Tag Archives: pets

Pet Care in Tokyo

. pets, Tokyo . , , ,

The other day we were walking through Roppongi Hills and came upon this delightful pet shop, but it is so much more than a pet shop, that I had to share it all with you.  It really is a spot for total pet care, from grooming to staying.  But it is the height of luxury – for the dog.  Here is a photo essay for you.

The sign for the shop - it's called "Joker"

First we watched the caretakers patiently weighing each puppy. Each puppy was cuter than the next.  It’s a miracle we didn’t walk out with one. But these little dogs cost thousands of dollars each!

Here is a sign advertising the perks of a suite or luxury accommodations in the "hotel" section of the shop.

Here's a shot of the bathroom where they wash the dogs - I wish my tub was that nice!

This sign reminds pet owners that not only is there a hotel on the premesis, but also a "cloak" - so they can drop off their dogs for a few hours and get their shopping done.

This is the grooming stage for the dogs. Make no mistake: these dogs are being pampered!

Fancy tattoos and colorful fur dyes are available for your darling pet.

My favorite sign: this is not advertising a birthday party for kids in the shop - it's advertising a birthday party for DOGS!

We spent a long time letting the kids look over every bit of the shop and watching the action happening with each pet.  We could have stayed longer if bedtime wasn’t approaching.  I’d highly recommend a visit if your kids like pets – and if you have the willpower to say “no”.  These are some highly-pampered pets!  Enjoy.

Pet Shops!

. Japan, pets . , ,

A few weeks ago I had a chance to go to a pet store in Odaiba, an area of Tokyo right on Tokyo Bay.  They have a couple of Western-style malls there, and in one of them was this shop.  Not only did they have cats and dogs, birds and fish, but they had small animals beyond ferrets and rabbits that I could not identify. They also had massive amounts of pet clothing and accessories.  My favorite, of course, were the strollers in which you could push your pup in case he’s too lazy to walk.  You’d be amazed at how many of these you see on the streets.  This is a country in which you can actually rent dogs for the weekend in case you can’t take care of one all week, but love pets.  There’s no guarantee you get the same pet every weekend and I feel really sorry for these dogs who bounce around from owner to owner.  For now, though, let’s concentrate on the shops.

Here is the stroller!

Whatever this is, it sells for $400

These are not baby goods for human babies

 

A piece for your pet to sit at the table with you

Racks and racks of clothing!

It's cute, but what is it?

These are baby birds

The ubiquitous ferret

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I toured through the shop for nearly half an hour looking from cage to cage, item to item.  Everything was spotlessly clean and there was no odor whatsoever.  The pets seemed happy enough, and certainly with all of the accouterments for sale, they have the potential to live happy and pampered lives.  The pet culture in Japan is one of love and care.  You generally never see abused pets anywhere. The shop, in fact, is a testament to the way the Japanese treat their animals.  Certainly it was like nothing else I’ve ever seen.  What a country.