What your dog or cat needs to fly from the United States to Japan without a long quarantine, and what you need to bring it back. Japan’s rules come from the Animal Quarantine Service (AQS) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF); USDA APHIS endorses the US health certificate. By our count you need at least about 7 months from the first rabies shot to arrival (30 days between shots, then the 180-day wait), so start early.
Rules change. Always confirm with Japan’s AQS and USDA APHIS before you travel; a missing date or signature can mean up to 180 days of quarantine. Last checked .
Last checked on the Japan AQS, USDA APHIS and CDC pages linked in each row. Where AQS and APHIS word a rule differently, we follow Japan’s AQS page.
| Who | Direction | Case | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dogs & cats | US to Japan | From any US state except Hawaii (non-designated region) | Meet all of: ISO microchip, two rabies vaccinations, rabies titer of 0.5 IU/ml or more at an approved lab, 180-day wait after the blood draw, advance notification at least 40 days ahead, vet exam within 10 days before boarding, and a government-endorsed certificate. Then quarantine on arrival is within 12 hours. | Japan AQS |
| Dogs & cats | US to Japan | Microchip | ISO 11784/11785 microchip (15 digits) implanted before, or on the same day as, the first rabies shot. With a non-ISO chip, contact AQS and bring a reader. Chips starting 900 202 are not accepted for now; AQS warns of duplicate numbers for some other chips starting 900. | Japan AQS |
| Dogs & cats | US to Japan | Rabies vaccinations | First shot at 91 days old or more (birth day counted as day 0) and after the microchip. Second shot at least 30 days later, within the first shot's duration of immunity. Inactivated or recombinant vaccines only; RNA and live vaccines are not accepted. Keep boosters going without a gap until arrival. | Japan AQS |
| Dogs & cats | US to Japan | Rabies titer (FAVN) test | Blood drawn after the second shot (same day allowed), tested at a lab approved by Japan. APHIS lists two US labs: Kansas State University Rabies Laboratory and the DOD Veterinary Food Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory. Result must be 0.5 IU/ml or more; valid 2 years from the blood draw. | USDA APHIS |
| Dogs & cats | US to Japan | 180-day wait | Arrive at least 180 days after the blood draw (draw date is day 0), and while the vaccine and the titer result are still valid. Arriving early means quarantine at AQS for the missing days. | Japan AQS |
| Dogs & cats | US to Japan | Advance notification | Notify the AQS office at your arrival airport at least 40 days before arrival, online through NACCS (or by email if you can't). AQS then issues an approval; airlines or APHIS may ask to see it. | Japan AQS |
| Dogs & cats | US to Japan | Vet exam before departure | Within 10 days before boarding, a vet confirms no signs of rabies (and, for dogs, leptospirosis) and checks the microchip. | Japan AQS |
| Dogs & cats | US to Japan | Health certificate and USDA endorsement (VEHCS) | Form AC (or Form A plus Form C, or APHIS Form 7001 plus Form A), completed by a USDA-accredited vet and endorsed by USDA APHIS. The vet submits it through VEHCS; dog and cat certificates to Japan are digitally endorsed, and a printed paper copy must travel with the pet. | USDA APHIS |
| Dogs & cats | US to Japan | From Hawaii or Guam (designated region) | ISO microchip; resident in Hawaii or Guam for at least 180 days before export, or since birth (otherwise quarantine for the missing days); 40-day advance notification; vet exam within 10 days; Form AB endorsed by APHIS. Fly direct, or have the crate officially sealed or get a transport certificate (ANNEX) if you transit elsewhere. | Japan AQS |
| Puppies & kittens | US to Japan | Young pets from the US mainland | First shot at 91 days or older, second shot at least 30 days later, then 180 days after the blood draw: by our count a pet is about 301 days (10 months) old at the earliest arrival without quarantine. Younger pets are held at AQS for the missing days. | Japan AQS |
| Dogs & cats | US to Japan | Requirements not met | Detention at an AQS facility for up to 180 days, or the pet is shipped back. You pay for care, feeding and all costs; you can't take the pet out during detention. | Japan AQS |
