Best Pet-Friendly Hotels and Stays in Sendai for Travelers With Furry Companions

Locating the Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Sendai

I have spent the better part of three years bouncing between Sendai's neighborhoods with a rescue Shiba named Hachi, and if there is one thing I can tell you, it is that the best pet friendly hotels in Sendai are not always the ones with the loudest advertising. Some of the most genuinely welcoming places for travelers with dogs or cats are tucked along side streets in Aoba Ward or quietly operating in older commercial blocks near the Hirose River. What makes Sendai special for pet owners is not the volume of options, since it is still a relatively small scene compared to Tokyo or Kyoto, but the sincerity with which these places accommodate animals. The staff at these hotels often greet my dog before they greet me, which tells you something about the local culture here. Sendai has always been a city that values practicality over flash, and that extends to how it treats travelers who refuse to leave their furry companions behind.

The city itself grew up around the ambitions of Date Masamune, the one-eyed feudal lord who in 1601 turned a modest castle town into the largest urban center in the Tohoku region. Today, Sendai is a city of roughly 1.1 million people spread wide across flat valleys and gentle hills, with wide boulevards, dense zelkova tree canines, and a surprisingly relaxed pace for a city its size. This spatial generosity means many hotels sit on larger plots than you would find in Tokyo, which is a genuine advantage when you need room for a pet relief area or a walking path nearby. The pets that do travel here tend to be small to medium sized dogs, largely because apartment dwelling is common in the city and breeding trends lean that direction. Cats are less frequently traveled with but still accepted at several places I will cover.

Understanding how pet policies work in Japanese hotels is important before you book. Most places that accept pets charge an additional cleaning fee per night, typically between 1,000 and 3,500 yen. Weight limits are common, with most hotels capping at 10 to 15 kilograms, though a few are more flexible. You will almost always be asked to sign a liability waiver and confirm that your pet is vaccinated and parasite-free. Crate or cage training is a huge plus because some hotels require pets to be crated when left in the room. These are not restrictions designed to discourage you. They reflect the high standard of cleanliness that Japanese hospitality demands.

Exploring Dog Friendly Hotels Sendai Offers in Aoba Ward

Aoba Ward is the beating heart of central Sendai, and it is where I always start when people ask me where to stay with a dog. The shopping arcades of Ichibancho and the tree-lined Jozenji-dori avenue give you immediate walking access to parks, pet supply shops, and a handful of restaurants with outdoor seating that tolerates well-behaved dogs. JR Sendai Station, the main transit hub, sits at the eastern edge of this ward, making it particularly convenient for anyone arriving by Shinkansen from Tokyo or elsewhere. The concentration of mid-range and business hotels here means you have options at several price points, though truly pet-accepting properties still number fewer than a dozen in the entire ward.

The walkability of Aoba Ward is what keeps bringing me back. From basically any hotel in the central JR Sendai Station to Ichibancho corridor, you are never more than a ten minute walk from a green space or a konbini that sells pet food. Yagiyama Zoological Park sits on the western edge of the ward and while you cannot bring dogs inside, the surrounding Yagiyama neighborhood has wide sidewalks and gentle slopes ideal for morning walks. The Nishi Park area just west of Hirokoji-dori is another reliable spot for a quick green break with your dog. On weekend mornings, you will notice a tight-knit community of local dog owners who gather there, and they are remarkably friendly to visiting pets.

What most tourists do not realize is that Aoba Ward is also home to a growing number of pet supply specialty stores. One on the B1 level of a department store near the station sells imported grain-free dog food at prices competitive with online retailers. If you run out of anything, you can replace it locally without needing a car. There is also a 24 hour pet hospital just off Hirokoji-dori, a detail that gave me enormous peace of mind when Hachi once had a minor paw issue during a winter stay.

Hotel Metropolitan Sendai and Its Dog-Friendly Policies

The Hotel Metropolitan Sendai sits directly above JR Sendai Station, connected to its underground concourse, which makes it one of the most logistically convenient hotels in the entire city. When my sister visited from Sapporo with her Papillon last spring, this is where I told her to book, and she did not regret it for a second. The hotel's pet policy allows dogs and cats under 10 kilograms, and the additional charge is 3,000 yen per night per pet, which is standard for this tier of accommodation. You will need to reserve a pet-friendly room specifically because they are a subset of the total inventory and can sell out during holidays.

