Pet Cremation and Municipal Pickup in Okinawa — Fees and How to Apply, 11 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 Okinawa's 11 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 Okinawa 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.

Naha (那覇市)

They can come collect it · Drop-off: call to confirm · Ash return: call to confirm

Pickup
Free (public roads only)
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 Naha (那覇市)'s official pagecity.naha.okinawa.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Ginowan (宜野湾市)

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

Pickup
Not stated on the official site (no mention of home pickup; only three options are presented: burial, private operators, and facility drop-off)
Drop-off
Free (drop-off at the waste processing facility is stated to be 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 Ginowan (宜野湾市)'s official pagecity.ginowan.lg.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Ishigaki (石垣市)

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 Ishigaki (石垣市)'s official pagecity.ishigaki.okinawa.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Urasoe (浦添市)

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

Pickup
Fee not stated (request by phone on business days 9:00-16:00 and the city collects; place in a cardboard box, etc. and put it out at the gate)
Drop-off
Not stated on the official site
Ash return
Not allowed (states clearly that it is incinerated as general waste and ashes are 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 Urasoe (浦添市)'s official pagecity.urasoe.lg.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Nago (名護市)

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

Pickup
Fee not stated (contact the Environmental Countermeasures Division to request pickup)
Drop-off
Fee not stated (self-transport to Nago City General Waste Treatment Facility)
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 Nago (名護市)'s official pagecity.nago.okinawa.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Itoman (糸満市)

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 (handling is done by the Itotoyo Environmental Beautification Center under the Southern Regional Wide-Area Administrative Union. A general garbage fee of ¥200 per 10kg is stated, but nothing specific to pet remains)
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 Itoman (糸満市)'s official pagecity.itoman.lg.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Okinawa (沖縄市)

They can come collect it · No drop-off · Ashes not returned

Pickup
¥200 (the Environment Division states a ¥200 fee for pickup. Reservation required: weekdays 098-938-5371, 8:30 am-4:00 pm / holidays and after hours 098-939-1212)
Drop-off
Not allowed (states clearly that direct drop-off at City Hall is not accepted)
Ash return
Not allowed (states clearly that it is incinerated as general waste and ashes are 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 Okinawa (沖縄市)'s official pagecity.okinawa.okinawa.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Tomigusuku (豊見城市)

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 (handling is done by the Itotoyo Environmental Beautification Center under the Southern Regional Wide-Area Administrative Union; no fee stated on that page)
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 Tomigusuku (豊見城市)'s official pagecity.tomigusuku.lg.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Uruma (うるま市)

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 Uruma (うるま市)'s official pagecity.uruma.lg.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Miyakojima (宮古島市)

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

Pickup
Not stated on the official site (put in a designated burnable garbage bag and put out on the household collection day; no special fee stated)
Drop-off
Not stated on the official site (owner drop-off at the Clean Center in a clear bag; no fee 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 Miyakojima (宮古島市)'s official pagecity.miyakojima.lg.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Nanjo (南城市)

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

Pickup
Not stated on the official site (if on private land, wrap in cloth, etc., place in a burnable garbage bag, and put out on the designated collection day; 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 Nanjo (南城市)'s official pagecity.nanjo.okinawa.jp (in Japanese, checked July–August 2026)

If you want to keep the ashes

Fees and conditions can change. Always confirm the latest details on the official page and with the office before you apply. 8 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.

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 Okinawa'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 Kyushu & Okinawa region are laid out the same way.

Comparing by price or ash return

Frequently asked questions

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

Most municipalities here don't publish a specific fee on their official page, so you'll need to call to ask. What to ask is listed on each city's card above.

Do municipalities in Okinawa return the ashes?

Among the 11 municipalities in Okinawa, none had a confirmed ash-return option on their official page (as of August 2026). Municipal pickup is communal cremation or burial as a rule. If you want the ashes back, 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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