An English-speaking nanny from Poppins

Why it is on the list

Poppins was founded in 1987 by Noriko Nakamura and was the first company in Japan to train and place nannies.¹ Its training takes elements of the Norland College curriculum.² It employs about 2,000 nannies, among them former schoolteachers, kindergarten teachers and English teachers; about 30 percent of applicants are taken on, and each nanny renews a licence every year after further training.³ The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has certified the service as meeting its supervisory standards.⁴ It covers all of Tokyo, runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, cares for children from the day they are born, and accepts same-day orders.⁵⁴²

A child who is ill is looked after only once a doctor has seen them.⁴ For the doctor, call the out-of-hours line at Tokyo Medical and Surgical Clinic first.

How to get it

Call Poppins on 0120-27-2100, weekdays 8am to 7pm, weekends and public holidays 9am to 6pm, or use the enquiry form on the contact page; nannies are sent at any hour.⁶ Families who do not want to join can ask for the visitor course; there is also a trial course for those thinking of joining.⁴ Ask for English: it adds JPY 1,200 an hour.⁵

On the Standard course the joining fee is JPY 50,000 and the annual fee JPY 10,000 a child; care for a child under school age is JPY 3,500 an hour from 8am to 6pm, three hours at least, with JPY 1,400 an hour more from 6pm to 8am.⁵ The Premium course, JPY 100,000 to join and JPY 10,000 a month, adds a dedicated concierge, the right to name a nanny and a two-hour minimum at JPY 4,300 an hour.⁵ An order placed after 6pm the day before costs JPY 11,000, one between 8pm and 8am JPY 22,000; a booking cancelled after 6pm the day before is charged in full.⁵ Orders within 72 hours may need the hours adjusted, and late-night and early-morning ones too, so book three days ahead when the time matters.⁴ A nanny can also travel with the family, from JPY 42,900 a day plus fares, meals and lodging.⁵

Discretion

A meeting with the nanny before the first booking can be arranged, charged at the hourly rate.⁵ Premium members can ask for a named nanny.⁴⁵ Care is covered by the babysitter compensation scheme of the Association of Childcare Services in Japan.⁴