Photo/Illutration A bus designed exclusively for passengers with pet dogs has a wider seat pitch for even large canines. (Akifumi Nagahashi)

To improve customer convenience of a dog-friendly hotel it opened in Tokyo, Sumitomo Realty & Development Co. kicked off a special bus tour for patrons wanting to visit tourist destinations and transportation hubs in the capital with their beloved canines.

The bus departs from the Inumo Shibakoen hotel in Minato Ward and makes stops at Haneda Airport and Tokyo Station as well as the ritzy Ginza district, the Odaiba waterfront and elsewhere. The hotel opened in February last year. 

The tour service started July 1. It is expected to appeal to those who find it unrealistic to go on trips because they have to care for their furry friends at home.

The hotel exclusively targets guests who show up with their canine companions. Likewise, the tour is aimed at helping the hotel’s patrons get around Tokyo with their four-legged companions.

The bus boasts a wider seat pitch, or distance between rows of seats, to accommodate even large hounds. Seats are separated by curtains.

A 2022 survey by the Japan Pet Food Association found that most respondents, 26.4 percent, cited the “difficulty in being away from home for long periods for trips and other purposes” as their reason for not keeping dogs despite wanting to have one.

Sumitomo Realty & Development concluded there is strong demand among dog lovers to go sightseeing with their beloved pets.

The service will undergo trial runs through late December to examine how often it is used and decide whether to continue it.

Related News