Adopting Pets in Japan: 2024 Guide

If you’re looking for a cute little fur buddy, adopting a pet can be a rewarding experience. 

As you might already know, shopping for animals isn’t always the best option, as it often supports unethical breeding practices. Even more importantly, hundreds of thousands of homeless animals out there are waiting for a loving home, making adoption the responsible and compassionate choice. 

Rest assured, animals from shelters are just as capable of forming strong bonds with their new families. In fact, many adopters find that rescued pets show even more affection and loyalty, perhaps out of gratitude for their second chance at a happy life.

There are many shelters and online pet adoption agencies in Japan, and I’ll introduce some of the best ones to help you find your fur baby. 

But first, let’s talk about the benefits of pet adoption and what you should know before starting this journey.

Why Adopt A Pet in Japan?

As a foreign resident in Japan, things can get occasionally lonesome, especially if you left an established life behind and moved here on your own. Even if you’re the introverted type who doesn’t need much human interaction, having a pet can offer both companionship and comfort.

Having pets is even scientifically proven to be good for our mental health. Studies show that interacting with animals on a daily basis causes a significant decrease in patients' regular cortisol levels, which are associated with depression and loneliness, giving you a mood boost.

What’s more, pets can help us make new friends and socialize in a new city. Having pets means you’ll be visiting dog parks or the vet, where you can meet new people who are also pet owners. You might even find online friends when asking for tips on how to care for your pet on forums or Reddit. Owning a pet essentially makes you a part of a community.

On the other hand, if you’re considering having kids but don’t know whether you can take the responsibility, owning a pet can be a good practice to see if you’re up for the task. It can help you develop a routine of selfless acts and demonstrate how rewarding it can be to care for another living being.

While children, especially babies or toddlers, are much more demanding than cats or dogs, owning pets comes with unique challenges of its own. 

So, if you’re considering growing out your family, adopting a pet can be a good way to get used to the routine.

Things To Consider Before Adopting Pets in Japan

Now, if you’ve decided that you’re ready to adopt a puppy or a kitten (or maybe an older pet), let’s talk about a few things to consider before you jump the gun.

Check With Your Landlord First: The Living Situation

Even if you think you may have sufficient space and your pet will be a silent little angel, it’s still up to the building management to decide whether they allow pets. 

So, first, make sure that you’re allowed to have pets in your apartment or house. This is especially a problem in Tokyo, where most people are renting, and most apartments aren’t pet-friendly. 

Even if they allow small pets, some places might have restrictions on larger pets or specific breeds. There can even be limitations such as “no dogs bigger than 30 cm”, so it’s good to make sure.

If you’re living in your own house, consider if you have sufficient space. You also need to ensure that the environment you’re providing is safe for a pet, otherwise, you must pet-proof your apartment. Do your research and see which plants and foods are toxic for pets, remove any dangerous tools lying around, place your medication in a closed and safe space, etc.

Consider The Costs: Owning Pets Isn’t Cheap 

Owning a pet comes with many responsibilities, most of which are financial. 

For one, you will now need to buy food for your pet on a regular basis. Then there are toys, beds, scratchers, and so on. That said, not all expenses are regular, or foreseeable, for that matter. 

When your cat gets sick, or if your dog eats chocolate that’s left on the counter, you may need to make an emergency visit to the nearest veterinary office. So, you’ll also want to have some savings on the side for unexpected expenses. 

Speaking of the cost of adopting a pet in Japan, it may especially be a tough place as pet food prices have been soaring in the past few years.

Your Application Might Get Rejected: Agencies Have Preferences

Another thing you need to consider before you get attached to a specific animal or the idea of adopting a pet is that, ultimately, it’s not up to you whether you can adopt the pet or not.

Understanding that applying for adoption doesn't entitle you to house your new pet right away is important. This is a decision for the assigned authorities who will consider the animal’s best interest, which is a good reminder that what’s important is that the pet finds a good home. 

Agencies may reject you on the basis that your living conditions aren’t suitable or if they see something worrisome regarding your character, but some may also reject you based on prejudice. 

