Model Project for "Morning Place to Stay" for Elementary School Students Launched at 3 Schools in the City.

Kawasaki City is promoting a "Morning Place to Stay" initiative that utilizes local human resources and accepts children before school starts, in order to meet the needs of families who feel anxious about their children spending time alone in the morning, and to protect the peace of mind of guardians and the safety of children.

In Reiwa 8 (2026), a model project is scheduled to be implemented at one school in each ward. On July 6 (Mon), the model project was launched in three wards (Saiwai Ward: Municipal Shin-Ogura Elementary School, Takatsu Ward: Municipal Hisamoto Elementary School, Miyamae Ward: Municipal Inukura Elementary School).

Children who used the "Morning Place to Stay" spent their time reading and studying in designated areas such as the school library.

Moving forward, while verifying the progress of the pilot model project at these three schools, the model project will be launched in the remaining four wards around autumn, and the number of participating schools will be gradually expanded with the aim of establishing them in all 115 elementary schools in the city.

Scenes from Municipal Shin-Ogura Elementary School Scenes from Municipal Hisamoto Elementary School Scenes from Municipal Inukura Elementary School

1. Overview of the "Morning Place to Stay" Model Project

(1) Start Date/Time

Opened on July 6, Reiwa 8 (2026).

Opening hours are from approximately 7:30 AM to 8:10 AM on school days (weekdays).

(Not open on Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, or during long school breaks such as summer vacation).

(2) Model Project Implementation Schools

- Model School in Saiwai Ward: Municipal Shin-Ogura Elementary School (2-15 Shin-Ogura, Saiwai Ward), 2nd Floor Media Center

Operation: NPO Hatarakurasu (Saiwai Ward), Representative Director: Hiromi Ishiwata

The origin of the corporate name is a combination of "hataraku" (to work) and "kurasu" (to live), inspired by a town where "working," "living," and "class (gathering, learning)" coexist. With the mission of "people shine, places are born, and towns grow," they develop a wide range of projects including over 100 events annually, childcare support, and community learning.

- Model School in Takatsu Ward: Municipal Hisamoto Elementary School (3-11-3 Hisamoto, Takatsu Ward), 1st Floor Library

Operation: NPO Takatsu Ward General Sports Club SELF (Takatsu Ward), Director: Tadashi Kikuchi

With the theme of "Sports Nurture Community and Future," they aim to revitalize the community through sports. They conduct numerous courses centered around school facilities, and vigorously develop projects in cooperation with the community, government, and schools, including school facility management, terakoya (after-school learning) programs, and creating places to stay.

- Model School in Miyamae Ward: Municipal Inukura Elementary School (1-3-1 Inukura, Miyamae Ward), 1st Floor Library

*From July 14 to the end of October, the morning place to stay will be held in the "Special Activity Room" due to building construction.

Operation: Inukura Kodomo Bunko (Miyamae Ward), Director: Yasuo Watanabe

After retiring from his position as a former librarian teacher at an elementary school in the city, Mr. Yasuo Watanabe opened his home to introduce and lend books, and conduct read-aloud sessions for local children. Prior to the "Morning Place to Stay" project, he has been working on "Morning Library Opening" at Inukura Elementary School with fellow volunteers since Reiwa 7 (2025).

(3) Target Users

All students enrolled in the implementing schools.

(4) Usage Method, etc.

Children wishing to use the facility should bring their "Usage Card" and spend their time reading, studying, or conversing with the "Morning Place to Stay" staff in designated areas such as the school library (no registration required, free to use).

2. Number of Children Using the Facility on the First Day of Opening

School Name

1st Grade

2nd Grade

3rd Grade

4th Grade

5th Grade

6th Grade

Total

Municipal Shin-Ogura Elementary School

14

8

14

3

3

1

43

Municipal Hisamoto Elementary School

0

9

5

11

7

9

41

Municipal Inukura Elementary School

4

4

0

16

0

5

29

Total

18

21

19

30

10

15

113

Children's Voices

- I met up with friends on my way to school and chatted or read books until the entrance opened.

- I forgot my kanji homework, but I'm glad I could do it in the morning.

Guardians' Voices

I have to leave home early to get to work on time, so the "Morning Place to Stay" is great. After this, I'll take my younger child to daycare.

Contact Information

Kanai, Regional Education Promotion Office, Kawasaki City Board of Education

Phone: 044-200-0444