Checking in with Hachi last autumn, the front desk staff had a small welcome treat waiting for him in the room, a simple gesture that set the tone for the entire stay. The pet rooms are on lower floors with easier elevator access to the ground level, which matters when you need to slip out quickly for a midnight bathroom break. The rooms themselves are well-maintained standard business hotel layouts, not spacious by Western standards but efficiently designed with storage where you can set up a pet bed without cluttering the walkway.

The real advantage here is location. Step outside and you are in the station concourse with dozens of food options, or you can cross to the S-PACO or E BeanS department stores for whatever you forgot to pack. For morning dog walks, the Hirose River promenade is about twelve minutes on foot heading west, and it is one of the prettiest flat walking paths in the city. Jozenji-dori, with its famous row of zelkova trees, is a similar distance and stunning in every season.

Local Insider Tip: "Request a room facing the Hirose River side rather than the station side. The river side is quieter, especially at night when train noise can carry, and starting your morning walk heading west toward the river feels more natural than navigating the station crowds with a leashed dog right after you leave the elevator."

One practical note. The lobby can get congested during morning checkout hours between 9 and 10:30 AM, and navigating through with a dog and luggage requires a little patience. I usually take my dog out for his morning walk before that window and check out a bit early to avoid the rush.

Sendai Kankō Hotel and Reliable Pet Allowed Accommodation Sendai Travelers Recommend

A ten minute walk west from JR Sendai Station along Kokubuncho-dori brings you to the Sendai Kankō Hotel, a mid-range establishment that has been quietly offering pet allowed accommodation Sendai visitors rely on for years. I first discovered this place when a friend's dog was turned away from another hotel due to a miscommunication about weight limits, and the Sendai Kankō Hotel staff sorted the situation out with a calm professionalism that I have never forgotten. They accept dogs up to 15 kilograms, which is slightly more generous than many competitors, and the nightly pet fee is 2,500 yen.

The building has a slightly dated exterior that might not photograph well for social media, but the interior rooms are clean, spacious relative to the price, and actually well-suited to having a dog along. The rooms on the north side get less street noise, which my dog appreciates because he is reactive to heavy truck sounds. The hotel provides a basic pet sheet and a small food bowl upon request, which you should ask for at the time of booking because they keep a limited supply.

Kokubuncho-dori, the street the hotel sits on, is Sendai's most famous entertainment and dining strip. At night, the izakayas and yakiniku restaurants for three blocks in either direction light up and fill with salarymen and tourists. If you have a small calm dog and the restaurant has sidewalk seating, some places will allow you to sit outside with your pet, though you should always ask the staff first rather than assuming. The nearby Kotodai Park, about a seven minute walk from the hotel, is a solid green space for a morning walk and hosts occasional seasonal festivals.

What most foreign visitors do not know is that the Sendai Kankō Hotel has a basement coin laundry, extremely convenient if your dog has an accident on your bedding or if mud from a rainy day walk gets on your clothes. I have used it at odd hours without any wait, and it saved me from needing to hand wash things in the sink.

Local Insider Tip: "Call the hotel directly by phone to make your pet reservation rather than using an online booking engine. The front desk staff who answer the phone speak functional English and can confirm pet room availability in real time. Online booking systems sometimes categorize pet rooms incorrectly, and I have seen at least two instances where travelers arrived to find no pet-ready room was set aside for them."

The one honest drawback is that the surrounding nightlife district can be noisy on Friday and Saturday nights, with some revelers spilling onto the sidewalk. If your dog is sensitive to street noise, a weekday stay here would be preferable.

Hotels That Allow Dogs Sendai: The Richmond Hotel Sendai

The Richmond Hotel chain across Japan has built a quietly consistent reputation among pet owners, and the Richmond Hotel Sendai on Tsutsumi-dori is no exception. I stayed here twice with Hachi, once in summer and once in winter, and both times the experience was smooth without being remarkable in any particular way, which is actually a compliment for a business hotel. Dogs and cats up to 10 kilograms are accepted with a 2,500 yen per night surcharge, and the pet-friendly rooms include a small welcome kit with poop bags and a layout guide showing you where the nearest pet relief area is.