| Dogs | US to Japan | Arrival airport | Dogs may enter only through designated ports. Airports: New Chitose, Narita, Haneda, Chubu, Kansai, Osaka Itami, Kobe, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Kagoshima and Naha. For cats arriving elsewhere, contact AQS first. | Japan AQS |
| Dogs & cats | US to Japan | Recommended, not required | Japan recommends combination vaccines (dogs: distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus; cats: rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia) at least 30 days before arrival, and flea, tick and worm treatment no more than 4 days before boarding. | USDA APHIS |
| Dogs | In Japan | After arrival | Register the dog with your city or town within 30 days, using the import quarantine certificate, and vaccinate against rabies once a year. Keep the import certificate: it can't be reissued and you need it to leave Japan. | Japan AQS |
| Dogs & cats | Japan to US | Leaving Japan | Dogs and cats leaving Japan need an AQS export inspection; AQS asks you to apply at least 14 days before departure. | Japan AQS |
| Dogs | Japan to US | Return to the US (CDC) | Japan is not on the CDC list of high-risk countries for dog rabies. A dog that was only in rabies-free or low-risk countries in the past 6 months needs the free CDC Dog Import Form receipt, must look healthy, be 6 months or older and have a microchip; any US airport. | CDC |
| Cats | Japan to US | Return to the US | No federal rabies proof or USDA health requirements for pet cats; they must look healthy. State, airline, Hawaii and Guam rules still apply. | USDA APHIS |
Last checked . Prices in US dollars where the source gives them. Rows marked Check have no official amount we could confirm.
| Item | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USDA APHIS endorsement, no lab tests on the certificate (e.g. Hawaii or Guam, Form AB) | $101 per certificate | USDA APHIS |
| USDA APHIS endorsement, 1-2 lab tests (a rabies titer is a lab test) | $160 for one pet; +$10 for each extra pet on the same certificate. Check with APHIS which tier your certificate falls in. | USDA APHIS |
| Rabies titer (FAVN) test | Check Set by the lab and your vet; check with the lab. | USDA APHIS |
| AQS import inspection in Japan | Check Check with AQS (no fee is stated on the AQS dog and cat import pages). | Japan AQS |
| AQS detention (up to 180 days) | Check You pay for care, feeding and all costs; caretaker companies at Narita, Haneda and Kansai. Check with AQS for amounts. | Japan AQS |
| Penalty for skipping import inspection | Dogs: up to 3 years in prison or a fine of up to 3,000,000 yen. Cats: a fine of up to 300,000 yen. | Japan AQS |
| CDC Dog Import Form (return to the US) | Free | CDC |
| Situation | Quarantine in Japan | Source |
|---|---|---|
| All requirements met | Quarantine within 12 hours on arrival. | Japan AQS |
| Requirements not met (incl. certificate errors) | Up to 180 days at an AQS facility, or shipped back. AQS suggests sending copies of certificates in advance for checking. | Japan AQS |
Last checked . Send the advance notification to the AQS office at the airport where you will land; email addresses are on the AQS contact page.
| Airport | AQS office | Phone | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narita (NRT) | AQS Narita Branch: Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3 and Cargo divisions | +81-476-32-6510 (T1), +81-476-34-2342 (T2), +81-476-32-6655 (Cargo) | Japan AQS |
| Haneda (HND) | AQS Haneda Airport Branch: Terminal 3, Terminal 2 and Cargo | +81-3-5757-9753 (T3), +81-3-6428-9950 (T2), +81-3-5757-9755 (Cargo) | Japan AQS |
| Kansai (KIX) | AQS Kansai Airport Branch (passenger terminal) | +81-72-455-1956 (8:30-17:00 Japan time) | Japan AQS |
| Chubu (NGO) | AQS Chubu Airport Branch | +81-569-38-8577 | Japan AQS |
| Fukuoka (FUK) | AQS Fukuoka Airport Sub-branch | +81-92-477-0080 | Japan AQS |
| Naha (OKA) | AQS Naha Airport Sub-branch | +81-98-857-4468 | Japan AQS |
From our airline pages, checked on the airline’s official site on the date shown. Airline rules are separate from Japan’s entry rules; confirm in-cabin or cargo acceptance for your exact flight.
