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.
You can bring animals like snakes, parrots, and parakeets and keep them as pets. However, some species are targeted, so be careful.
The regulations cover mammals and birds, and notes “live rodents, rabbits and other land mammals.” This means that the formerly unrestricted rodents such as Hamsters, Squirrels and Chinchilla, and Ferrets are now subject to regulation. Bringing these animals from abroad as pets is now prohibited.
Dogs and cats must be individually identified by an ISO compliant microchip. If the animal is not fitted with an ISO compliant (11784 and 11785) microchip, the importer must bring a microchip reader with the pet. The pet must be microchipped on the day of or before the 1st vaccination.
Japan's Pet Laws
Reptiles, birds, ferrets, and even pigs can be kept, as long as they have a suitable environment. When it comes to dog and cat breeds, Japan doesn't restrict any of them the way some countries do (though this only applies to domesticated dogs and cats – you still can't bring your tiger or wolf).
Unlike in the U.S., owls can be kept as legal pets in Japan. The bird holds a special meaning in the country. They are symbols of luck, protection, knowledge and wisdom. One Japanese YouTube channel, Owl Shanon, is even devoted to the daily life of Shannon, a domesticated blue-eyed owl.
Pets travelling from Australia can travel into Japan without quarantine, as long as all the import conditions are fulfilled. Pets from other countries may be subject to a quarantine period ranging from 12 hours to 180 days depending on the entry requirements.
What type of pet can I bring to Japan? According to the Animal Quarantine Service's “Bring Animals into Japan” page, pets you are allowed to bring include dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, rodents (mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs), fish, reptiles, amphibians, and even livestock.
Pit Bulls (American Staffordshire, Bull Terriers, or English Staffordshire Bull Terriers), Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, Chows and Wolf hybrids. U.S. Personnel who own one of the above breeds cannot bring their pets to Mainland Japan or Okinawa. Exotic pets are also prohibited.
Chinchillas could not survive in the wild in Australia, as they are very sensitive to a lot of foods, bedding, and temperatures. They would not be able to breed like rabbits or Guinea Pigs, as there simply wouldn't be enough of them alive in the wild.
Other Animals
The following pets are not permitted to enter Australia: chinchillas, fish, ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters, lizards, mice, snakes, spiders, pigs and turtles. Live pigeons are permitted from any country, however, household birds are only permitted if they are entering from New Zealand.
Currently only dogs, cats, rabbits, horses and selected species of birds from approved countries may be imported as pets and only when strict conditions are met. No other vertebrate animals are approved for import into Australia as pets.
Japan has implemented several national animal welfare laws since 1973, but its protections for animals are considered weak by international standards. Animal activism and protection laws in Japan are mainly focused on the welfare of domesticated animals and farm animals.
Cats are arguably one of the most beloved animals around the world, but they hold a special meaning in Japanese society, which can be found nowhere else. While many Japanese people keep cats as a pet at home along with dogs, they also pay considerable respect to them as an object of worship.
In many cases, pets are now considered to be family members. To many Japanese, pets are as well loved as children, and may even serve as a substitute for those who choose to forgo child-rearing.
Ian Douglas, senior veterinarian with the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, says it`s not illegal.
Cats, dogs and other common pets
There are no restrictions on cats, dogs, guinea pigs, rats, mice and axolotl (walking fish).
Native to South America, they are common pets in Australia and America with over 11 recognised breeds including the White-Crested, Rex, Silky and Abyssinian. Guinea pigs are usually very friendly and are a little easier to handle than rabbits.
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 ...
Japan, the land of the rising sun, is a pet-friendly country that welcomes dogs and cats from all over the world. Bringing your pet to Japan is a complex process since Japan is a rabies-free country.
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.
Animals like otters, galagos, hedgehogs, owls, and many other rare species of turtles and tortoises, lizards, chameleons, frogs, etc., are traded as private pets or for the purpose of display and petting at commercial facilities like animal cafés.
It is illegal to have a bird of prey as a falconry bird or a pet in Australia. This includes non-native species. Where can I find a pet owl?
This varies from apartment to apartment and landlord to landlord. Some places are ok with cats but not with dogs, or vice versa. Fish, birds, hamsters, etc are a different matter. Many standard leases specify that fish and caged birds are acceptable, but this isn't always the case.