Japan's Pets: Ageing Dogs, Shiba Boom and Pet Housing — 2026-09-13
Recent data highlights a critical gap in disaster preparedness, with less than 30% of Japanese pet owners stockpiling emergency supplies. Meanwhile, the pet market continues to expand despite a declining dog population, driven by premium spending and rising interest in pet-friendly travel and housing.
Japan's Pets: Ageing Dogs, Shiba Boom and Pet Housing — 2026-09-13
Top developments
Critical Gap in Pet Disaster Preparedness
A recent survey by a Japanese drugmaker revealed that fewer than 30 percent of dog and cat owners in Japan stockpile emergency food and water for their pets when preparing for disasters. This finding underscores a significant vulnerability in household emergency plans as Japan faces ongoing seismic risks. The data suggests that while pet ownership is high, specific preparedness for animals lags behind general human disaster readiness.
Pet Market Grows Despite Declining Dog Numbers
Despite the number of dogs in Japan falling by 1.9 million over the last 12 years, the total pet market size has expanded to 1.9 trillion yen. This growth is attributed to increased spending per animal, particularly on premium foods and veterinary services, rather than an increase in the number of pets. The trend indicates a shift toward treating pets as family members with higher individual expenditure.
Asia’s Pet Tourism Boom Includes Japan
Japan is now identified as a key driver in Asia’s growing pet tourism sector, alongside Singapore and Bangkok. Hotels are increasingly launching specialized services for travelers with pets to capture this market. This development reflects the broader global trend of "fur babies" influencing travel decisions and hospitality offerings in the region.
Local view
Landlord Costs for Pet Damage
A survey by Blue Clean Co., Ltd., reported by Sumo Journal, found that restoration costs for pet-related damage in rental properties most frequently fall between 300,000 and 500,000 yen. The survey targeted landlords and property managers, revealing that one in ten experienced move-out disputes specifically related to pet ownership. This data highlights the financial friction points in Japan's pet-friendly housing market.
Context & numbers
Global Pet Insurance and Tech Growth
The global pet insurance market is projected to reach US$ 137.51 billion by 2033, driven by rising veterinary treatment costs. Concurrently, the global pet tech market is expected to grow from US$ 8.77 billion in 2025 to US$ 25.18 billion by 2033. These global trends are mirrored in Japan, where the pet insurance market is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 17.38% from 2024 to 2035.
On the radar
- Animal Welfare Week: The "Animal Welfare Week" begins on September 20. In advance, Inu Neko Seikatsu Co., Ltd. released the "National Dog and Cat Protection Activity Reality White Paper 2026," detailing chronic funding and labor shortages among protection groups.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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