Pet palace

With a large number of Japan’s pets — and in particular dogs — being pampered to a thoroughly disturbing degree, it’s hardly surprising that ‘pet hotels’ are considerably better than a basic kennel decked out with several cages and a large stock of tinned food. Yet today’s opening of The Pet Inn Royal at Narita Airport takes this animal accommodation approach to an entirely new level.

The Inn consists of 170 ‘rooms’, varying from a relatively standard cage for 4,000 yen (20 pound) a night, to a luxury suite costing a mind boggling 20,000 yen. But before you balk in disbelief and consider leaving Rover tied up in the garden with a few bowls of food and a note to the neighbours, the hotel — as the advertising pamphlets are keen to point out — is fully equipped with air conditioners and purifiers. Along with staff on duty around the clock. Which it has to be said, is pretty impressive — if a tad unnecessary.

Combine this with the availability of veterinary care and grooming services, and you’ll be able to relax on the beach, comforted by the hotel’s claim of, “Enjoy your travel overseas knowing that your pet is in good hands.”

Yet don’t worry if your companion is something other than a dog. The Pet Royal Inn can also accommodate smaller animals such as cats, rabbits and even ferrets. Although whether the latter will be treated to comedic trips inside a staff member’s trousers as they are apparently accustomed wasn’t disclosed. Similarly, no comment was made on the availability of cat clothing.