Average Funeral Cost for Beloved Pets Surges to 35,054 Yen in 2025

Rising Costs of Pet Funerals in Japan

In a recent survey conducted by PS Insurance, a company specializing in pet insurance, the average cost of funerals for beloved pets has markedly increased over the years. The study focused on data gathered from pet owners who filed claims for funeral expenses specifically for dogs and cats from 2025 and 2019.

Funeral Costs Breakdown

According to the survey, the average cost of a funeral for a small dog in 2025 was 34,088 Yen, while medium and large breeds averaged costs of 37,757 Yen and 54,252 Yen, respectively. For our feline companions, the average expense settled at 32,008 Yen. The study included a total of 2,933 claims in 2025, compared to just 760 claims in 2019, showing a dramatic increase in pet ownership and consequent funeral arrangements.

Comparing these costs with previous years, an overall increase of 3,262 Yen was recorded, highlighting a trend where caring pet owners are spending more as time goes on. The average expenditure on pet funerals now stands at 35,054 Yen, representing a significant rise of 10.3% from the average of 31,792 Yen back in 2019.

Historical Cost Trends

The following table displays the average costs for pet funerals over the years:

Type	2025 (Yen)	2019 (Yen)	Increase (Yen)	Increase (%)
---	--	--	----	------
Small Dog	34,088	30,692	3,396	11.1%
Medium Dog	37,757	35,959	1,798	5.0%
Large Dog	54,252	50,037	4,215	8.4%
Cat	32,008	27,065	4,943	18.3%
Overall	35,054	31,792	3,262	10.3%

Significant Insights

The increase in funeral costs is a sobering reflection of the evolving landscape of pet ownership in Japan. The most notable rise was observed among cat owners, who faced an average increase of 18.3% in costs over the past six years. These escalating prices are attributed to various factors including inflation and the rising costs of materials and services linked to pet funerals, particularly for cremation services which depend on fuel and energy costs.

Interestingly, larger breed dogs consistently show higher average funeral costs. The pattern reflects a pricing model in the pet cremation industry that scales with the pet's size and weight. In 2025, the cost for a large dog crossed the 50,000 Yen threshold, positioning it as the most expensive category.