| Airline | What our airline page says | Japan flights | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | Route limits: No carry-on pets to/from Hawaii, Jamaica, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, or on trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific trips. Hold or cargo: Checked pets only for active-duty U.S. Military and State Department Foreign Service on official orders. Others: American Airlines Cargo (PetEmbark). | Check Confirm with the airline for your Japan flight | Airline page checked |
| Delta Air Lines | Route limits: No in-cabin pets to/from Australia, Barbados, Brazil/Colombia/Dominican Republic (originating), Hawaii (flights to), Hong Kong, Iceland, Jamaica, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates. No pets in Delta One, Delta Premium or international Business. Hold or cargo: No checked pets for the general public. Delta Cargo ships pets only for active U.S. Military or U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel with permanent change of station orders (until further notice). | Check Confirm with the airline for your Japan flight | Airline page checked |
| United Airlines | Route limits: No pets to/from/through: Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, French Polynesia, Greenland, Guam (partial), Guyana, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Jamaica, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Morocco, New Zealand, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Philippines, St Kitts & Nevis, South Africa, Spain (Bilbao only), Sweden, Taiwan (partial), Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, UAE, United Kingdom, Vietnam. Hold or cargo: PetSafe checked-pet program ended. Pets fly in cargo only with certain active-duty military or State Department employees. | Check Confirm with the airline for your Japan flight | Airline page checked |
| Alaska Airlines (and Hawaiian Airlines) | Route limits: none listed. Hold or cargo: Yes: temperature-controlled baggage compartment on your flight, or Pet Connect via Alaska Air Cargo for unaccompanied pets. | Check Confirm with the airline for your Japan flight | Airline page checked |
Japanese hotels that take pets usually do it through a few dedicated pet rooms or a pet plan, and most accept dogs only, often small dogs only. Cats are accepted at only a few of the hotels below. Book the pet room or pet plan directly, well ahead of time, and tell the hotel your pet’s breed and weight; several hotels ask for a signed consent form before arrival.
Bring your pet’s rabies vaccination certificate. Many Japanese hotels also ask for proof of a combination vaccine (for dogs, usually 5-in-1 or more) given at least two weeks and less than a year before the stay. Expect a carrier or cart in public areas, no pets in restaurants or spas, and a rule against leaving your pet alone in the room.
Policies checked on each hotel’s official site; confirm with the hotel before booking. Fees are in Japanese yen. Where a card says “confirm with hotel”, the official page is unclear or its pages disagree.
