Japan
Entry Requirements
Is Japan a good place to travel or relocate to with cats and/or dogs?
Here are reviews and details to help you see if Japan is a good place to travel with your pets
Official Japanese government website on importing pets
Official government website on pets coming from the US to Japan
Japan has strict requirements, especially around rabies that make it a challenging country to bring a pet into. This guide will be a good starting place, but will not provide sufficient depth due to all the complexities.
Entry Requirements from Non-Designated Region
All countries or regions other than Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji Islands, Hawaii and Guam.
This includes the US and EU
Medical Requirements:
Rabies
The anti-rabies vaccination must be valid at the time of travel. At least 2 rounds of rabies vaccines must have been given and recorded with the microchip.
At least SIX months (180 days) before traveling, get a rabies titration test (blood sample) and have it analyzed at a lab authorized by the Japanese minister of agriculture. (list of authorized rabies testing sites ). After an initial test, the results will be valid as long as the rabies vaccines are kept up to date.
Health Inspection
Pets have to get a pre-inspection by a vet. The vet has to check for any signs of rabies and leptospirosis for dogs.
Once the dog arrives in Japan, there will be a second health inspection at the airport.
Other vaccines not required but highly recommended
Dogs: a trivalent of distemper, infectious hepatitis and parvovirus infection; parainfluenza; leptospirosis; coronavirus infection etc.
Cats: a trivalent of feline rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus and feline panleukopenia
Treatment for external parasites (fleas and ticks) and for internal parasites (worms) within 4 days of leaving
Documentation Required and how to get it:
The pet owner needs to notify the Japanese Quarantine officials at least 40 days before arrival.
- Notification form for dogs（PDF：139KB） (EXCEL : 55KB)
- Notification form for cats（PDF：137KB） (EXCEL : 55KB)
- How to fill in the notification (dogs and cats)（PDF：384KB）
Entry Requirements from Designated Regions
The dog or cat has been in one of the following countries from birth or at least the past 180 days: Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji Islands, Hawaii and Guam
Medical Requirements:
Vaccines not required but highly recommended
Rabies vaccine – 1 year
Dogs: a trivalent of distemper, infectious hepatitis and parvovirus infection; parainfluenza; leptospirosis; coronavirus infection etc.
Cats: a trivalent of feline rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus and feline panleukopenia
Treatment for external parasites (fleas and ticks) and for internal parasites (worms) within 4 days of leaving
Documentation Required and how to get it:
The pet owner needs to notify the Japanese Quarantine officials at least 40 days before arrival.
Government-endorsed health certificate
Additional Considerations
Microchip Requirements:
(ISO) standards ISO 11784 and ISO 11785 given before or at the time of the rabies vaccine.
Quarantine Requirements (if any):
Yes, but they can be avoided or limited (less than 12 hours) by following the regulations. For example, if you enter the country before the 180-day waiting period. Your dog or cat will stay in quarantine until the 180 days are complete.
Breed Restrictions:
None listed
Number of pet restrictions:
None listed
Is this country considered high-risk rabies for entry into the US?
No
Is this country considered high rabies for entry into EU countries?
No
Are you flying to Australia?
Read Flying with a Dog Under the Airplane Seat: The Ultimate Guide
Read Flying with a Big Dog: Travel Tips for Ease & Safety
This information was last updated January 2023. If you notice any errors or updates, please let us know by contacting us here.
2 Reviews on “Japan”
When bringing pets from overseas to Japan, a certain amount of procedures are required, such as prior application to the authorities, microchipping of pets, and rabies shots.
When bringing pets on public transportation, they must basically be stored in a case (like as the photo uploaded).
Accommodations that allow pets to stay overnight are not very common, so the cost of lodging is high. In my experience, Kanagawa and Shizuoka prefectures seem to have accommodations that allow pets to stay overnight relatively well.
Sorry, I forgot to upload this photo.
Oh my goodness, your little Norfolk is adorable! I haven’t seen that type of carrier before. Is it Japanese?
Thank you. This case is made in Japan. I’ll put up the url below for your reference, but unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be sold outside of Japan.
https://www.gex-fp.co.jp/ca/brand/osoto/
Huge dogs are not common in Tokyo – and a Labrador dog is somewhat “huge” in terms of what’s common here. So, Japan may not be ideal unfortunately for people with big dogs.