Which Municipalities Return Your Pet's Ashes? Ash-Return Availability in 792 Japanese Cities

Last updated: August 8, 2026

Out of the municipalities we could check, 51 cities clearly state on their official site that an ash-return option is available (out of 792 cities surveyed).

Most municipal pickup programs use communal cremation, and most don't return the ashes
51 cities state on their official page that you can choose individual cremation or ash collection if you ask
Municipalities with ambiguous wording are left off this list (biased toward under-counting, not over-counting)

When a municipality cremates your pet, it is usually communal cremation — together with other animals — and the ashes are not returned. Below, listed by prefecture, are the municipalities whose official page clearly states that you can choose individual cremation or have the ashes returned if you ask.

Why communal cremation means no ashes back

Communal cremation (合同火葬, gōdō kasō) cremates several pets together, so the remains cannot be sorted back out by individual animal — there is nothing to hand back. Municipalities that do offer ash return generally run a separate program, individual cremation (個別火葬, kobetsu kasō), cremating one animal at a time, and only that program supports ash collection or return.

Municipalities with an ash-return option

Hokkaido

Hokkaido — municipalities with an ash-return option
City / ward	Conditions	Source
Chitose (千歳市)	Allowed (ashes can be collected at Chitose City Funeral Hall; drop-off at the Environmental Center assumes no ash collection needed)	Official page (in Japanese)
Eniwa (恵庭市)	Allowed (ashes returned if the ash-collection plan is selected; phone reservation required)	Official page (in Japanese)

See fees and how to apply for all of Hokkaido

Aomori

Aomori — municipalities with an ash-return option
City / ward	Conditions	Source
Aomori (青森市)	Yes (ashes handed over after collection; temporary ash storage available only at Namioka Saien)	Official page (in Japanese)

See fees and how to apply for all of Aomori

Iwate

Iwate — municipalities with an ash-return option
City / ward	Conditions	Source
Hanamaki (花巻市)	Ashes can be returned if cremation (Shimizu Saien, ¥10,000) is chosen. Ashes cannot be returned with incineration (Iwate Chubu Clean Center, ¥1,200).	Official page (in Japanese)
Tono (遠野市)	Allowed (you can choose with or without ash collection; fees differ)	Official page (in Japanese)
Oshu (奥州市)	Available (ashes can be taken home on request; an urn box can also be purchased at the funeral hall)	Official page (in Japanese)

See fees and how to apply for all of Iwate

Miyagi

Miyagi — municipalities with an ash-return option
City / ward	Conditions	Source
Sendai (仙台市)	Paid option available (when ashes are requested)	Official page (in Japanese)
Kesennuma (気仙沼市)	Available. State your request at reception and ashes will be returned (must bring an urn, etc.). For reception between 9:00-11:00, pickup is the same day 15:00-16:00 or later; for reception after 11:00, pickup is the next day or later	Official page (in Japanese)
Natori (名取市)	Available. You can choose "single-animal cremation (ashes taken home)" (must bring an urn, etc.). With "multi-animal cremation (ashes held by the facility)", ashes are not returned	Official page (in Japanese)

See fees and how to apply for all of Miyagi

Akita

Akita — municipalities with an ash-return option
City / ward	Conditions	Source
Odate (大館市)	Ashes can be taken home. However, it is stated that 'you must bring your own container' (the container must be provided by the user).	Official page (in Japanese)
Kitaakita (北秋田市)	Available on request (ashes taken home; bring an urn, etc.)	Official page (in Japanese)
Nikaho (にかほ市)	Returnable (ashes are taken home after cremation. The city has no burial site, so you must bring your own urn box, etc.)	Official page (in Japanese)

See fees and how to apply for all of Akita

Yamagata

Yamagata — municipalities with an ash-return option
City / ward	Conditions	Source
Yamagata (山形市)	Available on request (not possible for birds, etc. due to the nature of their bones)	Official page (in Japanese)
Nanyo (南陽市)	Available on request (take-home possible, bring an urn. Interment at the memorial tower can also be chosen: residents ¥5,000, non-residents ¥10,000. Interment may not be possible during the snowy season, December-March)	Official page (in Japanese)

See fees and how to apply for all of Yamagata

Fukushima

Fukushima — municipalities with an ash-return option
City / ward	Conditions	Source
Fukushima (福島市)	Available on request (urn ¥500)	Official page (in Japanese)
Date (Fukushima) (伊達市(福島県))	Option to receive ashes available (¥3,500, bring your own container)	Official page (in Japanese)

