Health · Healthcare & Policy · 5 hrs ago
Postpartum care services in Japanese hotels gain popularity
Hotels in Japan are expanding postpartum care services, giving mothers support from midwives and childcare workers while they stay with their babies.
Around 20 hotels now offer the service, including Villa Mom in Tokyo, which provides round-the-clock care and counseling.
Demand is rising as more families live apart from parents who might otherwise help after childbirth.
Mothers can rest while staff look after their babies, and some hotels also welcome partners and older children.
The Japan Postpartum Care Hotel Association is working to improve service quality and raise awareness, including through training on safe sleep for babies.
More regular hotels are entering the business, and a hotel in Fukuoka Prefecture began offering the service in October with a specialist provider.
Postpartum care services are available in around 20 hotels in Japan, where mothers can receive support from midwives and childcare workers.
The services aim to help mothers recover physically and mentally and address social isolation after childbirth.
Demand is growing as more women live apart from their parents and have less access to family support.
Villa Mom in Tokyo offers round-the-clock care and counseling for mothers and babies.
Fairfield by Marriott Fukuoka Ukiha began offering postpartum care services in October with a specialist provider.
- Who
- Hotels in Japan, midwives, childcare workers and mothers with newborns.
- What
- Hotels are expanding postpartum care services, including care and counseling for mothers and babies.
- When
- The services are gaining momentum; Villa Mom opened in June and Fairfield by Marriott Fukuoka Ukiha began its service in October.
- Where
- Around 20 hotels in Japan, including Villa Mom in Tokyo and Fairfield by Marriott Fukuoka Ukiha in Fukuoka Prefecture.
- Why
- Growing numbers of nuclear families make parental support harder to access, while the services aim to support recovery and reduce social isolation.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Hotel-based postpartum care providers came together to establish the Japan Postpartum Care Hotel Association.
Villa Mom opened in Tokyo's Ariake waterfront area.
Fairfield by Marriott Fukuoka Ukiha began postpartum care services with Josan-she's Inc.
The association held its first study session, focusing on safe sleep for babies.
- Hotels offering postpartum care
- Around 20 in Japan
- Villa Mom
- Opened in June in Tokyo's Ariake waterfront area
- Villa Mom services
- Round-the-clock care and counseling from midwives and childcare workers
- Fairfield by Marriott Fukuoka Ukiha
- Began its service in October
- Service partner
- Josan-she's Inc., a Tokyo-based postpartum care service provider
2 sources
What people are saying
When mothers come (to our hotel), they look as if they are under heavy pressure. But when they check out, they leave with their natural smiles regained
Demand (for postpartum care services) is growing as spending per child is increasing, reflecting the declining birthrate
We want to provide a relaxing and comfortable environment for mothers after childbirth and their families and enhance local child-rearing support
I felt reassured because I was able to talk to midwives easily