--- title: Dog Nursing Home in Tokyo Japan by Aeonpet description: A nursing home for dogs opens its doors this month. canonical: https://time.com/2881761/a-nursing-home-for-dogs-is-opening-in-japan/ author: Olivia B. Waxman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-06-16T15:18:14.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T07:10:47.552Z og:title: A Nursing Home for Dogs Is Opening in Japan og:description: The service is expected to cost $1,000 a month og:url: https://time.com/2881761/a-nursing-home-for-dogs-is-opening-in-japan/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta0440af7581ef4d8/698697b8d0b6f2dc75304dcc/old-dog.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: old-dog og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: A Nursing Home for Dogs Is Opening in Japan twitter:description: The service is expected to cost $1,000 a month twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta0440af7581ef4d8/698697b8d0b6f2dc75304dcc/old-dog.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # A Nursing Home for Dogs Is Opening in Japan  by [Olivia B. Waxman](https://time.com/author/olivia-b-waxman/)  ## Olivia B. Waxman Staff Writer Jun 16, 2014 3:18 PM UTC  Getty Images  by [Olivia B. Waxman](https://time.com/author/olivia-b-waxman/)  ## Olivia B. Waxman Staff Writer Jun 16, 2014 3:18 PM UTC A so-called “nursing home” for elderly dogs opens in Tokyo this month, [_The Telegraph_](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/10888438/Japan-opens-first-elderly-dog-retirement-home.html) and [_NBC News_](http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/luxury-nursing-home-dogs-cost-1k-month-japan-n128246) report. The luxury retirement facility run by Aeon Pet, a subsidiary of the Japanese supermarket brand Aeon, is expected to start with 20 dogs, providing them access to a gym, swimming pool, and round-the-clock veterinary care. NBC News reports the cost will depend on dog size and breed, but is estimated to be [$1,000 a month](http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/luxury-nursing-home-dogs-cost-1k-month-japan-n128246). This concept may be considered a way to reduce [the number of stray dogs](http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/govt-announces-zero-stray-dogs-and-cats-action-plan) that are killed. _The Telegraph_ points out that there was a push in [2013](http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2013/08/17/editorials/too-many-abandoned-animals/#.U58GFcYdU1c) to make owners responsible for their pets until their deaths. “Elderly owners who are hospitalized may have no one to care for their pets and other owners may move to a new apartment that does not allow pets,” [according to](http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2013/08/17/editorials/too-many-abandoned-animals/#.U58IVMYdU1d) a _Japan Times_ editorial published last year, which also argues some owners just do not realize how much care an animal needs long-term. Aeon hopes to [expand](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/10888438/Japan-opens-first-elderly-dog-retirement-home.html) the concept nationwide. (h/t [_The Week_‘s Speed Reads](http://theweek.com/article/index/263220/speedreads-elderly-dogs-can-now-retire-gracefully-in-1000-a-month-nursing-home#axzz34oNbVTU3)) **MORE:** [Dogs-Only Swimming Pool in Spain](http://time.com/2852116/five-star-resort-for-dogs-opens-in-spain-complete-with-a-canine-swimming-pool/) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/2881761/a-nursing-home-for-dogs-is-opening-in-japan/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/2881761/a-nursing-home-for-dogs-is-opening-in-japan/"},"headline":"A Nursing Home for Dogs Is Opening in Japan","datePublished":"2014-06-16T15:18:14.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T07:10:47.552Z","description":"The service is reportedly expected to cost $1,000 a month","url":"https://time.com/2881761/a-nursing-home-for-dogs-is-opening-in-japan/","keywords":["Newsfeed","animals"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta0440af7581ef4d8/698697b8d0b6f2dc75304dcc/old-dog.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Olivia B. 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