Be prepared for rejection if you’re single, if you have visa issues and it isn’t clear whether you’ll stay in the country in the near future, or if you’re expecting a child. These are usual signs that the likelihood of the pet being abandoned or returned is very high, so they’re just trying to protect the animals, which is understandable.

Not that all agencies do this, but some definitely do. So you may end up having to apply at a few different agencies.

Really Think It Through: It’s a Commitment

Arguably the most important thing to consider is whether you really are ready to adopt a pet.

Your new buddy may have had a tough life prior to meeting you, which is often the case with adoption and rescue pets. Besides, life in a shelter alone can be too much for an animal. They can get easily stressed out or act out, and training them can be tough. 

These are all things you need to consider. Even if your pet is calm and sweet all the time, you’ll still have to walk your dog regularly or change your cat’s litter, which are just as important as all the cuddling times you’ll get to have with your little buddy.

You may lose your patience at times, but you should at least be confident that you won’t give up on your pet, as some do, and leave it on the street. 

Plus, you never know if you’ll develop an allergy to a certain animal, which is a possibility. It’s also crucial to get everyone who shares a home with the pet allergy tested before you act on the idea of adoption. 

If you’re unsure, some shelters do have trial periods where you can spend a certain amount of time with the animal before you officially become the parent. So, if you still have doubts, choosing a shelter like this will at least prevent the animal from becoming homeless, which is a known issue.

How To Adopt A Pet in Japan Online: Best Pet Adoption Websites Japan

Finally, you can start looking for your new furry best friend. One of the easiest ways to do this is via online agencies.

Online animal adoption agencies have profiles of sheltered animals you can look through, and you can look for them by typing the keywords  “ペット 里親” which means animal, adoption.

I’ll also share some well-known agencies as well as smaller ones around Tokyo. If you don’t speak Japanese, you’ll have to apply through an agency that has English support, which I also covered below. Let’s have a look.

Pet Home: The Most Popular Online Pet Adoption Agency

Pet Home is Japan’s largest and most popular pet adoption website.

Here, you can find profiles of animals that need fostering or adoption, and you can limit your search by location as well.

Pet Home has dogs and cats, but also other small animals, reptiles, birds, and fish. The way it works is simple: you can scroll through listings created by local shelters and individuals who are looking for a new home for the animals. This is why Pet Home is great – it gives you access to many local shelters you may not know about.

You can also set up alarms based on your search criteria, which will let you know when a pet that matches your requirements gets listed.

Probably the best part about Pet Home is that it’s s truly dedicated to animals and their wellbeing. In their own words, their goal is to create “a sustainable society where humans and pets can coexist without sacrifice”.

Anifare: Online Rescue Dog Adoption

Anifare is a private organization that provides medical care and families for rescue dogs. Based on the concept of “animal welfare”, the establishment aims to provide animals with the five basic freedoms every living being should be entitled, which are:

• Freedom from hunger and thirst

• Freedom from discomfort

• Freedom from pain, injury, and disease

• Freedom from  fear and oppression

• Freedom to express normal behavior

Anifare has been in operation since 2019, and they’ve rehomed over 20,000 dogs since. Their website and app allows you to search based on multiple criteria like location, age, and breed, and you can see beautifully taken, clear pictures of the dogs right on their profiles. 

One thing about Anifare is that, unlike some agencies, they don’t require home visits, and they can deliver your new buddy to a veterinary clinic that’s convenient for you, so you can take it home to safety as quickly as possible.

The only thing you need to know about Anifare is that they work on donations, and you may be asked to donate a steep amount when adopting a pet, which, I guess, is a nice exchange, considering the service they’re providing.

Alternative: JIMOTY

JIMOTY, or JMTY, isn’t a dedicated pet adoption agency. In fact, it’s not an agency at all. I talked about JIMOTY more extensively in my post on Japan’s best online resale marketplaces, but essentially, this is Japan’s Craigslist.

So, among many, many other things, you’ll also find listings for rescue dogs, cats, and other animals to adopt as well. While it’s not a dedicated pet adoption site, this doesn’t stop people from using it, as you’ll see tons of listings uploaded regularly.