Tsutsumi-dori is a major east-west artery just south of JR Sendai Station, placing the Richmond Hotel within walking distance of the same Aoba Ward amenities as the Metropolitan, but slightly removed from the Kokubuncho-dori nightlife noise. There is a Family Mart almost directly across the street, which matters more than you might think when you need to grab dog food or waste bags at 11 PM. The Kotodai Park area is about a twelve minute walk south and serves as the neighborhood's primary gathering green space.

The rooms are a step above basic business hotel standards, with slightly more floor space and better soundproofing between rooms. I noticed this second point matters because hearing a neighbor's dog bark can set off your own dog, and the Richmond seemed to handle that better than most. The bedding is from Seiryoken, which supplies hotels across Tohoku, and sleeping well after a long day of dog-inclusive exploring makes a real difference.

Local Insider Tip: "The side entrance on the south side of the building opens onto a small concrete area with a drain. Hotel staff unofficially tolerate dogs being walked here for quick relief purposes very early in the morning or late at night when you don't want to walk ten minutes to a park. It is not designated as a pet relief area, but if you are discreet and clean up properly, nobody will say a word."

One thing to flag. The road noise on Tsutsumi-dori is genuinely heavy during morning and evening rush hours, and rooms facing the street will pick up engine and horn sounds. Ask for a courtyard-facing room if your dog is easily startled.

Hotel Vista Sendai and Updated Amenities

The Hotel Vista Sendai sits on Aoba-dori, one of the city's premier streets with wide sidewalks and mature tree cover, and this is a detail that matters more than aesthetics when you are walking a dog twice a day. I visited here on a three day weekend with Hachi last October, and the city was at its autumn best, the zelkova leaves along Jozenji-dori just starting to turn at the edges. The Hotel Vista accepts dogs and cats up to 10 kilograms with a 2,000 yen nightly pet fee, one of the lower surcharges I have encountered among comparable mid-range hotels in the chain.

Aoba-dori itself is a beautiful street. It runs parallel to Jozenji-dori one block north and carries slightly less pedestrian traffic, which makes for a more relaxed walking experience. The hotel is about a twelve minute walk from JR Sendai Station, or a short taxi ride with your luggage and pet if you would rather not navigate the station area. There is a basement parking area if you are arriving by rental car, which some travelers with pets prefer because those carriers and supplies add up.

Inside, the rooms have a modern decor that feels refreshed compared to some of the older business hotels nearby. The staff provided Hachi with a small towel with the hotel insignia, which was an adorable touch my partner immediately claimed as a keepsake. The bathroom setup includes a small washing area separate from the shower, useful for rinsing muddy paws after a rainy day walk.

The nearby Dainohara Woods area, about a fifteen minute walk or five minute drive northwest of the hotel, is a forested neighborhood park that feels surprisingly rural for being within city limits. Walking trails wind through actual woodland here, and it is the closest thing Sendai offers to a nature walk without leaving the city. I took Hachi there on our second afternoon and he was in sniffing heaven for a full forty minutes.

Local Insider Tip: "Ask the front desk about the vending machine on the third floor. It stocks a local Sendai craft beer from the Tazukuri Brewery alongside the usual canned coffee options, and I found that cracking one open on the small chair area near the window while my dog napped was the small luxury that made the trip feel less like a logistics exercise and more like a vacation."

The honest critique. The breakfast buffet, while decent, is not included in most room rates and runs about 1,500 yen. There are cheaper and better breakfast options within a five minute walk, so I would rather skip it and head to a nearby bakery or kissaten.

Pet-Friendly Stays Near Sendai Station on the South Side

Moving south of JR Sendai Station into the areas around Tsutsujigaoka and the Nagamachi corridor opens up a different category of stays. Apartment-style hotels and serviced residences here sometimes accept pets, trading central location for more space at a lower nightly rate. I explored this area with Hachi during a week-long work trip last March and found the pace noticeably calmer than the station-side chaos, though you sacrifice some walking convenience.

The Hotel Route Inn Sendai Nagamachi, located about a fifteen minute drive south of the station, is one property in this zone that explicitly accepts dogs up to 10 kilograms for a 2,000 yen nightly fee. The rooms are standard Route Inn quality, clean and functional, with the added benefit of a large parking lot that makes unloading a dog and luggage simultaneously far less stressful than trying to manage it on a crowded downtown sidewalk. The Nagamachi area is primarily residential, so morning walks take you through quiet streets with small local shrines and neighborhood parks rather than commercial strips.