Search pet-friendly hotels in Tokyo on Expedia ↗
Nishi-Shinjuku
| Species | Pets of any kind on the hotel’s IHG page (“all pets allowed”); tell the hotel the type and breed |
|---|---|
| Weight limit | No weight limit; pets of 11 kg (24 lb) or more need a Premium King or a Suite |
| Max pets | 1 per guest |
| Fee | No pet fee (IHG hotel page) |
| Conditions | Pet rooms only: Essential Corner King or higher. Give your pet’s name, type/breed and size when you book or in advance. Optional Pet Perks package. |
Mejiro (Bunkyo)
| Species | Dogs or cats |
|---|---|
| Weight limit | Up to 10 kg (22 lb); up to 13 kg (28 lb) in suites |
| Max pets | 1 per room |
| Fee | JPY 11,385 per room per night, tax and service included |
| Conditions | The hotel chooses the room type. Pets must be registered and vaccinated as Japanese law requires. Keep your pet in a cage outside the room; no restaurants or shops. Read the pet policy and call reservations before booking: +81 3 3943 0996. Private dog park for guests. |
Search pet-friendly hotels in Osaka on Expedia ↗
Osaka Castle area (Chuo)
| Species | Dogs only (no cats or other pets) |
|---|---|
| Weight limit | Up to 15 kg (33 lb) per dog |
| Max pets | 2 per room |
| Fee | JPY 10,000 per dog per night, tax and service included |
| Conditions | Deluxe, Premier and Junior Suite rooms. You must tell reservations in advance (+81 6 6941 8888, reservations.osaka@patinahotels.com), or you may be refused at arrival. |
Umeda
| Species | Dogs only |
|---|---|
| Weight limit | Up to 10 kg (22 lb) combined |
| Max pets | 2 per room |
| Fee | Included in the Happy Paws Stay dog-room plan rate (no separate fee listed) |
| Conditions | Book the plan at least 3 days ahead; stays of up to 4 nights. Before arrival, email or fax the signed consent form with copies of rabies and 5-in-1 (or more) vaccine certificates. Dogs 6 months or older; carrier outside the room; don’t leave your dog alone. |
Search pet-friendly hotels in Kyoto on Expedia ↗
Higashiyama
| Species | Dogs and cats |
|---|---|
| Weight limit | Up to 7 kg (15 lb) |
| Max pets | 1 per room |
| Fee | JPY 18,975 cleaning fee per room, tax and service included |
| Conditions | Deluxe, Premier or Premier Heritage Garden View rooms. Fully vaccinated; sign a consent form. Pet cart or carrier outside the room; don’t leave your pet alone (pet sitter on request). Book through the hotel: +81 75 541 8288. |
Karasuma (Nakagyo)
| Species | Dogs only |
|---|---|
| Weight limit | Up to 15 kg (33 lb) |
| Max pets | 2 per room |
| Fee | JPY 11,000 per dog per night, tax included |
| Conditions | Book the Fetch pet package. Bring your dog’s rabies vaccination certificate and sign a waiver at check-in. Carry your dog or keep it on a leash in the lobby; dogs allowed at Stumptown Coffee and the rooftop bar at lunchtime. |
Shijo Karasuma (Shimogyo)
| Species | Dogs only |
|---|---|
| Weight limit | Up to 12 kg (26 lb) combined |
| Max pets | 2 per room |
| Fee | Included in the Dog Friendly plan rate (Family Room; no separate fee listed) |
| Conditions | Book at least 3 days ahead and send the signed consent form beforehand. Show rabies and 5-in-1 (or more) vaccine certificates at arrival. Your dog must be in your own cage everywhere outside the room. |
Each card links to the hotel’s own pet policy or pet plan page. The Expedia buttons open a hotel search for that city with Expedia’s pet-friendly filter; pet rules on booking sites can be incomplete, so book the pet room or plan with the hotel. Affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Disclosure.
Japan is not on the CDC list of high-risk countries for dog rabies, so a dog that was only in Japan (or other low-risk countries) in the 6 months before returning needs the free CDC Dog Import Form receipt, a microchip, a healthy look and an age of at least 6 months; the CDC simplified this on August 1, 2024. Cats have no federal rabies proof requirement. State and airline rules still apply. CDC · CDC high-risk list
Full US entry and state rules: Pet travel rules for the USA.
Staying in a US city before or after the flight? Pet-friendly hotel rules by chain (fees, weight limits, number of pets), with guides for New York, Orlando and Miami.
Staying in Japan? See pet-friendly hotels in Japan (Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto), with each hotel’s official pet rules.
Last checked . Rules change; confirm with the official source before you travel. This page is a summary, not legal or veterinary advice. Airlines may require more than Japan does.
