TLDR: Japan requires an ISO-compliant microchip to be implanted before or on the exact same day as the first rabies vaccination. Some US veterinarians apply an exception that allows microchip implantation on the day of the second vaccine, but AQS…
TLDR: Japan requires pets to be at least 91 days old at the time of the first rabies vaccination, with the date of birth counted as Day 0. US veterinarians standardly vaccinate at 12 weeks, which is 84 days. Any vaccination given between 84 and 90…
TLDR: Pets transiting through Tokyo Narita or Haneda Airport on the same airline are not subject to Japan's pet import requirements. The transit exemption applies as long as your pet remains in airline custody and you do not clear…
TLDR: Sedating a pet for a long-haul flight to Japan is not recommended by most veterinarians and is prohibited or strongly discouraged by most airlines. At altitude, sedated animals have reduced ability to regulate balance and cardiovascular function, and respiratory…
TLDR: Daily life with a pet in Japan comes with specific rules that catch many expats off guard. Dog owners must register with the local municipality within 30 days of arrival and vaccinate annually. Dogs must be leashed at all times…
Last reviewed and updated on September 14
TLDR: Moving a pet from Japan to the United States is significantly simpler than the reverse. Japan is classified as a low-risk country under CDC rules, which means dogs only need a CDC Dog…
TLDR: JAL operates the only nonstop flight from Boston to Narita at approximately 14 hours. Connecting options via Seattle, Dallas, Chicago, Denver, and Houston are available through JAL and ANA. United no longer accepts general pet cargo. All flight selections must…
TLDR: Japan requires an ISO 11784/11785-compliant microchip implanted before or on the same day as the first rabies vaccination. Japan also only accepts inactivated or recombinant/modified rabies vaccines. Live virus and RNA vaccines are not accepted. An error at…
