Vets, grooming and pet services
Appointments booked by an owner on behalf of an animal that has its own requirements. Below is how 5 of them actually set up online booking — the session length, the gap between clients, whether to take payment up front, and the one thing that trips each trade up in Japan.
Veterinarians#
Consultations, vaccinations and surgery in the same diary, with emergencies arriving on top and needing to be fitted in.
| Duration | 15 minutes for a consultation, 30 for a first visit or vaccination |
|---|---|
| Minimum notice | 2 hours |
| Buffer | 5 minutes after, to clean the table |
| Max bookings per day | Cap consultations so surgery time survives the morning |
| Location | In person |
| Payment | Paid in person — the amount depends on what is found |
| Cancellation policy | Not applicable |
Worth asking on the booking form: Species, breed and age · What is the problem? · Vaccination history · First visit?
English-speaking vets are genuinely scarce here and owners search for exactly that. Import and export paperwork for pets leaving or entering Japan is a long appointment of its own, with strict timing — give it its own event type and say so.
Pet grooming#
Time depends entirely on breed and coat, so one booking length for every dog guarantees a day that runs late.
| Duration | 60 minutes for a small dog, 120 for a large or long-coated one |
|---|---|
| Minimum notice | 24 hours |
| Buffer | 15 minutes after |
| Max bookings per day | Five or six dogs a day |
| Location | In person |
| Payment | Paid in person |
| Cancellation policy | Full refund 24 hours before |
Worth asking on the booking form: Breed and weight · Coat condition and any matting · Is your dog nervous or reactive? · Vaccination status
Dog training#
One-to-one sessions at the owner’s home or a park, sold as a course of six, with travel between them.
| Duration | 60 minutes |
|---|---|
| Minimum notice | 24 hours |
| Buffer | 45 minutes after, for travel |
| Bookable up to | 90 days |
| Location | In person, at the owner’s address |
| Payment | Paid online |
| Cancellation policy | Full refund 24 hours before |
Worth asking on the booking form: Breed and age · What behaviour are we working on? · Any bite history?
Pet sitting and dog walking#
Short visits several times a day on a route, booked as a block while the owner is away.
| Duration | 30 minutes |
|---|---|
| Minimum notice | 24 hours |
| Buffer | 20 minutes after, for travel |
| Bookable up to | 180 days, because it is booked with the holiday |
| Location | In person, at the owner’s address |
| Payment | Paid online |
| Cancellation policy | Full refund 7 days before |
Worth asking on the booking form: Species and number of animals · Feeding and medication routine · Key or entry arrangements · Emergency vet details
Pet hotels and boarding#
Multi-night stays with a drop-off and a collection appointment either side, and holidays booked months ahead.
| Duration | 20 minutes for drop-off and collection |
|---|---|
| Minimum notice | 48 hours |
| Bookable up to | 270 days |
| Max bookings per day | By kennel or room availability |
| Location | In person |
| Payment | Deposit paid online |
| Cancellation policy | Full refund 14 days before — peak dates cannot be refilled |
Worth asking on the booking form: Species, breed and weight · Vaccination certificates · Food and medication · Drop-off and collection dates
Golden Week, Obon and New Year fill months in advance and are the whole year’s margin. Open the calendar far enough ahead to take those bookings when people are planning.
Set this up in about ten minutes
Business Box is free for as long as you like, with no card required — booking pages, Google and Outlook calendar sync, availability, Japanese public holidays and the website widget. Taking card payment for bookings is ¥1,200 a month, tax included, with no commission on what you sell.
Last reviewed 28 September 2026.