Tsutsujigaoka Park, about a ten minute drive from the Nagamachi area, is one of Sendai's most famous cherry blossom spots in spring, with over 1,000 cherry trees. While dogs must be leashed and you should avoid the peak bloom weekends when the park is packed, a weekday visit in late April with your dog under the blossoms is one of those experiences that stays with you. The park also has a small pond area where dogs can watch ducks from a safe distance, which Hachi found endlessly entertaining.

What most tourists do not realize about the south side of Sendai is that it connects directly to the Tohoku Expressway network, making it a practical base if you are planning day trips to Matsushima Bay, Yamadera, or Fukushima with your pet. Having a car changes the pet travel equation entirely because you can visit places where dogs are welcome, like the seaside paths around Matsushima, without worrying about train pet carrier rules.

Local Insider Tip: "If you are renting a car for day trips, the Toyota Rent-a-Car counter inside the JR Sendai Station east exit is the most pet-tolerant I have found. They do not charge extra for dog hair cleanup if you return the car in reasonable condition, and the staff have helped me secure a larger vehicle when I explained I needed space for a dog crate in the back. Book the car in advance and mention the pet when you pick it up."

The trade-off with staying south of the station is that evening dining options are more limited and spread out. You will likely want a car or be comfortable with taxi rides to reach the Kokubuncho-dori or Ichibancho restaurant districts after dark.

The West Side: Pet-Friendly Options Near Yagiyama and University District

The western side of Aoba Ward, climbing up toward Yagiyama Hill and the Tohoku University campus, offers a quieter, more residential feel that some travelers with anxious or older dogs genuinely prefer. I spent a long weekend here with Hachi when he was recovering from a minor surgery and needed a low-stimulation environment, and the area delivered exactly that. The streets are wider, the traffic is lighter, and the green spaces are more abundant than in the commercial core.

The Hotel Pearl City Sendai in the Yagiyama area is a solid option that accepts small dogs and cats, though I should note their pet policy is more restrictive than some of the Aoba Ward hotels, capping at 7 kilograms and requiring advance confirmation by phone. The nightly pet fee is 2,000 yen. The building is a local chain property, not a luxury destination, but the rooms are spacious and the surrounding neighborhood is genuinely pleasant for walking. The Yagiyama Benyland amusement park sits at the top of the hill, and while dogs cannot enter the park itself, the hillside walking paths around it offer panoramic views of the city and enough varied terrain to make a walk interesting for a dog.

Tohoku University's Katahira Campus, about a five minute walk from the Hotel Pearl City, has open grounds that function as a de facto public park. Students and locals walk dogs here regularly, and the tree canopy provides good shade in summer. The campus also has a small museum, the Katahira Campus Gallery, that occasionally hosts free exhibitions, and the surrounding cafes are the kind of low-key spots where you can sit outside with a dog and a coffee without feeling out of place.

What most visitors do not know about the Yagiyama area is that it was one of the first neighborhoods in Sendai to develop a formal community dog-walking group, organized through a local pet shop on Yagiyama-dori. If you are in town for more than a few days and your dog is social, the shop sometimes welcomes visiting dogs to join their weekend morning walks. It is an informal arrangement, so you would need to stop in and ask, but the community spirit here is real.

Local Insider Tip: "The Family Mart on Yagiyama-dori, about two blocks south of the main intersection, stocks a wider selection of pet supplies than most convenience stores in Sendai, including a local brand of dog treats made with Sendai beef byproducts. My dog goes absolutely crazy for them, and they are a fraction of the price of the imported treats sold in the station area pet shops."

One thing to be aware of. The hillside streets around Yagiyama can be steep, which is fine for an able-bodied dog but could be challenging for older or smaller pets with joint issues. Plan your walking routes on the flatter streets near the university campus if mobility is a concern.

Budget Pet Allowed Accommodation Sendai Backpackers Can Use

Not everyone traveling with a pet in Sendai is looking for a business hotel, and the budget accommodation scene here, while limited for pet owners, does have a few options worth knowing about. I have tested several of these with Hachi over the years, and the honest truth is that budget pet-friendly stays require more flexibility and lower expectations than the mid-range options I have already covered.

