Bringing a dog or cat to Japan? Notify quarantine 40 days ahead, check your airport is designated, and plan the pickup around an inspection of unknown length.
Bringing a dog (or cat) to Japan through the airport has two parts: quarantine preparation before you fly, and the ride after you land. The second depends on the first, because after landing you must take your animal in its crate to the quarantine counter before you can leave the airport.
Bringing a dog to Japan: the 40-day notification
Japan's Animal Quarantine Service (AQS) requires you to notify your intended port of entry at least 40 days before arrival. Later notifications are generally not accepted. Once approved, you receive an import inspection approval to show when boarding, printed or digital.
Dogs and cats also need a microchip, plus rabies vaccination and antibody testing under AQS conditions. The requirements and waiting periods are on the AQS import page. If they are not met, the animal may be held in detention quarantine on arrival, which changes your whole itinerary.
Check that your arrival airport is designated
Not every airport can process animals. For dogs, AQS lists 11 airports: New Chitose, Narita, Haneda, Chubu, Kansai, Osaka (Itami), Kobe, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Kagoshima and Naha. The airports we serve (Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, New Chitose and Fukuoka) are all on the list. For cats, AQS asks you to contact them in advance.
AQS also notes that if detention facilities are full, the arrival date or port may have to change, so avoid locking in non-refundable plans before you have your approval.
The unpredictable part: time after landing
After landing you take the crate to AQS, apply for the import inspection and present your health certificates and approval. AQS does not publish how long the inspection takes; ask the office at your port.
For a pickup, that means your exit time is much less predictable than a normal arrival. When booking, put these in the notes:
- Flight number and landing time, noting that you travel with a pet and must clear animal inspection first.
- Species, number of animals and carrier length, width and height.
- Passengers and luggage count. Count the carrier as a large item: the Alphard takes 6 pieces and the Hiace 9, and our team suggests a vehicle from your numbers (see Alphard vs Hiace: seats and luggage space).
Airport pickup includes 90 minutes of free waiting. If you expect the inspection to run longer, tell us ahead and we will confirm the arrangement. For how the meet-and-greet and waiting time work, see how a Japan airport pickup works.
Whether the pet can ride: settle it before you fly
Whether a pet can travel in the vehicle, and where the carrier goes, is a service detail. Tell us when booking and our team confirms the arrangement; please do not leave it until you land. It also helps to have a pet-friendly hotel address ready.
Where you are headed, and booking
For the ride into the city, see Haneda to Tokyo and Narita to Tokyo; other destinations are under private transfers from Narita. Add your pet details and submit the trip on the booking page; our team confirms each point with you.
FAQ
- How early must I notify quarantine before bringing a pet to Japan?
- The Animal Quarantine Service requires notification to your port of entry at least 40 days before arrival; later notifications are generally not accepted. Always check the official AQS site for current rules.
- Which Japanese airports can I use when bringing a dog to Japan?
- No. The AQS lists 11 designated airports for dogs, including New Chitose, Narita, Haneda, Chubu, Kansai and Fukuoka. For cats or other cases, contact AQS in advance.
- Can my pet ride in the vehicle?
- Tell us the species, number of animals and carrier dimensions in the booking notes. Our team confirms the arrangement before it counts as agreed.
- How long does the animal inspection take, and will the driver wait?
- AQS does not publish an inspection time, so ask the office at your port. Airport pickup includes 90 minutes of free waiting; if you expect longer, let us know in advance.