Pet Sitting in Tokyo: what to know
In-home sitting keeps your pet in its own home, which suits cats and small dogs in apartments; agree on the auto-lock, keys and building rules in the chat.
Homes, buildings and access
Many rentals do not allow pets, and pet-friendly apartments (pet-ka) often have rules such as carrying dogs in lifts and common areas. Tell your provider about the auto-lock, lifts and building rules.
Weather and seasons in Tokyo
From July to September, walk early in the morning or late at night, check the asphalt with your hand and keep walks short.
In the rainy season and typhoon season, keep walks short, dry your dog well and plan indoor play for stormy days.
Before you book
Agree on feeding, medication, keys and house rules in the chat before the first visit, and leave your vet's details with the sitter.
Keep your pet's vaccinations and any local registration up to date and carry the records — providers may ask to see them before the first booking.
Pet Sitting in Tokyo — FAQ
Is pet sitting available in Tokyo?
Yes. OnlyPaw is available worldwide, including Tokyo. Because it's a marketplace, the pet sitters you can book depend on who has been approved near your address — the app shows who's available before you pay.
How much does pet sitting cost in Tokyo?
Pet sitters in Tokyo set their own prices, so you see each provider's rate in the app before you book. At checkout OnlyPaw adds a service fee of 10% of the service price, with a minimum of USD 2 and a maximum of USD 20 (or the equivalent in your local currency), shown before you pay. Your payment is held and only released to the provider after the service is completed.
How are providers vetted?
Every provider submits a government ID and a selfie, passes a knowledge test with a 70% pass mark and uploads service-specific documents — home photos for sitting and boarding, driving licence and vehicle registration for pet taxi, certificates for grooming and training — before the OnlyPaw team approves them.
What do I need to register a dog in Tokyo?
Register your dog with your city or ward office and give it a rabies vaccination every year; the dog should wear its registration and vaccination tags.
What if I need to cancel?
Each provider uses one of three cancellation policies. Under the default moderate policy you get a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start, 50% if you cancel at least 2 hours before, and nothing in the last 2 hours. The flexible policy refunds in full up to 2 hours before the start; the strict policy refunds in full from 48 hours and 50% from 24 hours before.
What happens in an emergency?
Every active booking has an SOS button in the app. It alerts the other party and the OnlyPaw team straight away. If your pet needs urgent medical care, contact a vet or emergency clinic first.
