From house shares to luxury brands like Hilton, Hyatt, and Nipponia Hotels, there’s a range of choices for our furry guests in Japan. We even found a few Airbnb hosts that welcome all sizes and breeds of dogs but specified no cats allowed!
Rocky (an 18kg “tong gau” village dog from HK) and I spent most of our 90-day trip in a pet-friendly rental camper-van. In between long drives, we’d pit-stop at some cool stays for a change of scenery. These included a ‘kominka’ house (100+ year old wooden structures built using traditional Japanese construction methods), farm stay, roadside motel, forest lodge, and a tech-savvy house close to Mount Fuji.
Here are a few worth returning to:
ICI Hotel Asakusabashi, Tokyo
Dog-Friendliness: Dog toilet, pads and cleaning supplies included. Wash area by the hotel entrance is handy to clean off after a walk. Separate pet-friendly washroom on G/F next to their Cafe with outdoor seating.
Dog Run? No.
Location: Minutes’ walk from 7/11, grocery store, and metro. By car, 30 mins to Haneda Airport and 50 mins to Narita Airport. dotcomcoffee is a short walk away and became our daily coffee pit-stop.
Amenities: Paid washer & dryer, dog-friendly cafe for breakfast, 24/7 reception.
WiFi: Yes.
Parking? Yes, limited. Reserve in advance.
Rakuten Stay Villa Hakone Sengokuhara, Kanagawa
Dog-Friendliness: Leash hook by the front door, dog bed, pads, bowls, and cleaning supplies included. A folder of dog-friendly spots close-by to visit. Note: dogs are not allowed on the 2nd floor of the house.
Dog Run? No.
Location: Minutes’ drive from convenience stores, Glass Forest Museum, Polo Museum, and Sengokuhara Susukino Grassland.
Amenities: Very tech-y! Self check-in via tablet. An electric fireplace, Smart TV, projector for movie nights, air purifiers, Nespresso coffee machine, washer & dryer, an indoor natural hot spring in your private bathroom plus an outdoor foot-bath on your private terrace.
WiFi: Yes.
Parking? Yes, plus more across the street for guests.
Forest Villa Yamanakako, Yamanashi
Dog-Friendliness: Long leash on your private front deck, dog crate, pads, and cleaning supplies included. Note: dogs are not allowed on the 2nd floor of the house or inside the tatami mat bedroom. Maximum 3 dogs per house.
Dog Run? Yes but only for smaller dogs under 10kg.
Location: Minutes’ walk from Lake Yamanaka for boat rides and a circular walking path around the lake.
Amenities: BBQ and bonfire to be reserved in advance at an extra cost. Washer & dryer, tatami mat and futon bedroom. Extra cost for breakfast in their pet-friendly Forest Kitchen Cafe that’s open to the public.
WiFi: Yes.
Parking? Yes.
Yatsugatake SILVI, Hara Nagano
Dog-Friendliness: Wee pads, bowls, and cleaning supplies included. Note: maximum 2 dogs per house.
Dog Run? Yes, newly built in March 2024. Plus a lovely nature walk around the grounds for an easy morning and evening stroll not far from your forest lodge. See if you spot any deer!
Location: Access by car. 10+ minute drive to the nearest town and convenience stores. Surrounded by hectares of forest.
Amenities: Camping supplies, BBQ and fireplace upon request.
WiFi: Yes.
Parking? Yes.
mökki Stardust Glamping, Achi Nagano
Dog-Friendliness: Dedicated house for dog guests. Dog crate, bed, bowls and cleaning supplies included. The dog-friendly tent/house has a private dog run (aka garden) and terrace for star-gazing, which is famous in this region.
Dog Run? Yes, a private garden for your pups attached to your glamping tent and BBQ room.
Location: Access by car. No convenience stores closeby. Closest supermarket is a 30-min drive away. mökki offers breakfast, dinner, and a communal drinks station on the grounds for all to use anytime during your stay.
Amenities: Drinks available at the refreshment kiosk, snacks available at reception.
WiFi: Yes.
Parking? Yes.
Maison d’hôtes Kirisimizu, Nagano
Dog-Friendliness: Dogs are not allowed on the raised wooden platforms inside the house, or inside the tatami mat bedroom.
Dog Run? No.
Location: Tucked in a residential neighbourhood a few minutes’ walk away from a main road of restaurants and shops. Short drive away from larger AEON malls etc.
Amenities: Special ‘kominka’ house stay with a kind host who will make local recommendations. Fireplace, futon sleeping, and a lovely zen garden.
WiFi: Yes.
Parking? Yes.
Albatross Karuizawa, Nagano
Dog-Friendliness: House no.2 is the dog-friendly house with a private garden for your pup to enjoy safely besides a (not too busy) road of cars driving past. A local brand’s designer dog bed, bowls, pads, wipes, and cleaning supplies included.
Dog Run? Yes, your very own.
Location: Access by car. Convenience stores, supermarkets, and Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza minutes’ drive away.
Amenities: Private dog run (aka garden) for your house guests only. Outdoor deck for your pup’s neighbourhood watch. BBQ, firewood, hammocks, cinema screening room, beanbags, washer/dryer. The vacuum here was so good and strong – best to clean up a hairy rental vehicle before you return it!
WiFi: Yes.
Parking? Yes.
Earthboat Village Kurohime, Nagano
Dog-Friendliness: Pet guests are welcome free of charge. Cleaning supplies included. They advertise that the attached private sauna room is also pet-friendly though Rocky had no interest in staying by the fireplace though it would make the best retreat on a snowy Winter’s day!
Dog Run? No, although the surrounding grounds are open for them to explore.
Location: Access by car. Closest shops 10-min drive away.
Amenities: Private outdoor cold plunge bath and sauna room. BBQ supplies, fireplace and firewood.
WiFi: Yes.
Parking? Yes.
Poroto Base, Shiraoi Hokkaido
Dog-Friendliness: Pet guests are welcome free of charge. Note: dogs are not allowed in the tatami mat bedroom and the stairs leading up to 2nd floor are slippery! (Rocky learned this the ruff way).
Dog Run? No.
Location: On the main road right next to Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park (no entry for dogs).
Amenities: None for dogs. Plenty for humans. Good choice for larger families with kids who enjoy cooking and baths.
WiFi: Yes.
Parking? Yes, 2 spaces by the front door, directly off the main road.
Familylodge HATAGOYA Osaka-minato, Osaka
With 60+ locations all around the country, these roadside inns are modelled after American motels with an emphasis on ease of access by car. Simple and convenient, we stayed at two of their locations - Osaka-minato and Sendai-watari - and booked only a day before arrival. Most locations offer at least one dog-friendly room, and their online vacancy list makes it easy to check which locations have dog-friendly rooms on your selected dates.
Dog-Friendliness: On-leash at all times outside of your room. Not allowed in the Reception area. Note: maximum 2 dogs per room.
Dog Run? No.
Location: Often adjacent to main roads. Easy access by car.
Amenities: None for dogs. A dependable pit-stop for a good shower, load of laundry, and rest between long drives.
WiFi: Yes.
Parking? Yes.
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