面對生育率長期探底、甚至在2023年跌至0.99的嚴峻現實，東京都近年來明顯加大力道，試圖以「把育兒成本降到最低」為核心目標，打造一個相對友善的生養環境。這些政策不再只停留在口號，而是透過高額且具體的制度設計，直接介入婚姻、生育與育兒的各個階段，希望減輕家庭在現實層面承受的巨大壓力。

在財政補助方面，東京都推出備受關注的凍卵補助制度，為尚未準備生育、但希望保留未來生育選擇權的女性提供實質支持。同時，幼兒教育與托育費用也獲得大幅減免，從保育園、幼稚園到部分教育相關支出，政府承擔的比例明顯提高。此外，東京都還設立了結婚與生產祝福金，透過一次性發放的方式，降低人生關鍵階段的經濟門檻，試圖傳達「願意結婚、願意生孩子，政府會出手幫忙」的明確訊號。

除了直接給錢，日本中央政府與東京都也同步從制度面著手，要求企業在育兒問題上承擔更多責任。企業被要求制定完善的育兒支援計畫，包括保障女性在生育後能順利重返職場，避免因生子而被迫中斷職涯或遭到邊緣化。同時，政府積極推動男性育兒假的「留職有薪」制度，希望透過制度設計，改變長期以來育兒責任高度集中在女性身上的現象，讓照顧孩子成為夫妻共同承擔的工作，而非個人犧牲。

在降低家庭日常負擔方面，東京都針對特定年齡層的兒童提供免學費措施，或以現金券形式補助教育與生活開銷，讓育兒不再等同於長期的財務壓力來源。與此同時，為了解決過去長期困擾家長的「等不到托兒所」問題，政府也持續投入資源擴增保育園與托兒設施，希望讓家長，特別是雙薪家庭，能在生育後維持基本的工作與生活節奏。

在生育政策的設計上，東京都的焦點也不再只放在「已經有孩子的家庭」，而是將支援範圍前移至更早的階段，包括不孕症治療補助與婚育相關的制度支持。這種做法反映出政策思維的轉變，即少子化並非只發生在「生了幾個孩子」的問題上，而是從是否能順利結婚、是否有條件懷孕開始，就已經受到現實結構的深刻影響。

然而，儘管政府投入前所未有的資金與政策資源，少子化的趨勢依然難以扭轉。東京高昂的房價與生活成本，依舊讓許多年輕人對成家卻步；長時間工時與職場文化帶來的心理壓力，也使生育被視為高風險選擇。此外，年輕世代對於「完美育兒」的高度期待，無形中放大生養孩子的心理門檻，讓即使有補助，仍有不少人選擇延後或放棄生育。整體而言，東京都的政策展現政府正面迎戰少子化的決心，但也清楚顯示，僅靠補貼與制度調整，仍不足以完全抵銷結構性與文化層面的深層問題。

Facing a persistently low birth rate, which fell to 0.99 in 2023, Tokyo has in recent years significantly stepped up efforts to create a child-rearing environment that minimizes costs for families. These policies go beyond slogans, implementing substantial and concrete measures that intervene across marriage, childbirth, and childcare, aiming to ease the heavy burdens families face in practical terms.

In terms of financial support, Tokyo has introduced a widely discussed egg-freezing subsidy, providing tangible assistance to women who are not yet ready to give birth but wish to preserve their future reproductive options. At the same time, childcare and early education costs have been significantly reduced, covering daycare, kindergartens, and certain education-related expenses, with the government assuming a larger share of the financial load. Additionally, Tokyo has established marriage and childbirth “celebration allowances,” providing one-time payments that lower economic barriers at critical life stages and send a clear message: “If you choose to marry and have children, the government will support you.”

Beyond direct subsidies, both the national government and Tokyo have addressed childcare responsibilities institutionally, requiring companies to implement comprehensive childcare support plans. These measures include safeguarding women’s ability to return to work after giving birth, preventing career interruptions or marginalization due to childbearing. The government has also promoted paid parental leave for men, aiming to redistribute childcare responsibilities more equally and reduce the traditional burden placed primarily on women.

To further reduce day-to-day family expenses, Tokyo provides free education for children in certain age groups or offers vouchers to offset educational and living costs, easing the long-term financial pressure of raising children. At the same time, the government has expanded daycare and childcare facilities to address the long-standing issue of “waiting lists,” helping parents—particularly dual-income households—maintain a sustainable work-life balance after childbirth.

Tokyo’s approach also extends support to earlier stages, not just families who already have children. Subsidies for infertility treatments and marriage-related programs reflect a policy shift: low birth rates are not only about the number of children born but are deeply influenced by structural realities affecting marriage and the ability to conceive in the first place.

However, despite unprecedented government spending and policy initiatives, the declining birth rate remains a difficult challenge. High living costs, particularly housing in Tokyo, continue to deter many young people from starting families. Long working hours and workplace culture add psychological pressure, making childbirth a high-risk decision. Moreover, the younger generation’s high expectations for “perfect parenting” raise the psychological barriers to having children, meaning that even with financial support, many choose to delay or forgo childbirth. Overall, Tokyo’s policies demonstrate the government’s determination to address the declining birth rate, but they also reveal that subsidies and institutional adjustments alone cannot fully counteract the deeper structural and cultural factors at play.