Official Import Rules
- Japan requires an ISO microchip before rabies vaccination, two rabies vaccinations, and a rabies antibody titer test at an approved lab.
- Microchips beginning with 900 202 are not accepted by Japan AQS as valid identification; contact AQS before travel if your dog has one.
- AQS has also warned about duplicate microchip numbers, including prefixes 900113, 900115, 900128, 900201, 900215, 900217, and 900263, which may require a new chip and restarted timing.
- Japan accepts inactivated, killed, recombinant, or modified rabies vaccines only; rabies RNA vaccines are not accepted.
- The 180-day wait runs from the blood sample date, and notification to AQS is required at least 40 days before arrival.
- A government-endorsed health certificate must accompany the dog.
- Dogs may enter only through designated dog-import ports, including Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, Naha, and the other AQS-listed airports and seaports.
- Arrival at a non-designated port is not permitted, except for some certified assistance-dog arrangements agreed with AQS.
- Fully compliant dogs usually clear import inspection in under 12 hours; missing or incorrect paperwork can mean detention quarantine for up to 180 days.
- Within 30 days of import, take the Import Quarantine Certificate to the municipal office where the dog will live for domestic registration and annual rabies vaccination.
- As of MAFF's 2026 notice, import quarantine procedures for dogs and cats exported to Japan from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are suspended in principle.
Free route planner
Turn these rules into your dog's step-by-step planCabin/cargo call, breed check, crate size and paperwork timing.Medical Roadmap
Microchip
The microchip must be ISO 11784/11785 compliant and fitted before rabies vaccination, with the number matching every certificate. AQS does not recognize chips beginning with 900 202 as valid identification. It has also flagged duplicate-number prefixes 900113, 900115, 900128, 900201, 900215, 900217, and 900263; affected dogs may need a new chip and restarted timing.
Rabies vaccination
Japan requires two rabies vaccinations. The first must be given after microchipping and once the dog is at least 91 days old. The second must be at least 30 days after the first and within the first vaccine's immunity period. Japan accepts inactivated, killed, recombinant, or modified vaccines; rabies RNA vaccines are not accepted.
Rabies titer test
Use an AQS-approved laboratory and plan around the 180-day wait from the blood sample date. The antibody result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml.
Advance notification
Notify AQS at the expected port of entry at least 40 days before arrival, then keep the approval and supporting documents ready for airline and export checks.
Travel day
Carry the government-endorsed certificate, titer result, vaccination records, and AQS notification approval. Fully compliant dogs usually clear import inspection in under 12 hours.
Breed & Public-Space Rules
Breed restrictions
No national breed ban for import. Some municipalities and housing providers restrict specific breeds — relevant for relocations rather than entry.
Muzzle & leash laws
No general muzzle law; dogs must be leashed in public virtually everywhere and are barred from most public transport unless fully enclosed in a carrier.
Flying In: Cabin, Hold or Cargo
No pets in the cabin on JAL or ANA — all dogs travel as checked pets/cargo. Both airlines refuse brachycephalic breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs etc.) year-round or in summer months; check the current embargo list before booking.
Cost Breakdown
Quarantine Information
Less than 12 hours if fully compliant; up to 180 days if not. The 180-day wait after the titer test can be served in your home country — start early and it never becomes quarantine.
City & Housing Notes
Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka are relatively dog-friendly cities, though finding pet-friendly housing in Japan can be challenging. Many landlords prohibit pets — look for 'ペット可' (petto-ka / pets allowed) listings on sites like Suumo, Homes.co.jp, or use pet-specific real estate agencies. Pet deposits are typically 1–2 months' rent. Japan has a deep cultural affinity for dogs — dog cafés, dog islands (Tashirojima, Aoshima), and excellent veterinary care are available.
Vets & Health After Arrival
Japan has excellent veterinary care, though English-speaking vets are concentrated in Tokyo and other major cities. The Japan Veterinary Medical Association maintains a practice directory. Emergency clinics operate in major cities but are less common than in the US/UK. Common parasites: fleas, ticks, and heartworm (summer months). Year-round flea prevention is recommended, especially in warmer regions.
Leaving Japan With Your Dog
Export inspection required; most destinations then treat Japan as a rabies-controlled origin, simplifying onward rules.
Videos & Route Walkthroughs
Use videos as lived-experience context, not as legal authority. Search for recent dog-owner route reports, airport collection walkthroughs, crate-loading examples and relocation-agent explainers, then verify every rule against the official source above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I shorten Japan's 180-day wait?
No, but you can serve it at home. The clock starts the day the titer blood sample is drawn — do it early, file the 40-day advance notification, and your dog walks out of the airport the same day it lands.
My French Bulldog can't fly cargo — how do we get to Japan?
JAL and ANA both embargo snub-nosed breeds in the hold, and no airline allows cabin pets into Japan. Realistic options: a pet-friendly cabin charter, certain foreign carriers with seasonal brachy policies routing via a third country, or sea travel. This is one of the hardest routes for flat-faced breeds — plan around it.
Community Tips & Nearby Routes
Community reports are useful for practical details such as which cargo desk answers the phone, how long collection took, or whether a landlord asked for insurance. Treat them as tips, then verify rules with the authority and airline.