Pet Cremation and Municipal Pickup in Niigata — Fees and How to Apply, 20 Cities

Last updated: August 8, 2026 (Re-checked against 792 official city pages nationwide)

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Pick your city below to see the fee, how to apply, and whether the ashes come back, with a link to that city's official page.

  • We checked each of Niigata's 20 municipalities against its own official page (re-checked August 8, 2026)
  • Municipal pickup is communal cremation or burial as a rule, and ashes are not returned
  • If you want the ashes back, a private pet cremation service is the option

Besides a private cremation company, asking your municipality to take the body is another option when a pet dies. Below, we've summarized what each city in Niigata states on its official site. Neither option is objectively right — it's reasonable to choose based on whether getting the ashes back matters to you.

Pick your city

Fees, ash return, and what to do — by city

Fees and conditions come from each city's official page. Phone numbers can change, so open the official page from each card's button and call the number listed there.

Niigata (新潟市)

Pickup ¥2,200 · Drop-off available · Ash return: call to confirm

Pickup
¥2,200
Drop-off
¥1,500 (Kita Ward only)
Ash return
Not stated on the official site
  1. Keep the body cool and settle it somewhere stable (how to)
  2. Open the official page below and call the office
  3. For dogs, file a death notification within 30 days (how to)

What to say on the phone (in Japanese — read this to the office)
「飼っていたペットが亡くなりました。引き取りをお願いしたいのですが、受付時間と持ち物、遺骨が戻るかどうかを教えてください」
English: My pet has died. I'd like to ask you to take the body, and I'd like to ask about reception hours and what to bring, whether the ashes are returned.

Open Niigata (新潟市)'s official pagecity.niigata.lg.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Nagaoka (長岡市)

Pickup: call to confirm · Drop-off: call to confirm · Ashes not returned

Pickup
If it fits in a designated burnable-waste bag, wrap it in newspaper, place it in the bag, and put it out at the town's waste station (regular collection; no fee stated).
Drop-off
Can be brought directly to Kotobuki Clean Center, etc. (fee not stated)
Ash return
No return of ashes (treated as waste disposal)
  1. Keep the body cool and settle it somewhere stable (how to)
  2. Open the official page below and call the office
  3. For dogs, file a death notification within 30 days (how to)

What to say on the phone (in Japanese — read this to the office)
「飼っていたペットが亡くなりました。引き取りをお願いできるかどうか、料金を教えてください」
English: My pet has died. I'd like to ask about whether you can take the body, the fee.

Open Nagaoka (長岡市)'s official pagecity.nagaoka.niigata.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Sanjo (三条市)

Pickup: call to confirm · Drop-off: call to confirm · Ashes not returned

Pickup
Not stated on the official site
Drop-off
One Sanjo City designated garbage bag (burnable waste bag)
Ash return
No (ashes cannot be returned)
  1. Keep the body cool and settle it somewhere stable (how to)
  2. Open the official page below and call the office
  3. For dogs, file a death notification within 30 days (how to)

What to say on the phone (in Japanese — read this to the office)
「飼っていたペットが亡くなりました。引き取りをお願いできるかどうか、料金を教えてください」
English: My pet has died. I'd like to ask about whether you can take the body, the fee.

Open Sanjo (三条市)'s official pagecity.sanjo.niigata.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Kashiwazaki (柏崎市)

No municipal pickup — you will need a private cremation service

Pickup
No program (the city does not provide pet cremation; directs owners to a private operator)
Drop-off
No program
Ash return
Not stated on the official site
  1. Keep the body cool and settle it somewhere stable (how to)
  2. Find a private pet cremation service (cost guide)
  3. For dogs, file a death notification within 30 days (how to)

Open Kashiwazaki (柏崎市)'s official pagecity.kashiwazaki.lg.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

Find a private cremation service

Shibata (新発田市)

Not stated on the official page — call the office to confirm

Pickup
Not stated on the official site (if the owner cannot dispose of it themselves, the city will take custody and outsource cremation to a pet funeral center; no fee stated)
Drop-off
Not stated on the official site
Ash return
Not stated on the official site
  1. Keep the body cool and settle it somewhere stable (how to)
  2. Open the official page below and call the office
  3. For dogs, file a death notification within 30 days (how to)

What to say on the phone (in Japanese — read this to the office)
「飼っていたペットが亡くなりました。引き取りをお願いできるかどうか、料金、遺骨が戻るかどうかを教えてください」
English: My pet has died. I'd like to ask about whether you can take the body, the fee, whether the ashes are returned.

