Vets, grooming and pet services
Appointments booked by an owner on behalf of an animal that has its own requirements. Explore suggested settings for 5 types of business, including appointment lengths, time between bookings, payments and considerations for operating 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 |
|---|---|
| Booking notice required | 2 hours |
| Time between appointments | 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 |
Suggested booking questions: 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 |
|---|---|
| Booking notice required | 24 hours |
| Time between appointments | 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 |
Suggested booking questions: 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 |
|---|---|
| Booking notice required | 24 hours |
| Time between appointments | 45 minutes after, for travel |
| How far ahead customers can book | 90 days |
| Location | In person, at the owner’s address |
| Payment | Paid online |
| Cancellation policy | Full refund 24 hours before |
Suggested booking questions: 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 |
|---|---|
| Booking notice required | 24 hours |
| Time between appointments | 20 minutes after, for travel |
| How far ahead customers can book | 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 |
Suggested booking questions: 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 |
|---|---|
| Booking notice required | 48 hours |
| How far ahead customers can book | 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 |
Suggested booking questions: 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.
Start taking bookings online
The Free plan includes booking pages, Google Calendar and Outlook connections, working hours, Japanese holiday settings and booking on your website. No credit card is required, and there is no time limit. The Paid plan is ¥1,200 per month including tax and adds online card payments, team bookings and LINE integration. Business Box charges no booking commission; Stripe processing fees apply separately.
Last reviewed 16 October 2026.