-year-olds.
- One-year-olds
- Born 2 April 2024 – 1 April 2025
- Two-year-olds
- Born 2 April 2023 – 1 April 2024
- Days
- Mondays and Wednesdays (except public holidays and the New Year break)
- Hours
- 9:30–12:30
- Places
- 3 one-year-olds and 3 two-year-olds
- Closed
- Weekends, public holidays and the New Year break, plus the summer break (21 July – 25 August), winter break (25 December – 9 January), spring break (21 March – 6 April) and our founding day (2 May)
- Hours available
- Up to 10 hours a month per child *Unused hours cannot be carried over to the next month.
Fees (2026)
- Fee
- 300 yen per hour *Reduced for households on public assistance, households exempt from resident tax, and some others.
- Hygiene fee
- 100 yen per day Covers disinfectant, paper towels, nappy disposal and similar costs.
- Payment
- Please pay both the fee and the hygiene fee to the kindergarten.
How to apply
- Apply to Atsugi City through the national Daredemo Tsuen online system.
- Once the city approves your application, you will receive your system account by email.
- Book a first meeting with Atsugi Den-en Kindergarten in the system.
- Come to the kindergarten for the first meeting (we will ask about your child’s life at home).
- Book the days you want in the system, then come along on the day.
Before you come
- • If you apply between the 1st and 15th of a month, you can start on the 1st of the next month; if you apply from the 16th onwards, on the 1st of the month after that.
- • If there are more applications than places, we generally go by first come, first served.
- • If you live outside Atsugi, please apply to your own city, town or village.
- • For questions about applying or fee reductions, please contact the Childcare Division of Atsugi City (046-225-2231).
- • There may be days we cannot take children because of school events. Feel free to ask us how the children spend their time here.