How to Register and Vaccinate Your Dog in Japan: A New Owner’s Checklist

2026年9月21日

How to Register and Vaccinate Your Dog in Japan: A New Owner’s Checklist

If you keep a dog in Japan, the basic legal duties are straightforward: register the dog with the municipality, arrange a rabies vaccination every year, obtain the municipal vaccination tag, and keep the required identification attached to the dog.

For a dog aged 91 days or older, registration is generally required within 30 days after you acquire the dog. If you bring a dog from overseas, you must complete animal quarantine first and then handle the domestic procedures where the dog will live.

This guide is for foreign residents adopting, buying, importing, or moving with a dog in Japan. As of August 22, 2026, the main national requirements are the same across Japan, but fees, application methods, group vaccination events, and walking rules can differ by municipality.

The essentials:

Register an eligible dog within the required 30-day period.
Arrange the legally required rabies vaccination once each year.
Do not confuse a veterinary certificate with the municipal vaccination tag.
Check whether your municipality participates in the national microchip-linked registration system.
Report a move, change of owner, or death instead of creating a duplicate registration.

TOC

The three records you need to understand

The most important practical point is that dog registration, microchip registration, and proof of rabies vaccination are related but not always the same procedure.

Municipal dog registration: inu no tōroku

Under Japan’s Rabies Prevention Act, the owner must register a dog with the city, ward, town, or village responsible for the place where the dog is kept. This is called inu no tōroku (犬の登録, dog registration).

For a dog already older than 90 days, the usual deadline is 30 days after acquiring it. If you acquire a younger puppy, the deadline is 30 days after it reaches 90 days old.

Registration is normally completed once for the dog’s lifetime. It does not have to be repeated every year, but the municipal record must be updated when relevant details change.

A conventional registration produces an inu kansatsu (犬鑑札, dog license tag). The owner must attach it to the dog unless a registered microchip is legally treated as the license tag under the special system explained below.

National microchip registration

Since June 1, 2022, commercial dog and cat sellers must microchip animals covered by the system before selling them. When you buy a microchipped dog from a pet shop or breeder, you must change the registered owner information through the Ministry of the Environment’s Dog and Cat Microchip Information Registration system.

The Ministry currently lists these administrative fees:

Online registration or change of ownership: ¥400
Paper registration or change of ownership: ¥1,400
Updating details such as an address without changing the owner: free

Save the electronic tōroku shōmeisho (登録証明書, registration certificate). It contains information needed for later ownership changes, and it must be transferred with the animal when a registered dog is given to someone else.

A microchip alone is not enough. The number must be connected to current owner and contact details in the official database.

Rabies vaccination certificate and vaccination tag

These two items have similar names but different functions:

Chūsha-zumi-shō (注射済証): the paper certificate issued by the veterinarian after vaccination
Chūsha-zumi-hyō (注射済票): the official tag issued by the municipality after it accepts the veterinary certificate

If the veterinary clinic handles municipal paperwork for your area, you may receive the tag at the clinic. Otherwise, take the paper certificate to the appropriate municipal counter and apply for the tag yourself.

Leaving the clinic with only the paper certificate may mean the municipal step is still unfinished.

The correct order for a newly acquired dog

The simplest route depends on where the dog came from and whether it already has a microchip.

1. Check your housing rules before bringing the dog home

Confirm that your lease, building rules, or housing agreement permits the dog. A building described as pet-friendly may still impose conditions concerning size, number of animals, common areas, elevators, noise, or advance notice.

Ask for the rules in writing where possible. Municipal registration does not override a private rental agreement or condominium rule.

2. Collect the dog’s existing records

Ask the seller, shelter, rescue organization, previous owner, or overseas authority for:

Date of birth or estimated age
Microchip number
Official microchip registration certificate and security code
Previous municipal registration details
Rabies and other vaccination records
Import quarantine certificate, if applicable
Medical information from the veterinarian

Check whether the microchip number on the documents matches the number read by a veterinary clinic. This matters especially for an imported dog or one transferred between owners.

3. Update the microchip owner information

If the dog is already registered in the national microchip system, complete the ownership change using the registration certificate supplied by the previous owner or seller.

If you cannot obtain the certificate or security code, contact the registration system rather than opening an unrelated duplicate record. A private microchip database is also separate from the national Ministry of the Environment database; registration with one does not automatically prove registration with the other.

4. Confirm how your municipality handles dog registration

Ask your municipal office whether it participates in the Rabies Prevention Act special provision for microchips.

In a participating municipality, notification from the national microchip system can be treated as the municipal dog-registration application. The implanted microchip can then be treated as the dog license tag.

In a non-participating municipality—or when the dog does not meet the special system’s conditions—you must complete the conventional municipal registration and obtain a physical license tag.

This creates two possible routes:

Participating municipality: national microchip registration may also complete municipal dog registration.
Other municipality or ineligible case: complete national microchip procedures if applicable, then apply separately to the municipality.

