TLDR: Japan's Animal Quarantine Service operates during standard business hours. Pets arriving after 5PM cannot be inspected until customs reopens the following day and remain in their crates overnight at the facility. There are no exceptions. The 5PM cutoff…
TLDR: US military members with permanent change of station orders to Japan and confirmed on-base housing are the only pet owners who can bring their pets to Japan before the 180-day waiting period is complete. All other import requirements still…
TLDR: Japan's Animal Quarantine Service makes no provision for emotional support animals or psychiatric service dogs. Every dog and cat entering Japan must complete the full standard import process including the 180-day waiting period, regardless of their designation, certification,…
TLDR: Japan's health certificate has a trap built into it. USDA officially permits two forms for Japan exports: Form AC and the generic APHIS Form 7001. Only Form AC is designed for Japan's specific required fields. Any deficiency in…
TLDR: Japan requires pets to arrive at least 180 days after the titer test blood draw date, with the blood draw counted as Day 0. Arriving even one day before the 180-day window closes triggers detention quarantine for the remaining days at…
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: 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: 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 Import Form receipt, an ISO-compatible microchip,…
