When you travel or work long hours, you have three main options for your pet in Japan: a pet sitter who comes to your home, a boarding hotel where your pet stays overnight, or daycare for the day. Each has a different price range and a different set of requirements, so it helps to compare them before you book.
Typical daily prices
Prices vary widely by region, animal size and the services included, but the ranges below give a rough sense of what to expect. Tokyo and other big cities tend to sit at the higher end.
- Pet sitters: often around 3,000 to 6,000 yen per visit, sometimes charged per hour. Extra fees may apply for a second animal, extra walks, medication administration or travel distance.
- Boarding hotels (general): roughly 3,000 to 6,000 yen per night for a small dog or cat, and more for larger dogs. Private rooms and add-ons such as walks or baths cost extra.
- Vet-run boarding: often similar to or a little above hotel rates. Some owners prefer these when a pet is older or on regular medication, since staff are used to routine care.
- Hotel-chain and trimming-salon boarding: pricing is comparable to general hotels, and many bundle grooming or play time. See our grooming costs page if you plan to add a bath or trim.
- Daycare: commonly 2,000 to 5,000 yen per day, with discounted monthly passes at facilities that cater to regular users.
Always confirm whether quoted prices include tax, and ask about cancellation policies, which often tighten close to busy periods.
What to bring
Most facilities ask you to pack your pet's own supplies so the routine stays familiar. A typical checklist includes:
- Enough of your pet's usual food for the whole stay, pre-portioned into labelled bags if possible.
- Any medication, with clear written instructions on timing and dosage.
- Vaccination records (see below).
- A familiar item such as a blanket, toy or piece of bedding.
- A collar or harness with ID, plus a lead for dogs.
- Emergency contact details for you and your regular vet.
If you are not sure how much food to send, our food cost calculator can help you estimate daily portions, and the supplies starter list covers the carriers, leads and ID items facilities expect.
Vaccination and health requirements
Many boarding hotels and daycare centres ask for proof of vaccination before accepting a pet, and requirements differ between facilities. Dogs are commonly asked for rabies and a combined vaccine, and cats for a combined vaccine. Some places also request that vaccinations were given a certain number of weeks in advance, and may ask about parasite prevention. Ask each facility directly and bring the paperwork on the day. This is a policy matter set by the business, not medical advice, so check with your own vet about what is right for your pet.
English-friendly options
English support is more common in larger cities and in facilities used to international clients. When you enquire, ask whether staff can communicate in English, whether the booking form is available in English, and how they will contact you in an emergency. Some sitters and hotels advertise multilingual service directly; for others, a short message in advance confirming the details in writing avoids confusion at drop-off.
Booking early around long holidays
Demand spikes sharply around お盆 (mid-August), New Year and Golden Week. Popular sitters and hotels fill up weeks ahead of these periods, and some raise prices or add peak-season surcharges. If your trip overlaps a holiday, book as early as you can, confirm the cancellation terms, and have a backup facility in mind. First-time users are often asked to complete a registration or trial visit before a stay, so allow time for that step too.
Comparing a home sitter, a boarding hotel and daycare comes down to your pet's temperament, the length of the stay and your budget. Whichever you choose, book early for holidays, pack familiar supplies, and confirm the facility's vaccination policy in advance.