That being said, if you’re familiar with Craigslist at all, you’ll know that there are many risks and dangers attached to using it, as the listings aren’t regulated and moderated as thoroughly as a regular pet adoption agency. 

Still, as long as you take extra precautions when using JMYT, you may be able to find a pet to adopt just fine – it just may take more energy and a bit more time.

Animal Shelters Japan: Adopting From The Shelter

All over Japan, countless animal shelters are full of animals patiently waiting to be taken to their new homes. So, if you want to get a bit more involved, you can also adopt through a shelter by visiting them in person.

Below, I’ll first share a list of English-speaking shelters around the Tokyo area, and follow up with more great options throughout Japan.

ARK Tokyo: English-Speaking Animal Shelters Japan

ARK is a non-profit organization that started out in the Kansai region, hence the abbreviation “Animal Rescue Kansai.” They have many branches around Japan, including Tokyo. 

ARK helps both dogs and cats find new homes, and they organize events where potential owners and the animals can come together and see if they work out. The organization also allows a two-week trial period if things don’t go as planned.

Their Tokyo office can assist you in English, so this is a great option if you aren’t a Japanese speaker.

Japan Cat Network

As you can tell by the name, Japan Cat Network is not your average rescue cat shelter. With locations in Tokyo and Kyoto, this is truly a network, or a community, of cat lovers who have been helping cats for over 20 years.

The Tokyo location is especially great if you don’t speak Japanese, as they have English support. Essentially, the organization focuses on reducing unwanted animals who end up on the streets by neutering and rehoming rescue cats and kittens.

Japan Cat Network can help you out with anything cat welfare-related, and you can see the cats up for adoption both on their website and on location. There’s a small adoption fee, and you can fill out a form on their website to start the adoption process.

Heart Tokushima

Located on the smallest of Japan’s major islands, Shikoku, Heart Tokushima is a shelter started in 2006. Despite its location, the shelter successfully transfers animals all over Japan, rehoming them to loving new parents without a hitch. 

The organization was started by a Canadian named Susan Mercer to rescue stray cats and dogs, or pets left on the street. 

They neuter, vaccinate, and microchip the animals at the shelter, which helps the pet and the new parent spend more quality time upon adoption instead of having to deal with formalities. 

They do home visits, but if it isn’t possible, pictures of your home might suffice. There’s also a small adoption fee, which changes depending on whether it’s a cat or a dog.

Japanese Speaking Options From Tokyo and Other Areas

In addition to the ones I introduced above, there are many more great shelters, but these only offer services in Japanese.

• Dog Shelter: A shelter from Tokyo, this is a great place to find yourself a dog companion.

• Pet no Ouchi: A shelter dedicated to all pets, Pet no Ouchi is a nationwide online platform. They have cats and dogs, but also smaller animals like fish and birds. 

• Chibawan: This is an organization located in the Kanto area, and they have been rescuing dogs from shelters and the streets all over Tokyo, Kanagawa, and Chiba since 2002.

• Kanagawa Dog Protection (KDP): This organization rescues dogs in Kanagawa and rehomes them.

Closing Thoughts: More Resources For Adopting Pets in Japan

Adopting pets can be a tough process, especially as a foreigner, but it sure pays off. While regularly checking the websites I provided will help, here are some additional resources.

First off, I’m sure you’ve heard of the many cat cafes in Japan. Similarly, there are dog cafes as well. Some of these cafes also serve as a foster home where rescue pets can be adopted. In fact, Minashigo Dog and Cat Adoption Center has a Tokyo branch where you can adopt rescue animals.

Additionally, there are non-profit organizations like Lifeboat you can check out that save abandoned dogs and cats. They have a shelter in Chiba, and they have saved and rehomed over 22,000 animals in the past 20 years. 

For now, this is all we have on adopting pets in Japan, but if you’re looking for more ways to combat loneliness in a foreign country, check out our posts featuring the best tech communities and conferences in Japan. I have detailed guides on Tokyo meetup groups, Fukuoka tech communities, and Osaka and Kyoto (Kansai region) communities you can join right away.