I’m a Canadian service dog user, and my partner and I are thinking about moving to Japan one day. Google is giving me a million different answers, lol.
Some places online are telling me Japan only recognizes guide/mobility service dogs and they do not recognize psychiatric/autism/seizure response service dogs. My dog is trained in cardiac (heartrate) alert and psychiatric alert/response, and has some guide/mobility tasks. My future service dogs will be the same. Could anyone provide clear insight as to if I would be able to have my service dog in Japan?
(I live in BC Canada where we do have certification unlike in the USA, so my dog and any future ones will be certified. I think I read online that Japan does offer an official government certification?)
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Disclaimer, I have zero personal experience regarding this topic. Of course, I assume you would like to hear from people with personal experiences with their service dogs. With that said, to address your point regarding “million different answers,” are you searching in Japanese or English? In Japanese I had zero issue finding what you were asking. My Japanese results even took me to an entire site in English from the MHLW about overseas service dogs, bringing them over, which can be brought over, etc. – essentially the information you appear to be looking for.
First result on Google is Japan’s ministry of health: https://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/policy/care-welfare/welfare-disabilities/assistance_dogs/user_certificate.html
You’ll be interested in this part:
> “Mobility service dogs” are defined as dogs that support their users’ physical disabilities due to motor impairments.
> Service dogs for mental disorders, autism, emotional disorders, epileptic disorders, PTSD, etc. cannot be accepted as assistance dogs in Japan.
> Privately trained service dogs cannot be accepted as assistance dogs in Japan.
This paints a pretty bad picture, but there are other concerns for you, too. Some medications can’t be obtained here, mental health care is extremely lacking, and whatever your condition may be could be enough for the government not to issue you a visa – most countries don’t want to bring in someone who is likely to be a burden to the health system or society. Of course, I don’t know what your issues are, but these are all things to keep in mind!