ここがポイント: A microchip may replace the municipal dog license tag only under the participating municipality’s special procedure. It does not cancel the annual rabies-vaccination requirement or replace the annual vaccination tag.

5. Arrange the annual rabies vaccination

Dogs aged 91 days or older must receive a rabies vaccination once each year under national law.

The current enforcement regulation generally sets April 1 through June 30 as the annual vaccination period. A dog newly acquired without a qualifying recent vaccination, or whose vaccination history is unclear, generally must be vaccinated within 30 days after acquisition instead.

Do not decide the timing solely from an overseas certificate or a reminder from the previous owner. Show the records to a veterinarian and confirm the applicable schedule with your municipality, especially when:

The dog arrived from another country.
The dog was acquired outside the usual April-to-June period.
Its vaccination date or vaccine type is unclear.
The animal is ill, elderly, pregnant, or has reacted to a vaccine before.
The veterinarian advises that vaccination may be medically difficult.

A veterinarian can assess the animal, but the municipality controls the administrative treatment of the annual requirement. Ask the municipal office what document or procedure is needed if vaccination cannot proceed normally.

6. Obtain and attach the vaccination tag

After vaccination, make sure the municipality issues the current year’s chūsha-zumi-hyō.

The tag should be attached to the collar or harness as required. Where the microchip special provision applies, the chip may serve as the dog license tag, but the separate vaccination tag is still required.

What dog registration and vaccination cost

The national law creates the duties, but municipalities and veterinary providers determine the amounts you actually pay.

A practical first-year budget may contain several separate charges:

Municipal dog-registration fee, unless the applicable microchip route replaces it
Microchip registration or ownership-change fee
Rabies vaccine fee charged by the clinic or group-vaccination provider
Municipal vaccination-tag issuance fee
Possible examination, consultation, or handling charges at a private clinic
Replacement fee if a physical tag is lost

For a current example, Shinjuku City lists ¥3,000 for conventional new dog registration and ¥550 for issuing the rabies vaccination tag. Its 2026 group-vaccination charge was ¥3,750 in total: ¥3,200 for the injection and ¥550 for the tag.

Osaka City’s 2026 group-vaccination charge was ¥3,300: ¥2,750 for the injection and ¥550 for the tag. Private veterinary clinics may set a different vaccination price.

These examples are useful for planning, but they are not nationwide prices. Check both the municipal website and the veterinary clinic before visiting.

Bringing a dog into Japan is a separate process

Domestic registration cannot be used as a substitute for border quarantine.

Japan’s Animal Quarantine Service requires imported dogs to undergo import inspection. Procedures depend on the country or region of origin. For many non-designated regions, preparation includes:

An ISO-compatible microchip implanted before the qualifying rabies vaccinations
At least two rabies vaccinations under the specified conditions
A rabies antibody test at a designated laboratory
A 180-day waiting period after blood sampling
Advance notification to the Animal Quarantine Service
A certificate issued or endorsed by the exporting country’s government authority

If all requirements are met and properly certified, quarantine after arrival may be completed within 12 hours. Missing identification or certification can lead to detention for up to 180 days or return of the animal at the importer’s expense.

After entry, keep the import quarantine certificate. The Animal Quarantine Service says an imported dog must be registered with the municipality where it is kept within 30 days of import. The certificate may also be needed if you later export the dog or leave Japan temporarily.

Import planning should begin months before travel. Contact the Animal Quarantine Service responsible for your intended airport or seaport before booking a route that is difficult to change.

What to report after registration

Dog registration is not finished forever after the first application. National law requires notice within 30 days when specified registration details change.

Contact the appropriate municipality when:

You move to another municipality.
The dog’s main place of keeping changes.
The owner changes.
The owner’s registered details change.
The dog dies.

When moving, ask the new municipality whether the update can be completed through the national microchip system or whether you must present the old license tag and other records. The answer can differ depending on whether the old and new municipalities participate in the special system.

Update the microchip database as well. A municipal change-of-address notice does not always update every private or national pet database you may use.

Local rules affect everyday walks

Registration and rabies vaccination are national requirements. Rules for controlling dogs outdoors, using parks, handling waste, and keeping animals in particular housing are often local or facility-specific.

For example, Shinjuku City tells owners to keep dogs on a lead during walks and notes that Tokyo’s ordinance requires it. Owners must also take dog waste home rather than leaving it in a street or park.

Before using a park, dog run, campsite, hotel, ferry, or shared building space, check its own conditions. A facility may ask for current vaccination records, impose lead-length rules, restrict particular areas, or require advance registration.

Good everyday preparation includes:

A secure collar or harness and lead
The required license identification and current vaccination tag
Waste bags and a way to carry used bags home
Water for cleaning urine where local guidance requests it
Up-to-date contact details linked to the microchip
A photo and record of the microchip number in case the dog is lost

Regional differences that can change your plan

The core legal duties apply nationwide, but the route used to satisfy them is not uniform.

