Have you ever considered taking your dog out in a stroller? If your answer is no, come to Tokyo and be amazed.

Walk through Tokyo’s streets and you’ll spot them everywhere with plenty of options: foldable strollers for easy transport, strollers with mesh windows to protect doggies from sun and rain and strollers with storage baskets for treats and accessories.

They sometimes appear to be mini apartments on wheels. And they are almost always for tiny dogs.

Honestly, before moving to Tokyo, I had never seen strollers for pets. Since then, I learned they also exist in the United States and Europe, but they are far more common in Japan.

Why? Because dogs are not just considered pets, they are companions that are cherished, protected and integrated into daily life, especially in cities.

Elderly or sick dogs that have trouble walking can still go out if pushed in strollers. In crowded places, strollers help protect small dogs from accidentally being stepped on and minimize the nuisance they could cause for others.

As is often the case, Japanese people value public mindfulness.

And yes, sometimes (some would say often), small dogs in strollers appear like fashion accessories, especially in more trendy districts like Ginza and Shibuya. They fit the Japanese sense of ‘cute’.

Watch out for owners and dogs wearing matching outfits.

I have also seen small dogs with tiny decorative backpacks  – perhaps carrying their own treats…. or hoping for an Instagram moment!

In my neighborhood, I mostly see elderly people pushing small dogs in strollers. Companions that seem to ease their loneliness.

While in the United States and Europe dogs are mainly family, playmates or home protectors, in Japan they are often tiny, stylish urban companions kept for emotional comfort.

Did you know?

• Tokyo dog culture can go wild: Sip coffee at a dog café, get pastries at a doggy bakery, take your tiny companion to a dog spa or book a night at a luxury pet hotel.
• You can find festival costumes or tiny yukata (a type of summer kimono) for small dogs. Traditional Japanese festival wear shrunk down to pet size.
• There are dog fashion events around Tokyo with runway shows, fashion displays and product stalls.