In Japan, dogs have not been universally accepted as household pets. Prior to the end of the second World War, and with the influence of American lifestyle they were kept outside.
Mrs Keeko Akutsu is a dog lover and a hotel owner. While travelling in Europe she saw how dogs were accepted in major hotels. Following that trend she decided to open her hotel in the hot spa resort of Kinugawa to families with dogs. For a fee of Yen 500 (£2.50) per dog, owners can come and have their dog pampered with special supper and breakfast, attended to by staff that fuss around the animals. For an additional fee dogs can have a spring bath with their owners.

Since she started 40,000 pets have passed through the hotel, and other establishments are beginning to copy her success. The hotel is a kind of shrine for dogs. Mrs Akutsu's 2 deceased pets hang over the entrance in a pair of oil paintings. Dogs are on the cushions in the rooms. Mrs Akutsu wears a specially designed dog-pattern kimono and the lobby contains cabinets full of her international dog porcelain collection.