Renting an Apartment with a Dog in Japan: Questions to Ask First

In short: when you look for an apartment with a dog in Japan, you will often see two labels: ペット可 (pets allowed) and ペット相談 (pets negotiable, literally “consult about pets”). Neither label tells you the details, so ask about size and number limits, extra money at signing or move-out, and building rules for elevators, common areas, and noise before you sign. For move-out, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) publishes a guideline, 原状回復をめぐるトラブルとガイドライン. It says restoration (原状回復) does not mean returning the home to the state it was in when you moved in, and that normal wear and aging are covered by rent. For scratches or odors on pillars and wallpaper caused by a pet, it says these are often judged to be the tenant’s cost. MLIT also says the guideline is not mandatory and that, in the end, the contract and how the home was used decide each case. Read your own contract and ask the agent or landlord.

Finding a home that accepts a dog takes more questions than a normal apartment search. This post gives you a checklist of what to ask first, and sums up what MLIT’s official guideline says about move-out costs, in plain English.

Please read this first: this post is a general checklist and a plain-English summary of official MLIT pages. It is not about my own dog, and it is not legal advice. I am not a real estate agent or a lawyer. Every contract is different. The rules for your home are the ones in your contract and your building’s rules, so please read them carefully and ask the real estate agent or landlord about anything unclear. The guideline details below are given as MLIT’s pages stated them when I checked on October 8, 2026.

ペット可 and ペット相談: what the labels leave out

The two labels you will see most on listings are:

Label	Plain-English meaning	What to ask
ペット可	Pets allowed	Which animals, what size, how many, and under what conditions
ペット相談	Pets negotiable (“consult about pets”)	Whether your dog will be accepted, and on what conditions, before you apply

A label on a listing is only a starting point. Even when pets are allowed, a building may have conditions, and a “negotiable” listing may end in a no. Ask the agent to confirm in writing that your dog is accepted, and check that the contract or building rules say so too.

My post Living with a Dog in Japan: Basic Rules and Manners covers dog registration, rabies shots, and everyday manners you will need wherever you live.

Questions about your dog

Listings rarely spell out every condition, so these are the questions to ask about your dog itself:

• Size or weight limits. Is there a limit on height, weight, or “small dogs only”?
• Number of animals. How many dogs or other pets are allowed?
• Type of animal. Are dogs accepted, or only some animals?
• Paperwork. Does the landlord want to see your dog’s registration, vaccination records, or a photo?
• If your dog grows or you add a pet. What happens if a puppy grows past a size limit, or you want a second pet later?

Money questions: deposit, cleaning, and special clauses

Ask about money before you sign, not when you move out:

• At signing. Is there an extra deposit or any extra fee because you have a dog?
• At move-out. Does the contract say anything about cleaning, wallpaper, flooring, or odor removal because of a pet?
• Special clauses (特約). Are there any special clauses about pets? Ask the agent to explain each one.

MLIT’s guideline mentions this kind of clause. As an example of an “exception” special clause (例外としての特約), it gives “クロス張替費用（居室内でのペット飼育を認めるため）,” meaning the cost of replacing wallpaper because keeping a pet indoors is allowed. So read the special clauses in your contract carefully.

What MLIT’s guideline says about move-out restoration

MLIT’s guideline, 原状回復をめぐるトラブルとガイドライン, was compiled in March 1998 and revised in February 2004 and August 2011. MLIT says it was made to help prevent disputes at move-out, as a general standard considered reasonable for how restoration costs are shared. Here is what it says, as plainly as I can put it.

Point	What MLIT’s guideline says
What restoration means	Restoring loss of value caused by the tenant’s intent or negligence, breach of the duty of care, or use beyond normal use. That cost is the tenant’s
Normal wear and aging	Repair costs for aging and normal wear are treated as included in the rent
Not “as new”	Restoration does not mean returning the home to the state it was in when the tenant moved in
Pet damage	Scratches or odors on pillars, wallpaper, and so on caused by a pet are often judged to be the tenant’s cost
Pets not allowed	If keeping pets is prohibited, keeping one is considered a breach of the terms of use
Years of use	Even for damage the tenant pays for, the tenant’s share is reduced the more years have passed
Repair area	Repairs are limited to the damaged part as far as possible, at the smallest practical unit
Is its use required?	No. The guideline says it does not force its use, and that restoration should finally be decided case by case by the contract and how the home was used

On pet damage, the guideline gives its reasoning: especially in apartment buildings (共同住宅), keeping pets is still not common, and there are issues such as training and cleaning up urine. For that reason, it says that when a pet scratches pillars or wallpaper or leaves odors, it is often judged to be the tenant’s cost. Note the wording: “often,” not “always.”

