Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) both accept pets as manifest cargo on select routes into Tokyo, and either can work well for a relocation, but they differ in booking lead times, seasonal heat embargoes, and how closely their ground handlers coordinate with Japan's Animal Quarantine Service, so the right choice depends on your route, travel dates, and how much your pet's paperwork is already prepared.

How JAL's Pet Cargo Program Works

JAL transports pets exclusively as manifest cargo, not as checked baggage, and generally requires bookings several weeks in advance along with an IATA-compliant crate. JAL enforces a seasonal embargo on brachycephalic, or snub-nosed, breeds like bulldogs and pugs during peak summer heat, and it prefers direct routings into Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND) to avoid extended tarmac time during connections. Its cargo terminal staff coordinate directly with Japan's quarantine officials, which helps when your paperwork supports the shortened 12-hour quarantine track rather than the full 180-day track.

How ANA's Pet Cargo Program Compares

ANA's pet cargo service follows a similar structure, moving animals in the hold as cargo rather than in the cabin, with its own set of seasonal temperature restrictions and crate specifications. ANA tends to have slightly different blackout dates and, on some US routes, different connection cities, which can matter if your pet needs to avoid a long layover. Both airlines require proof of the exporting country's health certificate and follow Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Animal Quarantine Service rules at the border, so neither one can shortcut Japan's own import requirements.

Japan's Quarantine Rules Matter More Than the Airline

Whichever carrier you choose, the airline is only half the equation. Japan allows a fast-track import, sometimes as short as half a day at the airport, if you complete the required steps well ahead of travel:

  • ISO microchip implanted before the rabies vaccination series
  • Two rabies vaccinations at least 30 days apart
  • An FAVN rabies antibody titer test showing a passing result
  • A waiting period of 180 days after the titer test blood draw
  • Advance notification filed with Japan's Animal Quarantine Service 40 days before arrival

Skip any of these and your pet faces the standard quarantine hold at the airport facility instead of walking through with minimal delay, regardless of whether you flew JAL or ANA.

Cost and Planning Considerations

Cargo shipping alone from the US to Japan typically runs $1,500 to $4,000 depending on crate size and routing, while a full door-to-door relocation coordinated by an experienced pet relocation team often lands between $3,000 and $7,000 once paperwork handling, ground transport, and quarantine coordination are included. Because the rules are detailed and unforgiving of small errors, many relocating families lean on specialists like PetAir UK's guidance on Japan-bound moves or an IPATA-certified agent rather than booking cargo space directly with either airline.

Choosing Between the Two for Your Route

In practice, the decision often comes down to which airline flies nonstop from your departure city rather than a meaningful difference in service quality. A pet owner flying from a US West Coast hub might find JAL's routing more convenient, while someone connecting through a different gateway may find ANA's schedule fits better. Both carriers publish their own crate specification charts and embargo calendars, so it's worth pulling the current version directly from the airline before finalizing a booking, since seasonal restrictions and paperwork requirements are updated periodically and a policy that applied last year may not still apply today.

Which airline has an easier pet cargo process, JAL or ANA?

Neither is clearly easier; both require advance cargo booking and IATA-compliant crates, so the better choice usually comes down to which one flies your specific route with the shortest layover and the least restrictive seasonal embargo on your travel dates.

Can my pet fly in the cabin to Japan on JAL or ANA?

No. Both airlines move pets as cargo in the hold on Japan routes; neither offers in-cabin pet travel for international flights to Japan.

How far ahead should I book pet cargo to Japan?

Most relocation specialists recommend starting the vaccination and titer test process at least seven months ahead, since Japan's fast-track import depends on a 180-day waiting period after a passing titer test, well before you even book the flight itself.