In Japan, dog owners are required to follow a number of rules and manners, such as dogs must be kept on leash and excrement must be picked up while walking a dog.
Japan is a pet-friendly country and welcomes dogs and cats of all breeds. Bringing your pet to Japan is a complex process since Japan is a rabies-free country.
Walking with your dog in Tokyo
While walking your dog in Tokyo, remember to follow basic dog walking etiquette: Always keep your dog on a lead in public places. Remember to pick up after your dog and dispose of the waste correctly. Bring a bottle of water along to water down dog urine.
In most cases, national parks don't allow dogs on their trails, but many national forests do, so long as the dog is kept on a leash.
Japan has leash laws in place, which means that unless you are at a dog run or a park that allows unleashed dogs, your dog must always be on a leash. Thankfully, there are many dog runs for your dog to enjoy. Dog-ful.com (Japanese site) lists dog runs, dog cafes, dog hotels, and dog salons for dog owners in Japan.
Inu, as dogs are known in Japanese, are most often represented in folklore as the defenders of people. Traditional belief has it that inu have a magical ability to resist evil spirits and demons.
In Japan, dogs bark by saying wan wan (which rhymes with “on,” not “pan”). Farther south, in Vietnam, a dog will let out a gâu gâu or a sủa sủa.
Even in Tokyo, there are a handful of pet-friendly restaurants that welcome their doggy patrons with open arms. Travelers who are heading to Japan's megacity with their pooch ought to visit these dog-friendly restaurants during their stay!
Not only are dogs allowed in restaurants and beaches, but Japan also has dog parks and dog-friendly cafes on the top floors of department stores!
Only small dogs and cats are allowed in Japanese trains because they can fit in tiny carriers. The pet carriers can fit under the passenger seat while traveling. Luxury trains may have different rules. If traveling first-class, an individual can book an entire cabin so that their pets can be comfortable.
Vaccinations Needed To Bring Your Pet To Japan
Japan requires dogs and cats to have at least 2 rabies given after the microchip is implanted. The first rabies vaccine should be done when the dog/cat is at least 91 days old. The second rabies vaccine should be done at least 30 days after the first vaccine was given.
While it may be a little trickier to uncover (especially for those of us who are still getting to grips with our Japanese), Tokyo and its surrounding suburbs are actually very dog-friendly and have some of the most unique places and experiences for pets and their owners that you are likely to find anywhere in the world ...
Tokyo is one of the best cities in Japan to move to with a pet. If you are planning to move here soon, then you will be glad to know that Tokyo is a very pet-friendly place. There are always places you can go and visit with your pet that will leave you breathless.
To import dogs and cats from the designated regions (Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji Islands, Hawaii, and Guam), they must meet import requirements (e.g. microchip implanting, etc.). And you need to obtain certificates, which satisfy necessary information, issued by the government agency of the exporting country.
Basically, in Japanese culture, the life of dogs is fantastic. Just as the owner and the dogs can eat together, they can eat together, even in cafes. A special menu is there in the cafés for dogs that include the tiny waffles as well. Even there is a chain of hotels that allows their customers to live with their dogs.
The relationship between dogs and people in Japan may have changed over time, but, just as they did in the past, people in Japan today cherish their canine companions.
Tokyo's Yoyogi Park has a large dog run, accommodating dogs of all sizes and breeds. Yoyogi Park itself has plenty to see and do – a visit to the dog park could be incorporated as part of a larger itinerary.
Dogs were the most popular pets in Japan as revealed in a survey conducted in October 2022. The survey on pet ownership showed that dogs and cats were the most common animal companions kept in Japan, which is reflected in the dominance of dogs and cat goods within the domestic pet supplies market.
Only one pet per container and one container per passenger in the cabin and the container must meet Japan Airlines' carry-on baggage requirements. (Animals traveling as baggage are not included as part of your free baggage allowance.)
You may have heard of cat cafés, but Tokyo also has cafés centered around another beloved companion animal — dogs. While dog cafés aren't as popular as cat cafés, they still receive their share of love from customers. Before going to a dog café, however, it's important to find out if it's ethical.
Are pets allowed in the Garden? No pets are allowed, only ADA (or trained) Service Animals are permitted inside the Garden. Read more about our Service Animal policy.
Dogs and cats imported into Japan must undergo import quarantine inspection. If dogs and cats meet import requirements upon arrival in Japan, the quarantine period will be within 12 hours.
Some canine teams are put to work checking the personal effects of inbound passengers. Other detector dogs are used mainly to detect contraband in imported items arriving in Japan via shipments, international mail service, etc.
Japanese Language Commands for Dogs and Cats
Here are some commonly used commands in Japan: Sit: おすわり (osuwari) (oh-soo-WAH-ree) Stay: まて！ (mate) (MAH-tay)
In 2022, the number of pet dogs held in Japan was estimated at around 7.1 million. While dogs remained one of the most popular animal species held as pets, the ownership rate declined steadily in recent years.