See fees and how to apply for all of Fukushima

Ibaraki

Ibaraki — municipalities with an ash-return option
City / ward	Conditions	Source
Bando (坂東市)	Available on request. Ashes returned if you bring an urn or other container	Official page (in Japanese)
Kamisu (神栖市)	Ashes returned to those who request it, if they bring a container	Official page (in Japanese)

See fees and how to apply for all of Ibaraki

Gunma

Gunma — municipalities with an ash-return option
City / ward	Conditions	Source
Isesaki (伊勢崎市)	Allowed (after cremation at Sakai Seien, ashes can be taken home)	Official page (in Japanese)

See fees and how to apply for all of Gunma

Saitama

Saitama — municipalities with an ash-return option
City / ward	Conditions	Source
Kawagoe (川越市)	Allowed (individual cremation, take-home)	Official page (in Japanese)
Koshigaya (越谷市)	Allowed (ash collection and take-home available)	Official page (in Japanese)
Gyoda (行田市)	Available on request (ash collection possible with individual cremation; not with communal cremation)	Official page (in Japanese)
Kazo (加須市)	Available on request (ash collection possible with individual cremation if you bring an urn; not returned with communal cremation)	Official page (in Japanese)
Konosu (鴻巣市)	Available on request (ashes returned with individual cremation; not with communal cremation)	Official page (in Japanese)
Fukaya (深谷市)	Available on request (if individual cremation is selected, ash-picking and take-home are possible; ashes cannot be returned for communal cremation)	Official page (in Japanese)
Ageo (上尾市)	Communal cremation at the Environmental Center does not allow return of ashes. Individual cremation at Ageo-Ina Crematorium Tsutsujien allows return of ashes (communal cremation there does not allow return of ashes; reservation required; contact the office for fees).	Official page (in Japanese)
Hasuda (蓮田市)	For individual cremation, ash collection is possible (ashes are handed over the following day or later, all of the ashes are taken home; witnessing the cremation and picking bones from the furnace are not allowed). Ashes are not returned for communal cremation (only residents of the association's member municipalities may use individual cremation)	Official page (in Japanese)
Shiraoka (白岡市)	For individual cremation, ash collection is possible (ashes are handed over the following day or later, all of the ashes are taken home; witnessing the cremation and picking bones from the furnace are not allowed). Ashes are not returned for communal cremation (only residents of the association's member municipalities may use individual cremation)	Official page (in Japanese)

See fees and how to apply for all of Saitama

Chiba

Chiba — municipalities with an ash-return option
City / ward	Conditions	Source
Noda (野田市)	Yes (ash collection available, urn can be taken home; reservation required in advance)	Official page (in Japanese)
Narita (成田市)	Allowed (ash-picking and take-home required; must bring a heat-resistant container)	Official page (in Japanese)

See fees and how to apply for all of Chiba

Niigata

Niigata — municipalities with an ash-return option
City / ward	Conditions	Source
Joetsu (上越市)	Allowed (available on request; those wanting ashes returned must bring a container)	Official page (in Japanese)

See fees and how to apply for all of Niigata

Toyama

Toyama — municipalities with an ash-return option
City / ward	Conditions	Source
Tonami (砺波市)	Allowed (available on request; bring your own urn)	Official page (in Japanese)

See fees and how to apply for all of Toyama

Ishikawa

Ishikawa — municipalities with an ash-return option
City / ward	Conditions	Source
Wajima (輪島市)	Available on request (ash collection possible; user provides the urn)	Official page (in Japanese)

See fees and how to apply for all of Ishikawa

Nagano

Nagano — municipalities with an ash-return option
City / ward	Conditions	Source
Matsumoto (松本市)	Allowed (ash collection only when using the funeral center)	Official page (in Japanese)
Iida (飯田市)	Ashes can be taken home on request	Official page (in Japanese)
Omachi (大町市)	Available on request, take-home possible (bring a container; a dedicated urn is available for a fee). If not taken home, transported by a specialized operator to Tendai-shu Jimyoin Animal Cemetery (Kasugai City, Aichi Prefecture) for communal burial and memorial services	Official page (in Japanese)

See fees and how to apply for all of Nagano

Gifu

Gifu — municipalities with an ash-return option
City / ward	Conditions	Source
Gero (下呂市)	Return of ashes allowed (urn must be self-provided)	Official page (in Japanese)