The Sendai Central Youth Hostel, located in the Aoba Ward near the Hirose River, has historically accepted small pets with advance arrangement, though their policy can shift seasonally, so calling ahead is essential. The nightly rate for a dormitory bed is around 3,500 yen, and the pet surcharge, when applicable, is approximately 1,500 yen. The facilities are basic, shared bathrooms and all, but the location is excellent, just a short walk from the river promenade and the Ichibancho shopping arcade. The common room is a good place to meet other travelers, and I have had several pleasant conversations with Japanese travelers who were surprised to see a foreigner with a dog at a youth hostel.

Another option in the budget category is the Guest House Kamei, a small family-run guesthouse in the Wakabayashi Ward, east of the city center. This place accepts small dogs by prior arrangement and charges a modest 1,000 yen cleaning fee per stay rather than per night, which adds up to significant savings for longer visits. The house itself is a converted residential property with a small garden, and the owner, a retired schoolteacher, is genuinely fond of animals. She once hand-fed Hachi pieces of grilled fish while I was out exploring, and he was insufferably smug about it for days afterward.

The Wakabayashi Ward location means you are a bit removed from the main tourist areas, but the JR Nagamachi Station is within walking distance, and the local neighborhood has a genuine small-town feel within the city. There is a small park two blocks from the guesthouse that serves as the unofficial dog-walking spot for the block, and the local konbini sells everything you need.

Local Insider Tip: "If you are staying at a budget property without dedicated pet amenities, the 100 yen shop on the second floor of the AER building near JR Sendai Station sells small plastic trays that work perfectly as improvised pet food and water bowls. I have used them on every budget trip, and they pack flat in a suitcase. The same store also carries small packs of pet waste bags for about 200 yen, much cheaper than the branded ones sold at pet stores."

The honest reality of budget pet travel in Sendai is that options are thin and policies are less standardized than at chain hotels. You will need to communicate directly with property owners, ideally in Japanese or through a Japanese-speaking friend, and be prepared for some places to say no even if their website suggests otherwise. Persistence pays off, but so does flexibility.

Daytime Activities With Your Dog in Sendai

Staying at one of the dog friendly hotels Sendai offers is only half the equation. You also need things to do during the day that include your pet, and this is where Sendai genuinely surprises people. The city has a more relaxed attitude toward dogs in public spaces than many Japanese cities, and with a little planning, you can fill several days with dog-inclusive activities.

The Hirose River promenade, running roughly north-south through the western part of Aoba Ward, is the single best dog-walking route in the city. It is flat, paved, shaded by trees in summer, and lined with enough interesting sights, small bridges, public art installations, and riverside cafes, to keep a walk engaging for thirty minutes or more. I walk this route with Hachi at least once every time I am in Sendai, and it never gets old. In early April, the cherry trees along the river bloom and the entire corridor becomes a tunnel of pale pink, though it also becomes crowded on weekends.

Kotodai Park, the large open green space in central Aoba Ward, is another reliable option. Dogs are welcome on leash, and the park's open lawn areas give your dog more room to move than a sidewalk walk. The park hosts the famous Sendai Tanabata Festival in early August, and while the festival itself is too crowded and loud for most dogs, the weeks leading up to it feature decorations going up around the surrounding shopping arcades, which make for colorful walking routes.

For something more structured, the Sendai City Museum, located in the former Third Bailey of Sendai Castle on Aoba Hill, has grounds that are dog-friendly even though the museum interior is not. The castle ruins themselves, with their stone walls and sweeping views over the city, are worth the uphill walk, and the open plaza at the top is a great spot for a photo with your dog with the city as a backdrop. Date Masamune's famous equestrian statue sits here, and I have seen more than one visitor pose their dog beside it for a photo.

Local Insider Tip: "The small cafe called Rokumeikan on Jozenji-dori has a few outdoor tables where the staff will bring water for your dog without being asked. It is not officially advertised as dog-friendly, but the owner has a large Akita and is genuinely welcoming to well-behaved dogs. Their homemade zunda mochi cake is one of the best in the city, and sitting outside with a coffee and a treat while your dog rests at your feet is one of my favorite Sendai rituals."

One activity to avoid with dogs. The Sendai Umino-Mori Aquarium, while a popular family attraction, does not allow pets inside, and the surrounding area has limited green space for leaving a dog tied up outside. Plan aquarium visits for a day when you can arrange pet-sitting or leave your dog at the hotel during off-peak hours.