Open Shibata (新発田市)'s official pagecity.shibata.lg.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Ojiya (小千谷市)

Pickup: call to confirm · Drop-off available · Ashes not returned

Pickup
If it fits in a designated garbage bag, it can be put out with regular collection as "combustible garbage" (only the cost of the bag; no additional fee stated)
Drop-off
Drop-off directly at Tokimizu Cleaning Plant. ¥300 for 100kg or under, plus ¥30 for each additional 10kg
Ash return
Not allowed (ashes cannot be returned)
  1. Keep the body cool and settle it somewhere stable (how to)
  2. Open the official page below and call the office
  3. For dogs, file a death notification within 30 days (how to)

What to say on the phone (in Japanese — read this to the office)
「飼っていたペットが亡くなりました。引き取りをお願いしたいのですが、受付時間と持ち物を教えてください」
English: My pet has died. I'd like to ask you to take the body, and I'd like to ask about reception hours and what to bring.

Open Ojiya (小千谷市)'s official pagecity.ojiya.niigata.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Kamo (加茂市)

Pickup: call to confirm · Drop-off available · Ash return: call to confirm

Pickup
Not stated on the official site
Drop-off
¥1,000 (crematorium usage fee)
Ash return
Not stated on the official site
  1. Keep the body cool and settle it somewhere stable (how to)
  2. Open the official page below and call the office
  3. For dogs, file a death notification within 30 days (how to)

What to say on the phone (in Japanese — read this to the office)
「飼っていたペットが亡くなりました。引き取りをお願いしたいのですが、受付時間と持ち物、遺骨が戻るかどうかを教えてください」
English: My pet has died. I'd like to ask you to take the body, and I'd like to ask about reception hours and what to bring, whether the ashes are returned.

Open Kamo (加茂市)'s official pagecity.kamo.niigata.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Tokamachi (十日町市)

Pickup: call to confirm · Drop-off available · Ashes not returned

Pickup
Not stated on the official site
Drop-off
¥300 (cremated at the Eco Clean Center)
Ash return
No (ashes not returned)
  1. Keep the body cool and settle it somewhere stable (how to)
  2. Open the official page below and call the office
  3. For dogs, file a death notification within 30 days (how to)

What to say on the phone (in Japanese — read this to the office)
「飼っていたペットが亡くなりました。引き取りをお願いしたいのですが、受付時間と持ち物を教えてください」
English: My pet has died. I'd like to ask you to take the body, and I'd like to ask about reception hours and what to bring.

Open Tokamachi (十日町市)'s official pagecity.tokamachi.lg.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Mitsuke (見附市)

No pickup service · Drop-off available · Ashes not returned

Pickup
No program (drop-off at the Cleaning Center only; no pickup service)
Drop-off
Direct drop-off at the Cleaning Center (cats and small dogs under 10kg). Fee ¥100 per 10kg
Ash return
Not allowed (ashes cannot be returned)
  1. Keep the body cool and settle it somewhere stable (how to)
  2. Open the official page below and call the office
  3. For dogs, file a death notification within 30 days (how to)

What to say on the phone (in Japanese — read this to the office)
「飼っていたペットが亡くなりました。引き取りをお願いしたいのですが、受付時間と持ち物を教えてください」
English: My pet has died. I'd like to ask you to take the body, and I'd like to ask about reception hours and what to bring.

