If you plan to get a dog in Japan, it is advised you check them beforehand. Here you will find the outline and what you are required to do to keep your dog. Owning a dog, or a pet, in Japan can be a very complicated process. The actual process of getting a pet and keeping them in your house/apartment is simple enough but it’s difficult to be done officially. Here are some.

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ID Registration at local government /(Kai-Inu no Touroku 飼い犬の登録)

The registration fee is \3,000.

Register your dog at the municipal office in the city you live, and get a “犬鑑札(inu kansatsu) or license tag” issued to identify your ownership. It is required only once.

You can also microchip your dog at a veterinary clinic for the identification instead of putting the licence tag. Suddenly lost, disaster, theft, accident … pets can’t state their address nor name. At that time, microchip is a sure proof of identity.

In fact, the microchipping system will be installed to replace the tag attachment soon near future. The fee for microchipping & registration will be somewhere between \4,000 and \10,000.

Vaccination to prevent rabies/(Kyokenbyo Yobo Chuusha 狂犬病予防注射)

The fee is \3,650. (\3,100 for injection + \550 for the certificate), as of June 2018.

All dogs aged 90 days or over are obligated to be vaccinated under the Rabies Prevention Act, required once every year. Get your dog vaccinated and receive the “注射済票(chusha zumihyo) or injection completed certificate”.

The vaccination is required once a year during the period between April and June. Local government conducts the immunization at designated places such as public facilities and gardens.
The owners who have registered their dogs are usually supposed to receive the information by snail mail. Also, the schedule will be announced through a leaflet or website.
*Note the schedule varies every year.

In the case you missed the scheduled days, go to a veterinary hospital to get the injection. The fee may vary depending on the hospital.

Carrying license tag and injection certificate

Put both the licence tag (or microchip) and the injection certificate tag on your dog, usually on the dog collar as dogs must wear a dog collar and leash (lead) outside, like when the owner takes them for walking.

Notifications: Death, Change of address

Like a resident registered in a municipality, if a dog dies, the owner is required to notify the death at the municipal office. A notification is also required when the owner (with the dog) changes living place.

Check the website of Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, provides the information on dog-keeping rules and manners in Japan. Click this link. https://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/policy/care-welfare/welfare-disabilities/assistance_dogs/rules_manners.html

Source: dgi-joho Japan