When to Go and What to Know About Pet Travel in Sendai

The best time to visit Sendai with a pet is during the shoulder seasons of late April through May and October through early November. The weather is mild, the tourist crowds are manageable, and the natural scenery is at its peak with spring blossoms or autumn foliage. Summer, from mid-July through August, can be genuinely hot and humid, with temperatures regularly exceeding 30 degrees Celsius and humidity above 80 percent. Dogs with thick coats or short-nosed breeds struggle in these conditions, and the hot pavement on city streets can burn paw pads during midday walks. If you must visit in summer, restrict walks to early morning and evening.

Winter in Sendai, from December through February, is cold but generally dry, with occasional snowfall that rarely accumulates heavily in the city center. Many hotels have good heating, and dogs with winter coats actually enjoy the crisp air. The main challenge is that outdoor walking time may be shorter due to cold, and some outdoor dining options close or reduce hours. The hotel pet relief areas I mentioned earlier become more valuable in winter when you do not want to walk fifteen minutes to a park in freezing temperatures.

Sendai's public transportation system, including JR lines, subways, and buses, allows pets in carriers. The official rule is that pets must fit in a carrier bag or cage no larger than specific dimensions, roughly 45 centimeters in height and length combined, and the pet must not be visible or disruptive. In practice, I have seen small dogs in soft carriers on the subway without issue, but a dog that barks or whines will draw attention quickly. Taxis are generally pet-friendly if you call ahead and confirm, though some drivers may decline if the dog is large or the car is particularly clean.

Veterinary care in Sendai is accessible and of high quality. The Sendai Animal Care Center and several private clinics in Aoba Ward can handle emergencies, and at least one clinic near the station offers English-language consultation. I keep the contact information for the Sendai Pet Clinic on Hirokoji-dori saved in my phone at all times, and they were the ones who treated Hachi's paw issue efficiently and affordably.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are credit cards widely accepted across Sendai, or is it necessary to carry cash for daily expenses?

Credit cards are accepted at most hotels, department stores, and chain restaurants in central Sendai, but many small izakayas, local shops, and some pet supply stores still operate on a cash-only basis. It is wise to carry at least 10,000 to 20,000 yen in cash at all times. International ATMs are available at JR Sendai Station, the 7-Eleven locations throughout the city, and the Japan Post office branches, which tend to have the most reliable foreign card compatibility.

What is the standard tipping etiquette or service charge policy at restaurants in Sendai?

Tipping is not practiced in Japan and can actually cause confusion or discomfort at restaurants in Sendai. Service charges are sometimes added to bills at higher-end establishments, typically 10 to 15 percent, but this will be clearly stated on the menu. For pet-friendly outdoor dining, no additional fee is charged for having a dog at your table, though some restaurants may ask you to sit at a specific table near the edge of the seating area.

What is the average cost of a specialty coffee or local tea in Sendai?

A specialty coffee at a local kissaten or independent cafe in Sendai typically costs between 400 and 600 yen. Chain coffee shops like Starbucks or Doutor are slightly cheaper, around 300 to 450 yen for a standard cup. Local Sendai specialties like zunda, a sweet edamame paste drink, run about 350 to 500 yen at most cafes and are worth trying at least once.

What is the safest and most reliable way to get around Sendai as a solo traveler?

The Sendai Subway system, with its two lines running north-south and east-west, is clean, punctual, and easy to navigate with English signage. The JR Senseki Line connects the city center to coastal areas like Matsushima. Buses cover areas the subway does not reach, and the Loople Sendai tourist bus runs a fixed route through major sights every 15 to 20 minutes during the day. Taxis are safe and metered, with a base fare of around 500 to 600 yen for the first kilometer.

Is Sendai expensive to visit? Give a realistic daily budget breakdown for mid-tier travelers.

A mid-tier daily budget for Sendai, excluding accommodation, runs approximately 8,000 to 12,000 yen per person. This covers two meals at casual restaurants (about 1,000 to 1,500 yen each), one cafe visit, local transportation, and minor shopping. Adding a pet-friendly hotel at 8,000 to 15,000 yen per night including the pet surcharge brings the total daily cost to roughly 16,000 to 27,000 yen for a solo traveler with a pet. This is notably cheaper than equivalent travel in Tokyo or Kyoto.