If you are like me you probably feel bad enough that you have to leave your dog locked up all day while you go to work. I can imagine my poor baby sitting by the door waiting for me to get home so she can finally go for a walk outside.
When taking a vacation I always consider what I will do with my dog as a major factor in the planning. The good news is that in Japan there are many places you can take your dog with you, some places are even geared towards dogs.
Transportation:
If you do not have a car getting to your destination will most certainly be on the train. I have never encountered a situation where I was not able to carry my dog on the train with me. The only requirement has always been that she be in a carry case. You can buy one at almost any pet store around town. There is also a small extra fee for taking your dog on board but I have only ever been charged one time and even then it was only about 200 yen.
The destination:
This really depends on what your overall goal is. Do you want to take a trip and find a hotel that allows dogs to stay or do you want to take a trip that is focused on your dog. For a person like me the only real choice is going somewhere that is going to be just as enjoyable for myself as it is for my dog.
I found a really great place called “Wan Wan Paradise” They have a few locations but from Tokyo the one in Izu was the most convenient. You can take the Super View Odoriko from Tokyo, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, or Shinagawa
http://izu-sakuraya.jp/english/travelinfo/superviewodoriko/index.htm
Wan Wan Paradise is all access for your dog. There are no restricted areas in the main hotel and there are several dog runs as well. You can even take your dog to breakfast and dinner while ordering off a special dog menu for the dog while you eat tasty human food.
http://izu.izumigo.co.jp/wanwan/index.html
Another good thing is that the Izu is pretty dog friendly in general. There is a great place called “Dog forest” right by the station where they have a really huge dog run. They also have good food and local beer as well.
When you arrive at the hotel they have all the information you need to plan your day in Izu with your dog. Some of the staff can speak English and they are all very helpful.