Open Mitsuke (見附市)'s official pagecity.mitsuke.niigata.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Murakami (村上市)

Not stated on the official page — call the office to confirm

Pickup
Not stated on the official site
Drop-off
Not stated on the official site
Ash return
Not stated on the official site
  1. Keep the body cool and settle it somewhere stable (how to)
  2. Open the official page below and call the office
  3. For dogs, file a death notification within 30 days (how to)

What to say on the phone (in Japanese — read this to the office)
「飼っていたペットが亡くなりました。引き取りをお願いできるかどうか、料金、遺骨が戻るかどうかを教えてください」
English: My pet has died. I'd like to ask about whether you can take the body, the fee, whether the ashes are returned.

Open Murakami (村上市)'s official pagecity.murakami.lg.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Tsubame (燕市)

Pickup: call to confirm · Drop-off available · Ash return: call to confirm

Pickup
Wrap in newspaper, place in a designated bag, and put out at the garbage collection point as combustible waste (regular collection; fee not stated)
Drop-off
Direct drop-off at the Environmental Center (cardboard box, etc.; designated bag not required). Free.
Ash return
Not stated on the official site
  1. Keep the body cool and settle it somewhere stable (how to)
  2. Open the official page below and call the office
  3. For dogs, file a death notification within 30 days (how to)

What to say on the phone (in Japanese — read this to the office)
「飼っていたペットが亡くなりました。引き取りをお願いしたいのですが、受付時間と持ち物、遺骨が戻るかどうかを教えてください」
English: My pet has died. I'd like to ask you to take the body, and I'd like to ask about reception hours and what to bring, whether the ashes are returned.

Open Tsubame (燕市)'s official pagecity.tsubame.niigata.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Itoigawa (糸魚川市)

Not stated on the official page — call the office to confirm

Pickup
Not stated on the official site (ownerless remains are, in principle, handled by the road manager)
Drop-off
Self-drop-off at the Cleaning Center is allowed (standard size about that of a mandarin orange crate). A waste processing fee applies based on weight, but the amount is not stated.
Ash return
Not stated on the official site
  1. Keep the body cool and settle it somewhere stable (how to)
  2. Open the official page below and call the office
  3. For dogs, file a death notification within 30 days (how to)

What to say on the phone (in Japanese — read this to the office)
「飼っていたペットが亡くなりました。引き取りをお願いできるかどうか、料金、遺骨が戻るかどうかを教えてください」
English: My pet has died. I'd like to ask about whether you can take the body, the fee, whether the ashes are returned.

Open Itoigawa (糸魚川市)'s official pagecity.itoigawa.lg.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Myoko (妙高市)

Not stated on the official page — call the office to confirm

Pickup
Not stated on the official site
Drop-off
Not stated on the official site
Ash return
Not stated on the official site
  1. Keep the body cool and settle it somewhere stable (how to)
  2. Open the official page below and call the office
  3. For dogs, file a death notification within 30 days (how to)

What to say on the phone (in Japanese — read this to the office)
「飼っていたペットが亡くなりました。引き取りをお願いできるかどうか、料金、遺骨が戻るかどうかを教えてください」
English: My pet has died. I'd like to ask about whether you can take the body, the fee, whether the ashes are returned.

Open Myoko (妙高市)'s official pagecity.myoko.niigata.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Gosen (五泉市)

Not stated on the official page — call the office to confirm

Pickup
Not stated on the official site
Drop-off
Not stated on the official site
Ash return
Not stated on the official site
  1. Keep the body cool and settle it somewhere stable (how to)
  2. Open the official page below and call the office
  3. For dogs, file a death notification within 30 days (how to)

What to say on the phone (in Japanese — read this to the office)
「飼っていたペットが亡くなりました。引き取りをお願いできるかどうか、料金、遺骨が戻るかどうかを教えてください」
English: My pet has died. I'd like to ask about whether you can take the body, the fee, whether the ashes are returned.

