Pet Sitter or Dog Hotel in Sapporo: 7 Questions to Ask First

In short: in Japan, a business that looks after customers’ animals, such as a pet hotel or a pet sitter, needs to be registered as a “Class 1 animal handling business.” Before you book, check the registration, ask what vaccine records the place needs (this differs by place), talk through walks and meals, agree on emergency contacts, visit, and try a short stay first.

A work trip, a family event, or a long day away can mean your dog needs care for a day or a few nights. Two common choices are a dog hotel, where your dog stays at the business, and a pet sitter, who comes to your home.

Please read this first: this post is a general checklist. It is not about my own dog, and I don’t name or recommend any business. I am not a veterinarian. For the registration rules, I only describe what I could confirm on the official pages of the Ministry of the Environment and the City of Sapporo, listed at the end. Rules can change, so check the latest official information.

Dog hotel or pet sitter: a quick comparison

	Dog hotel	Pet sitter
Where your dog stays	At the business	At your home
What to check	The space, where dogs sleep, and how dogs are kept apart	How the sitter gets in, and how keys are handled
Things to talk about	Walks, meals, time with other dogs	Visit times, walks, meals, updates
Registration	Needed under Japan’s animal welfare law (see below)	Also needed (see below)

The questions below work for either one.

Question 1: Are you registered as an animal handling business?

Japan’s Act on Welfare and Management of Animals has a registration system for animal businesses. The Ministry of the Environment’s page on “Class 1 animal handling businesses” lists seven business types. One of them is keeping (hokan), which the page describes as a business that takes in customers’ animals in order to look after them. The examples it gives are pet hotels, groomers that keep animals, and pet sitters.

According to the same page, a Class 1 business needs to register with the prefectural governor or the mayor of a designated city, for each business site and each business type. The page also says each site needs a full-time “animal handling manager” who meets certain requirements, and that the business has to follow standards for how animals are cared for.

In Sapporo, the City of Sapporo’s page on this registration says that each business site needs to put up a sign with its registration details where the public can easily see it. The page may also mention other ways to show this information, so check the city’s page for details. It also says that when a business advertises in flyers, on a website, or on social media, it needs to include its registration details.

Item on the sign, according to the City of Sapporo	Why it is useful to you
Registration number	Lets you look the business up
Name of the business operator	The person or company you are dealing with
Name and address of the business site	Confirms which site is registered
Type of business	Look for “keeping” (hokan) if your dog will stay there
Registration date and end of the valid period	The city’s page says a registration is valid for five years and needs renewing
Name of the animal handling manager	A person you can ask for by name

The City of Sapporo also publishes a list of registered Class 1 businesses in Excel and PDF formats (in Japanese).

Registration shows that a business has registered under the law. It does not tell you whether a place suits your own dog. That is what the rest of these questions are for.

Question 2: What vaccine records do you need?

This differs from place to place. Some places may ask for proof of the yearly rabies shot and other vaccines, and some may ask for records from a certain period. Ask:

• Which records do you need, and do you need the original or a copy?
• By when do you need them: at booking, or on the first day?
• Does my dog need anything else before the first stay?

Your dog’s legal duties, such as registration and the yearly rabies shot, are a separate matter. For those basics, see Living with a Dog in Japan: Basic Rules and Manners.

Question 3: How will my dog’s day look (walks and meals)?

Talk through the daily routine before you book.

Topic	Questions to ask
Walks	How often, how long, and who walks? Leash and harness only?
Meals	Can I bring my dog’s usual food? Who measures it, and at what times?
Other dogs	Will my dog share a space with other dogs, or stay apart?
Sleeping	Where does my dog sleep at night? Is someone there overnight?
Alone time	How long might my dog be alone during the day?
Updates	Will you send messages or photos? How often?

A short note in simple Japanese about your dog’s habits can help if staff don’t read English.

Question 4: What should I bring?

Ask the business for its own list, because it may differ. Common items include:

• Your dog’s usual food, packed in portions, with amounts and times written down.
• Leash, harness, and collar with the registration tag and vaccination tag attached.
• A familiar blanket or toy that smells like home.
• Copies of your dog’s records, if the place asked for them.
• A one-page note with your dog’s name, age, habits, and your contact details.

Question 5: What happens in an emergency?

This question is easy to overlook. Agree on it in advance, ideally in writing.

• How will you reach me, and what if I don’t answer? Give a backup contact.
• Which vet would you go to if something happens? Give them your own vet’s name and phone number too.
• Will you call me before taking any step, and how are costs handled?
• For a pet sitter: what happens if the sitter can’t come on a planned day?

Question 6: Can I visit first?

For a dog hotel, ask if you can see the space where your dog will stay. Look at where dogs sleep, how they are kept apart, and how clean it feels. For a pet sitter, ask for a short meeting at home first, so the sitter can meet your dog.

Question 7: Can we try a short stay first?

Before a long trip, ask about a short trial, such as a few hours or one night. It lets your dog get used to the place or the person, and lets you see how updates and pick-up work. If you are planning a trip where your dog comes along instead, my list of questions to ask before booking a dog-friendly stay in Hokkaido may help.

For grooming, my checklist of questions to ask a dog groomer follows the same idea.

Leaving your dog with someone else is easier when you know what to expect. Check the registration, ask your questions, start small, and keep your phone close during the first stay.

FAQ

Does a pet sitter in Japan need to be registered?

According to the Ministry of the Environment, pet sitters and pet hotels are examples of the “keeping” type of Class 1 animal handling business, which needs to be registered with the prefecture or a designated city.

How can I check if a dog hotel in Sapporo is registered?

The City of Sapporo’s page says registered businesses need to display a sign with their registration number and other details, and to include those details in their ads. The city also publishes a list of registered businesses in Excel and PDF formats.

Do all dog hotels ask for the same vaccine records?

No. What each place asks for differs, so ask each business which records it needs and by when.

Sources checked: Ministry of the Environment, 第一種動物取扱業者の規制 (rules for Class 1 animal handling businesses) (Japanese), City of Sapporo, 第一種動物取扱業（登録制） (Class 1 animal handling business registration) (Japanese). Checked on October 7, 2026. Rules can change, so please check the latest official pages.