The guideline also says it assumes private rental housing at about market rent, and that it is meant to be used as a reference when signing a contract. For people who have already signed, MLIT’s page says the current contract is, in principle, considered valid, and that if the contract wording is unclear or there was a problem at signing, the two sides should talk using the guideline as a reference.

On special clauses, the guideline says clauses are allowed under freedom of contract as long as they don’t conflict with mandatory laws, and that a clause can make the tenant responsible for more than the general restoration duty. It also lists requirements for clauses that put a special burden on the tenant. What any of this means for your own contract depends on its wording, so ask the agent or landlord, and get professional advice if you need it.

Protect yourself at move-in

MLIT says that restoration is often seen as a move-out problem, but that it is effective to treat it as a move-in problem too. Its page recommends checking the condition of the home, such as any existing wear or damage, at move-in and move-out, and making sure both sides understand and agree to the restoration terms at signing.

• Check the home on move-in day. Look at floors, walls, doors, and pillars, and note any existing marks.
• Take photos with the date. Keep them with your copy of the contract.
• Share what you find. Ask the agent how to report existing damage, and keep a copy.
• Keep every document. The contract, special clauses, building rules, and any written approval for your dog.

Building rules: elevators, common areas, and noise

Pet rules often go beyond your own apartment. Ask for the building rules (管理規約 or 使用細則, if there are any) and check questions like these:

Place	What to ask
Elevator	Can your dog ride? Do you need to hold or carry your dog, or use a carrier? Is there a pet sign or button?
Hallways and entrance	Must your dog be carried, in a carrier, or on a short leash in common areas?
Balcony	Is your dog allowed on the balcony? Can you wash or groom your dog there?
Garbage	How should you throw away pet waste and toilet sheets in this building?
Noise	Are there rules about barking or quiet hours? What happens if a neighbor complains?
Registration	Do you need to register your dog with the building management?

If your dog will be alone while you work, think about barking before you move in. My post Leaving a Small Dog Home Alone for a Short Time: A Gentle Plan has small steps you can start with. If you are moving from abroad, Bringing a Dog to Japan: The Import Steps in Plain English walks through the quarantine steps.

What to ask before you sign: a checklist

Topic	Question to ask the agent or landlord
Acceptance	Is my dog accepted, in writing?
Size and number	What are the size, weight, and number limits?
Money at signing	Is there an extra deposit or fee for a dog?
Money at move-out	What does the contract say about cleaning, wallpaper, flooring, or odors?
Special clauses	Are there any special clauses about pets, and what does each one mean?
Building rules	What are the rules for the elevator, common areas, balcony, and noise?
Move-in check	How do I report existing damage when I move in?

Ask early, get answers in writing, and read every page of the contract before you sign. MLIT’s guideline is a helpful reference, but your contract and your building’s rules are what apply to you, so ask the agent or landlord whenever something is unclear.

FAQ

What is the difference between ペット可 and ペット相談?

ペット可 means pets are allowed, and ペット相談 means pets are negotiable, literally “consult about pets.” Neither label tells you the size, number, or other conditions. Ask the agent to confirm in writing that your dog is accepted, and check the contract and building rules.

Will I have to pay for pet damage when I move out of a Japanese apartment?

It depends on your contract. MLIT’s guideline says scratches or odors on pillars, wallpaper, and so on caused by a pet are often judged to be the tenant’s cost, while normal wear and aging are treated as covered by rent. MLIT also says the guideline is not mandatory and that each case is finally decided by the contract and how the home was used. Read your contract and ask the agent or landlord.

What should I ask before signing a lease with a dog in Japan?

Ask whether your dog is accepted in writing, the size and number limits, any extra deposit or fee, what the contract says about move-out cleaning and repairs, any special clauses about pets, and the building rules for elevators, common areas, and noise. MLIT also recommends checking the home’s condition at move-in and move-out.

Sources checked: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), 住宅：「原状回復をめぐるトラブルとガイドライン」について (guideline overview) (Japanese), MLIT, 住宅：「原状回復をめぐるトラブルとガイドライン」（再改訂版）のダウンロード (guideline downloads) (Japanese), MLIT, 第１章 原状回復にかかるガイドライン (Chapter 1 of the guideline, PDF) (Japanese). Checked on October 8, 2026. Every contract is different, so please read your own contract and ask your real estate agent or landlord.