Open Gosen (五泉市)'s official pagecity.gosen.lg.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Joetsu (上越市)

Pickup: call to confirm · Drop-off: call to confirm · Ash return available on request

Pickup
Can be put out at the town's regular collection point as "burnable waste" (no fee stated)
Drop-off
① Direct drop-off at Clean Center (treated as burnable waste; no fee stated) ② Cremation at Keihoku Saijo (phone reservation required). Under 5kg: resident ¥7,500 / non-resident ¥15,000; 30kg and over: resident ¥15,000 / non-resident ¥30,000
Ash return
Allowed (available on request; those wanting ashes returned must bring a container)
  1. Keep the body cool and settle it somewhere stable (how to)
  2. Open the official page below and call the office
  3. For dogs, file a death notification within 30 days (how to)

What to say on the phone (in Japanese — read this to the office)
「飼っていたペットが亡くなりました。引き取りをお願いできるかどうか、料金を教えてください」
English: My pet has died. I'd like to ask about whether you can take the body, the fee.

Open Joetsu (上越市)'s official pagecity.joetsu.niigata.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to be there to say goodbye

Agano (阿賀野市)

Not stated on the official page — call the office to confirm

Pickup
Not stated on the official site
Drop-off
Not stated on the official site
Ash return
Not stated on the official site
  1. Keep the body cool and settle it somewhere stable (how to)
  2. Open the official page below and call the office
  3. For dogs, file a death notification within 30 days (how to)

What to say on the phone (in Japanese — read this to the office)
「飼っていたペットが亡くなりました。引き取りをお願いできるかどうか、料金、遺骨が戻るかどうかを教えてください」
English: My pet has died. I'd like to ask about whether you can take the body, the fee, whether the ashes are returned.

Open Agano (阿賀野市)'s official pagecity.agano.niigata.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Sado (佐渡市)

Not stated on the official page — call the office to confirm

Pickup
Not stated on the official site
Drop-off
Not stated on the official site
Ash return
Not stated on the official site
  1. Keep the body cool and settle it somewhere stable (how to)
  2. Open the official page below and call the office
  3. For dogs, file a death notification within 30 days (how to)

What to say on the phone (in Japanese — read this to the office)
「飼っていたペットが亡くなりました。引き取りをお願いできるかどうか、料金、遺骨が戻るかどうかを教えてください」
English: My pet has died. I'd like to ask about whether you can take the body, the fee, whether the ashes are returned.

Open Sado (佐渡市)'s official pagecity.sado.niigata.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Uonuma (魚沼市)

Pickup: call to confirm · Drop-off available · Ash return: call to confirm

Pickup
Not stated on the official site
Drop-off
Cremation at Uonuma City Crematorium (phone reservation required). Under 5kg: residents ¥6,000 / non-residents ¥12,000; 5kg to under 10kg: residents ¥8,500 / non-residents ¥17,000; increasing in steps thereafter; 30kg to under 50kg: residents ¥18,000 / non-residents ¥36,000.
Ash return
Allowed (user provides the container for the remains)
  1. Keep the body cool and settle it somewhere stable (how to)
  2. Open the official page below and call the office
  3. For dogs, file a death notification within 30 days (how to)

What to say on the phone (in Japanese — read this to the office)
「飼っていたペットが亡くなりました。引き取りをお願いしたいのですが、受付時間と持ち物、遺骨が戻るかどうかを教えてください」
English: My pet has died. I'd like to ask you to take the body, and I'd like to ask about reception hours and what to bring, whether the ashes are returned.

Open Uonuma (魚沼市)'s official pagecity.uonuma.lg.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Minamiuonuma (南魚沼市)

Pickup: call to confirm · Drop-off available · Ash return: call to confirm

Pickup
Not stated on the official site
Drop-off
Cremation at Minamiuonuma City crematorium (phone reservation required). Under 25kg: ¥10,000 for residents / ¥20,000 for non-residents. 25-50kg: ¥15,000 for residents / ¥30,000 for non-residents
Ash return
Allowed (bring a container for the remains at time of application)
  1. Keep the body cool and settle it somewhere stable (how to)
  2. Open the official page below and call the office
  3. For dogs, file a death notification within 30 days (how to)

What to say on the phone (in Japanese — read this to the office)
「飼っていたペットが亡くなりました。引き取りをお願いしたいのですが、受付時間と持ち物、遺骨が戻るかどうかを教えてください」
English: My pet has died. I'd like to ask you to take the body, and I'd like to ask about reception hours and what to bring, whether the ashes are returned.

