How to book a Tokyo monthly apartment with a pet

Before paying for a Tokyo furnished apartment, get written confirmation that your particular pet is accepted in that unit. A general “pet-friendly” label is useful for searching, but it doesn't answer questions about animal type, size, number or the rules in shared areas.

Send the pet details with your first enquiry. That gives the company a chance to check the right apartments before you spend time comparing layouts and prices. If approval is still pending, keep another accommodation option open until you know the decision and payment terms.

Read the conditions beside the pet label

Look for ペット可 (petto ka, pets allowed) and ペット相談可 (petto sōdan ka, pets subject to consultation). The second phrase invites you to ask; it isn't approval. Neither phrase replaces the conditions in the agreement.

For example, 小型犬または猫1匹まで means up to one small dog or cat. Ask how the building defines “small” and whether your animal meets that definition. A different listing may have different limits on weight, breed or age.

Include the pet's species, breed, weight, age and number of animals. Provide vaccination or other records if requested through the company's normal application process. If your pet will be alone during working hours, ask whether the agreement places limits on that too.

The permission should identify the apartment or building and your pet. A reply that says “some of our buildings accept pets” is a useful lead, but you still need confirmation for the unit you intend to reserve.

Pet permission can change the cleaning arrangement

A published Azabu serviced-apartment pet agreement requires a vaccination-certificate copy before arrival and a crate or carrier during housekeeping. It says services may not be provided if the condition isn't met, and requires the dog to be carried or in a carrier outside the guest room.

If you’ll be out during cleaning, agree where the dog will stay safely and how staff will get in. If you cannot carry the dog comfortably, check how the common-area rule works for you before booking. This is one property's short-stay agreement; ask for the current agreement applying to your unit and dates.

Under the same agreement, ordinary room equipment cannot be used for the pet. Bring or request suitable pet bowls rather than using the kitchen crockery.

Separate the deposit from the cost

Ask for an itemised quote showing rent, ordinary deposit, any additional pet deposit, cleaning charges and other non-refundable fees. For each deposit, ask when it is returned, how deductions are assessed and whether any amount is non-refundable from the outset.

Here is an illustrative comparison, not a Tokyo market rate. Suppose two apartments each cost ¥260,000 per month for two full months:

Apartment A requires ¥220,000 more upfront. If its deposit is returned in full, though, the stay costs ¥40,000 less than Apartment B. Damage deductions or other charges could change the comparison, so read the terms before choosing.

Compare the total for the dates you need, and keep enough cash available for your next accommodation while waiting for a deposit refund.

Understand the condition and cleaning terms

Ask which cleaning charges are agreed in advance and which depend on the apartment's condition at checkout. Ask which pet-related cleaning charges can be deducted even if nothing is damaged.

On arrival, photograph existing floor marks, scratched doors, damaged wallpaper and furniture, then send the photos to the rental company using the contact details it gave you for reporting problems. Include anything that could later be mistaken for pet damage. Save the photos and the company’s reply together.

During the stay, report accidents or damage promptly and ask how the supplied surfaces should be cleaned. An improvised chemical treatment or repair can create another problem. Use protective covers or mats only where the company approves them, and don't attach barriers to walls or doors without permission.

Before checkout, ask whether there is a joint inspection and how you can query a deduction. The move-out packet guide explains what to keep once you no longer have access to the unit.

Check the route outside the front door

Ask whether pets must be carried or placed in a carrier in the lift and corridors, which entrance to use and where they may not go. Confirm how to dispose of pet waste. A rule that works for a small cat carrier might be awkward for a dog you cannot comfortably carry.

Look for places to walk your dog near the apartment and check whether any transport you need will accept your pet. Keep the housing search open across wards until you have checked individual buildings’ rules; their age or location alone will not tell you whether they accept pets.

If you need a veterinary clinic, identify one that treats your animal and ask about appointments, language support and records to bring. Import procedures are a separate part of the move; an apartment's pet approval doesn't establish that your animal can enter Japan.

If approval needs consultation

Ask who decides, what documents are missing, when to expect an answer and whether the unit is held during that process. Also ask what happens to any payment if the pet is refused. A phone discussion can be helpful, provided you follow it with written confirmation of the result.

A consultation listing may still work if the company can decide before you need to book. Keep a backup while you wait. If the company cannot confirm before the payment deadline, don't treat silence as permission.

If you’re offered a standard rental instead, ask for its move-in charges and the cost of ending the lease on your departure date. Add any furniture you’d need before comparing it with the furnished apartment.

A useful first enquiry

Hello, I'm looking for a furnished apartment from [arrival] to [departure] with one [species, breed, weight and age]. Which available apartments could accept this pet, and what would the total stay cost, including pet fees and deposits?

Once you have a suitable unit, go through its pet agreement and approval process before paying. Save the approval with the signed agreement and your photos of the apartment’s condition. Browse HalfKey's available apartments, then ask about your pet and dates before reserving.