Only in Japan moments: pets that are like children

I feel like I have a long list of "Only in Japan" moments stored in my brain from my time living here, but the first one that came to mind was the way that pets are treated. Statistically, pets in Japan outnumber children, which is already an interesting piece of information in itself -- but it's more how they're treated here that I find fascinating. Pets really are like children to many people, and there are a few key ways that stands out to me.

Dog fashion is next level

Back home in Australia I'd still say that the vast majority of pet owners treat their furry friend as part of the family, but I don't think I ever saw pets wearing clothes, for instance. That's not the case here -- I feel like the vast majority of pets have outfits. Take a walk around Tokyo's trendy areas of Omotesando and Harajuku if you don't believe me - there are usually plenty of fancy pups dressed up to the nines, often being pushed around in strollers.

This is my all time favorite pup/owner matching outfits combo - it was taken in Omotesando several winters ago. I got some very "Ginger Spice" vibes from the Union Jacks everywhere!

The price for pets is very expensive

I actually think this is a good thing in some ways, since taking on pet ownership is a financial commitment anyway - and I guess if you're dropping a lot of coin on a prospective new family member you're fairly serious about it. However, I've seen puppies for sale at pet stores here being sold for thousands and thousands of dollars. P's First is one chain of pet stores where I've seen purebred pups going for literally up to 700,000 yen (around $6400 USD at the time of writing). Purebred puppies at home in Australia are also pricey, but nowhere near that cost.

Taking your pet to the groomers is more like a day spa experience

When I had pets in my life pre-Japan, taking them to the groomer was a pretty simple thing. They'd get washed, a hair cut, and maybe a bandana tied around their neck for a bit of pizazz if the groomer was feeling extra fancy that day. Here in Japan, every time our dog gets groomed it's like he's been to the day spa, and his visit comes complete with a personalized photo each time. I thought maybe this was just a yuppie city thing since we first lived in downtown Tokyo, but no - the luxe grooming experience (and photoshoot) has also been a regular fixture at our rural Niigata groomers, too. 

Each time we take our dog to the groomers in Japan, we get a photo to take home of him. They're typically themed, so during spring the backdrops are filled with flowers, around Halloween they're spooky, and this one was around December - Christmas time!

How do you feel about the approach to pets here in Japan? Is it a bit over the top for your liking, or do you think it's sweet?