Moving to Japan with your pets? Learn Japan's quarantine rules first!

K N O W T H E R U L E S T O M I N I M I Z E S T R E S S & C O S T

Of course, you wouldn't move anywhere and leave your children behind! ... Well your pets are just as much a part of your family, so you need to know how you can make the move to Japan along with them and minimize the stress [and cost] to everyone.

The hardest part of relocating to Tokyo was the flight over with pets, the subsequent quarantine and all the advance research and preparation ahead of the move to ensure the pitfalls were avoided. This is why it is included within the advice of Tokyojin to impart all that was learned from the experience for fellow would-be "Tokyojins." So preparation and planning must be given to avoid needless suffering for both you and your pets [not to mention $1000's extra in a lengthy quarantine stay].

Review the recommendations below [from experience relocating with two cats to Japan] and follow the associated links to learn more.

# Mandatory Arrival Quarantine - Unless you and your pet are coming from a "Rabies Free Country" (Click Here to check), your pets will have to stay 14 days in quarantine immediately upon arrival. If you adhere to the following requirements below, you and your furry loved ones should be reunited after the minimum mandatory 14 day quarantine. However, please also follow the link to the Japan Animal Quarantine Service to check the latest regulations. Go >>

1) Your pet must have a rabies vaccination. You must time your arrival in Japan to be more than 30 days after the rabies vaccination and within the effective period of the vaccination [if not indicated, assumed 1 year for a "live" vaccine and 180 days for an "inactive" vaccine].

2) You must obtain a rabies vaccination "certificate." The certificate must be issued by exporting government authorities, OR [if by a private veterinarian] must be endorsed on the back by the quarantine authorities of the exporting country agency, such as USDA APHIS (United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service). Your veterinarian can help you to send this certificate by FedEx (or express mail) to the appropriate agency to ensure you have it back in time for your travel.

Please be sure that, at a minimum, the date of vaccination and the effective period of the vaccine is clearly indicated in the certificate. If you can get it, more detail is always best to remove any questions (serial #, batch #, live vs. killed, manufacturer, etc.).

3) Your pet must obtain a "health certificate." The health certificate (containing a statement to the effect that your pet does not have, nor is suspected of having, rabies or otherwise 'infectious disease') must be issued by exporting government authorities, OR [if by a private veterinarian] must be endorsed on the back by the quarantine authorities of the exporting country agency, such as USDA APHIS (United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service). Again, your vet can help you to send this certificate to the appropriate agency for endorsement.

The Japan Animal Quarantine Service web site does not specify how recent the certificate should be compared to your day of arrival, but they prefer that the health certificate be issued within 10 days of arrival, [and indeed other countries require this]. Thus, try to schedule within this timeline.

** FAILURE to follow these rules will result in a 180 day quarantine!!

JAPAN
QUARANTINE

# The Quarantine Process & Costs - A wonderful company called AQS (Animal Quarantine Services) will take care of your pets for the duration of the quarantine period. Their facility is near the Tokyo Narita airport and they will house and feed your pets as well as monitor their health. You can supply your pet's food [familiar brand and saves cost] or you can pay AQS to provide food from the choices listed on their site. Go >>

AQS will transport your pets from the Animal Quarantine center at the airport and provide either a "cage" housing or a "room" housing. Unless your pet is very social and you believe seeing / interacting with other animals is preferred for their adjustment, it is strongly recommended you pay for "room" housing. Cat owners should certainly AVOID "cage" housing.

Costs will vary depending on housing [i.e. cage, room or large room, size of pet and food], but you can expect to average 3,000 to 3,600 Yen ($25 - $30) per day per pet. Again, see the AQS web site for detail. Go >>

You can visit your pet any day you wish and as often as you like, provided you notify AQS a day in advance of your visit.

** It is recommended that you email AQS in advance of your arrival date in Tokyo to request to "reserve a room" for your pet if you wish to avoid the possibility of being left with only a "cage" housing option.

# Coach or First Class (The Day of Travel) - Relocating your pets can be one of the most traumatic experiences of their lives. Therefore, you should take every precaution and plan in ADVANCE for the big travel day. One of the biggest decisions is how to travel with them ... ship them as "luggage" or have them travel in the cabin with you. For you and your pet's sake, I hope you have a small pet [cat, rabbit or small dog] because you can have them accompany you inside the plane's cabin on your journey. With a large dog you will have no choice but to use a "transportation company" or have them checked as luggage. You will need to research this on your own as the following advice will apply only to "in cabin" travel with your pet.

Do's and don'ts for airline travel with your (small) pet:
DO take your pet as a "carry on" in a travel cage under the seat or next to you
DO contact the airlines ahead of time to notify them and check restrictions
DO obtain airline confirmation as limited numbers of pets can fly on each flight
DO purchase correct size "hard plastic" travel cage (or verify if soft is allowed)
DO keep cage covered for warmth and to block their view to reduce their stress
DO give your pet water throughout the flight

DON'T check your pet as "luggage" -- some have died from cold temp & stress
DON'T just "show up" at airlines with your pet -- pets are limited to 1 per cabin
DON'T ignore airline approved cage advice -- airlines can deny you travel
DON'T forget familiar toy or blanket in cage to calm pet on flight & in quarantine
DON'T feed your pet food for 12 hrs before or during the flight
DON'T give pet any "sleeping pills" or relaxer drugs unless absolutely necessary

Below are links to requirements on "traveling with pets" by major airlines that serve Japan:

Japan Airlines allows you to travel with pets as "carry-ons", but only one pet per cabin area is allowed each flight. Cabin area definition will depend on the plane size and type flying on the day you travel, so call ahead and reserve a "spot" for your pet as you book your own tickets. A typical trans-Pacific 747 will have four cabin areas: coach, a lower and upper business class, and first class. Go >>

Tokyojin recommends JAL. JAL was not particularly strict with how well our two cat cages fit under the seat ahead, and they were very kind in allowing us (myself in upper business class, my wife in lower business class) to place each cat cage in an empty seat [which luckily we both had next to us] for the entire flight. The price was roughly $150 per cat in 2001. At the time, the approved carrier size was 23"L x 14"W x 12"H; max weight of pet and cage was 33lbs.

United Airlines also allows small pets to be taken as a carry-on for International flights, but you will have to call them for details on allowable cage size and other restrictions. Go >>

American Airlines does allow pets to fly as "checked luggage" or "cargo" but unfortunately does not allow pets to travel as "carry-ons" for International flights. Their web site has lots of detail so take a look for more info. Go >>

Northwest Airlines also does not accept pets as "carry-ons" for their International flights. However, if Northwest is a favorite carrier of yours, they do provide information on their web site on how to transport your pets as "checked luggage" or as unaccompanied "cargo." Go >>

Your pets will share in your "culture shock"

You will not be alone in adjusting to this new and interesting environment if you arrive with pets. So be patient with them and with others as it will all take some getting used to ... and to start it off right, don't be stingy on visiting your pet during their 14 day "sentence" in quarantine. The Narita airport is far outside Tokyo so you'll have to invest significant time and money to make the journey, but your pet will appreciate your reassurance that you haven't "abandoned" them these polite, but strange speaking caregivers!