Open Minamiuonuma (南魚沼市)'s official pagecity.minamiuonuma.niigata.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Tainai (胎内市)

No municipal pickup — you will need a private cremation service

Pickup
No program (the city does not collect; it only provides contact information for a private pet cemetery)
Drop-off
No program
Ash return
Not stated on the official site
  1. Keep the body cool and settle it somewhere stable (how to)
  2. Find a private pet cremation service (cost guide)
  3. For dogs, file a death notification within 30 days (how to)

Open Tainai (胎内市)'s official pagecity.tainai.niigata.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

Find a private cremation service

Fees and conditions can change. Always confirm the latest details on the official page and with the office before you apply. 10 of these municipalities don't publish a fee on their official page, so you'll need to call to ask.

If you want to keep the ashes, or the municipal option doesn't work for you

Municipal pickup is communal cremation or burial as a rule, and most don't return the ashes. You also can't be present. If you want to keep the ashes, or be there until the end, a private pet cremation service is the option. In Niigata, 2 of the municipalities above have no pickup program at all for a pet you own. In this case too, a private service is the option.

The difference between communal, individual (unattended), and witnessed individual cremation is covered on ourTypes of cremation page; typical costs are on our Cremation costspage; and what to check when picking a company is on our Choosing a provider page. Whichever company you choose, confirm a total price with no surprise extras before you book. If you're not sure where to start, a nationwide referral service that gathers quotes from multiple providers is one way in.

Request a quote through Pet Sōgi 110-ban

Pet Kasou Happiness (ペット火葬ハピネス) is another mobile cremation option available nationwide. Its published rate is a starting price (¥5,500+), so confirm the full total here too before booking.

Contact Pet Kasou Happiness

If you live in a town or village not listed here

The list above covers Niigata's cities. Towns and villages have their own separate fees and programs, so call your local town or village office (often the environment or sanitation division) to ask. There are only three things you need to ask:

  1. The fee for pickup and for drop-off, separately
  2. Whether ashes are returned (most municipalities use communal cremation or burial, with no ash return)
  3. Any weight or size limit (some cap it at, for example, under 25kg)

If your local office can't help, a private service can be reached anywhere in Japan.

Get a cremation quote from a nationwide service

Nearby prefectures

If your pet passed away while visiting family, or you'd like to compare an option across a prefecture border, the other prefectures in the Chubu region are laid out the same way.

Comparing by price or ash return

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to have Niigata cremate or pick up a pet?

Among the 7 municipalities where we could confirm a drop-off fee on the official page, the cheapest is Ojiya (小千谷市) at ¥300, and the highest is Minamiuonuma (南魚沼市) at ¥10,000 (as of August 2026). Pickup (having them come collect it) usually costs extra in most cities, so check each city's card above for details.

Do municipalities in Niigata return the ashes?

In Niigata, the municipalities where we could confirm an ash-return option on the official page are Joetsu (上越市). The rest use communal cremation or burial as a rule, and ashes are not returned. If you want to be certain of getting the ashes back, a private pet cremation service is the option.

Are there municipalities with no pickup program at all?

In Niigata, Kashiwazaki (柏崎市), Tainai (胎内市) have no program for a pet you actually own. In this case, a private pet cremation service is the option.

Before I call the city office, what should I do first?

First, keep the body cool and settle it somewhere stable (especially urgent in summer). Then call your city or ward office. For dogs, you'll also need to file a death notification within 30 days. What to do on the day itself is covered on our "what to do right away" page.

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