See fees and how to apply for all of Gifu

Shizuoka

Shizuoka — municipalities with an ash-return option
City / ward	Conditions	Source
Izunokuni (伊豆の国市)	Communal cremation: witnessing, ash collection, and ash return not allowed. Individual cremation: ashes returned (pickup can be reserved from 8 days after the drop-off date)	Official page (in Japanese)

See fees and how to apply for all of Shizuoka

Aichi

Aichi — municipalities with an ash-return option
City / ward	Conditions	Source
Gamagori (蒲郡市)	For individual cremation, ashes are returned after cremation (returned by staff). Not stated for communal cremation	Official page (in Japanese)
Tahara (田原市)	For individual cremation, witnessing and ash collection allowed (must bring your own urn). For communal cremation, ashes are not returned	Official page (in Japanese)

See fees and how to apply for all of Aichi

Mie

Mie — municipalities with an ash-return option
City / ward	Conditions	Source
Kuwana (桑名市)	Communal cremation: no ash collection. Individual cremation: available on request, with ashes returned	Official page (in Japanese)
Nabari (名張市)	States clearly "Ashes of small animals (pets) can be collected." (Ashes returned as a paid option; check availability in advance.)	Official page (in Japanese)
Iga (伊賀市)	States clearly "Ashes of cremated small animals can be collected (individual cremation)." (Ashes returned as a paid option; user must bring their own ash collection box.)	Official page (in Japanese)

See fees and how to apply for all of Mie

Shiga

Shiga — municipalities with an ash-return option
City / ward	Conditions	Source
Otsu (大津市)	Pickup not available / drop-off cremation is an option	Official page (in Japanese)

See fees and how to apply for all of Shiga

Hyogo

Hyogo — municipalities with an ash-return option
City / ward	Conditions	Source
Nishiwaki (西脇市)	Ash collection allowed for individual cremation; not stated on the official site for communal cremation	Official page (in Japanese)

See fees and how to apply for all of Hyogo

Nara

Nara — municipalities with an ash-return option
City / ward	Conditions	Source
Ikoma (生駒市)	Drop-off at city hall not eligible (treated as waste disposal). Ash collection can be selected at Heguri Nogiku-no-Sato Funeral Hall	Official page (in Japanese)

See fees and how to apply for all of Nara

Okayama

Okayama — municipalities with an ash-return option
City / ward	Conditions	Source
Okayama (岡山市)	Available on request (individual cremation at the municipal funeral hall. With ash collection: residents ¥13,000 / non-residents ¥32,000; without ash collection: residents ¥9,000 / non-residents ¥28,000)	Official page (in Japanese)
Kasaoka (笠岡市)	Allowed (you can choose whether to have ashes collected)	Official page (in Japanese)
Ibara (井原市)	Available on request (choosing ash collection costs ¥2,000 more than without)	Official page (in Japanese)
Asakuchi (浅口市)	Allowed (you can choose whether to have ashes collected)	Official page (in Japanese)

See fees and how to apply for all of Okayama

Miyazaki

Miyazaki — municipalities with an ash-return option
City / ward	Conditions	Source
Miyazaki (宮崎市)	Paid option available	Official page (in Japanese)

See fees and how to apply for all of Miyazaki

Conditions and fees reflect each municipality's official page as of August 2026. Ash return is often limited to the individual-cremation option, so confirm the details on the source page before you apply.

If your city isn't listed here

This page only lists municipalities where an ash-return (or ash-collection) option was clearly confirmed on the official page. Most municipalities use communal cremation and do not support ash return. You can check your own city's status on its prefecture page.

Municipal pickup services nationwide (browse by prefecture)

Frequently asked questions

Why can't most municipalities return the ashes?

Most municipalities use communal cremation (合同火葬, gōdō kasō) — cremating several pets together — so the ashes cannot be separated back out by individual animal. Municipalities that do offer ash return usually run a separate individual cremation (個別火葬, kobetsu kasō) program for that purpose.

Does a city not listed here mean ashes are never returned?

This page only lists municipalities where the official site clearly states an ash-return (or ash-collection) option. A city not appearing here isn't necessarily a "no" — it may just be a case where the official site didn't state it clearly enough for us to judge either way. Check your municipality's status on its prefecture page.

Is there an extra fee for ash return, where it is offered?

At most municipalities, choosing ash return (individual cremation / ash collection) costs more than the standard fee. Some require you to bring your own urn. Check the exact conditions on each municipality’s official page.