Microchip-linked registration

Participation in the special provision varies by municipality. Never assume that updating the national microchip database has completed the local registration until the municipality confirms it.

Group vaccination events

Some municipalities offer spring group vaccinations; others rely mainly on veterinary clinics. Even within one large city, dates and venues may be announced by ward or district.

Local arrangements also change. Osaka City announced that its city-operated group vaccination venues will end after fiscal 2026, meaning owners will need to secure another vaccination route from the following fiscal year. This does not end the vaccination duty—only that local delivery method.

Fees and payment methods

Registration, tag, replacement, and injection charges vary. A municipal counter may accept only cash, while an online microchip application may support cards or barcode payment.

Parks and public facilities

Rules for leads, dog runs, waste, beaches, trails, and public housing come from local ordinances or the operator. Look for signs containing words such as:

Inu no hanashi-gai kinshi (犬の放し飼い禁止): dogs must not run loose
Rīdo chakuyō (リード着用): lead required
Fun wa mochikaeri (ふんは持ち帰り): take dog waste home
Petto nyūjō kinshi (ペット入場禁止): pets prohibited

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Most administrative problems come from treating several different records as one.

“The dog has a microchip, so everything is registered”

Not necessarily. Confirm that the chip is readable, the national record names the current owner, and your municipality has received or accepted the required registration.

“The veterinarian gave me a certificate, so I am finished”

Check whether you also received the municipal chūsha-zumi-hyō. If not, ask whether you must take the veterinary certificate to the municipal office.

Registering the same dog as new after a move

A move or owner transfer usually calls for a change notification, not another lifetime registration. Bring the existing tag, registration number, microchip certificate, and vaccination record.

Waiting for a reminder postcard

A reminder is useful but does not create the legal duty. New residents, recent adopters, and people with outdated addresses may not receive one.

Losing the import certificate

The Animal Quarantine Service warns that the import quarantine certificate cannot simply be reissued. Keep the original and secure digital copies of related records.

Assuming the spring group clinic will always return

Municipalities can change venues or stop offering group events. Check the current fiscal year’s notice and identify a veterinary clinic before the deadline.

A practical document checklist

Keep one paper folder and one secure digital copy containing:

Municipal dog-registration number
Inu kansatsu, if a physical tag was issued
Current chūsha-zumi-hyō number
Veterinary chūsha-zumi-shō certificates
Microchip number and national registration certificate
Seller, shelter, or previous-owner transfer papers
Import quarantine certificate, if applicable
Veterinary history and emergency-clinic details
Housing or condominium pet approval

Photograph both sides of physical tags. A clear record makes replacement, moving, travel, and lost-dog reports much easier.

FAQ

Does every dog in Japan need municipal registration?

The national registration duty applies to dogs covered by the Rabies Prevention Act, generally once they pass the relevant age threshold. The procedure differs depending on the dog’s age, existing registration, microchip status, and municipality.

Is a microchip mandatory for every privately owned dog?

Commercial sellers must microchip dogs covered by the system before sale. For owners outside the dog-and-cat sales business, fitting a microchip is generally an effort-based duty rather than a blanket obligation to implant every existing dog. However, once a chip covered by the national system is fitted or ownership changes, registration duties apply.

Does a microchip replace the rabies vaccination tag?

No. In participating municipalities, the chip may be treated as the dog license tag. The annual rabies vaccination and the municipal vaccination tag remain separate requirements.

Can I use an overseas rabies certificate instead of vaccinating in Japan?

Do not assume that it automatically satisfies the domestic annual procedure. Present the certificate to a veterinarian and your municipality. Import quarantine acceptance and municipal compliance are separate decisions.

Can I choose a private clinic instead of a group vaccination event?

Yes. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare states that owners may choose a group event or an individual vaccination. Some municipalities do not hold group events at all. Ask whether your clinic can issue the municipal tag directly or only the veterinary certificate.

What if my dog cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons?

Ask a veterinarian to assess the dog, then contact your municipality about its required documentation and administrative procedure. Do not treat a private decision to postpone vaccination as an automatic legal exemption.

What to do next

The safest approach is to verify each layer separately: housing permission, municipal registration, national microchip information, annual rabies vaccination, and the current municipal vaccination tag.

For a newly acquired or imported dog, your immediate checklist is:

Gather the transfer, microchip, vaccination, and quarantine records.
Confirm the 30-day deadline that applies to your case.
Ask whether your municipality uses microchip-linked dog registration.
Book a veterinarian and confirm how the vaccination tag is issued.
Save every certificate and keep the required identification on the dog.

The next date to watch is not only the dog’s vaccination anniversary. Check your municipality’s website each spring, because clinic arrangements, group venues, fees, and online procedures can change even while the national duty remains in force.

参照リンク

Let's share this post !

Copied the URL !

Copied the URL !