Reading time: about 8 minutes
Hi, this is Hiroshi from "Ramen, Beer, and Sometimes a Blog."
We hadn't taken our Shiba Inu Momiji out for a proper adventure in a while, and she was starting to sulk about it. So I texted my wife: "Dog run this weekend?" She texted back: "Let's go to that dog run in Yadoriki, Matsuda Town."
Here's the thing — I was thinking of the exact same place. We've been married long enough to read each other's minds, apparently. Newtype telepathy, achieved in our 50s.
So on Sunday, August 30, 2026, we drove out to Yadoriki Nanatsuboshi Dog Run ("Nanatsuboshi" means "seven stars") in the foothills of the Tanzawa mountains, Kanagawa Prefecture. Short version: the facilities are impressive, and the price is surprisingly gentle. If your dog loves water, keep reading.
Who this article is for
- Anyone wondering what Yadoriki Nanatsuboshi Dog Run costs, and whether the pool is free
- Anyone curious how much pool time you actually get on a weekend
- Anyone trying to figure out if you can get there without a car
The Answers First (measured on August 30, 2026)
Straight to the point — this is what I confirmed on the signs at the facility, not hearsay.
| Question | What I found |
|---|---|
| How much does it cost? | Adults 330 yen, children (3–17) 220 yen, dogs 440 yen each, parking 500 yen per car. Our total for two adults + one dog + parking: 1,600 yen (about $11) |
| Is the pool free? | Yes — entry fee covers everything. A natural spring-water pool and a stream, no extra charge. On weekends and holidays, a numbered-tag rotation limits each family to 10–15 minutes when crowded |
| Can you get there without a car? | It's deep in the mountains — realistically, you need a car. About 1 hour from Sagamihara, 15 minutes from the Shin-Hadano IC on the Shin-Tomei Expressway. Parking for about 50 cars |
Table of Contents
- Where Is It? Access and Parking
- Fees, Membership, and the Rabies Certificate You Must Not Forget
- Eight Fenced Areas: The Layout
- The Free Pool: Momiji's Splash Time
- The Stream: Tiny Canal Expedition
- The Lawn Area, Where Momiji Embarrasses Us
- The Café and Events
- Visitor Information
- Final Thoughts
Where Is It? Access and Parking
The address is Yadoriki 5605, Matsuda Town, Ashigarakami District, Kanagawa. It sits at the foot of the Tanzawa mountain range. Even Japanese people can't read the place name "寄" as "Yadoriki" on the first try, by the way.
My wife drove us from our home in Sagamihara in about an hour, mostly on local roads. If you're using expressways, it's about 15 minutes from Shin-Hadano IC (Shin-Tomei) or 20 minutes from Oi-Matsuda IC (Tomei).
Let me be honest: this place is deep in the mountains. The final stretch is a narrow mountain road, and while there's technically a bus stop (Yatoguchibashi) a 3–4 minute walk away, with a dog in tow a car is the only realistic option.
It had just rained, the air was cool — hard to believe it was late August. Perfect dog run weather for Momiji, who wilts in the heat.
Fees, Membership, and the Rabies Certificate You Must Not Forget
Here's the fee board I photographed at the reception.
Our bill: two adults 660 yen + Momiji 440 yen + parking 500 yen = 1,600 yen. Considering what's inside — you'll see below — that's a bargain.
One important warning. Membership registration is required, and you must show proof of rabies vaccination within the past year (the certificate, the tag, or a vet's exemption letter). No certificate, no entry. Imagine driving an hour up a mountain road and getting turned away at the gate. Check your bag before you leave home.
I had a small flashback at the entrance. At Wonderful Nature Village in Akiruno, the dog pool alone cost 2,500 yen per dog. So I braced myself here — and found there's no pool fee line item at all. Just people and dog admission. I actually said "ooh, nice!" out loud.
One near-miss, though. It turns out the riverside area next to the dog run costs an extra 800 yen to enter. Beyond the fence I could see people doing what looked like a barbecue. Looked fun. And here's the dangerous part: my ears heard "80 yen." What a bargain! I was one breath away from saying "we'll take the riverside too."
I asked my wife, "Should we?" She said, "We don't really need it, do we?" That one sentence saved me. Only later did I realize: not 80 yen — 800. Close call 💦 Thank you, wife. In the end, the dog run and pool were more than enough for Momiji. But if you want the riverside barbecue experience, budget that extra 800 yen.
Eight Fenced Areas: The Layout
Inside, it's much bigger than I expected — about 11,000 square meters in total, divided into eight fenced areas by dog size and temperament: a beginners' area, small dogs, small-to-medium (under 15 kg), medium-to-large (15 kg and over), two free-for-all areas, a roofed area, and a reservation-priority area.
If your dog is new to dog runs and nervous around big dogs, the beginners' area is a godsend. Momiji, a Shiba under 15 kg, can use the small-to-medium areas and the free areas. This "there's always an escape route" design really lowers the owner's blood pressure.
The Free Pool: Momiji's Splash Time
Now for the main event. Momiji's beloved pool. Momiji — it's splash o'clock!
Momiji, naturally, goes berserk. Her face is one big grin the entire time. A dog, visibly laughing. The deep middle scares her, so her style is sprinting laps around the shallows at full throttle. That works too, girl.
Other dogs were enjoying it too. One big dog just stood chest-deep in the water, motionless, cooling off — honestly indistinguishable from a middle-aged man soaking in a cold bath at a sauna. Living the dream, buddy.
One thing to know: the weekend/holiday pool rule. To prevent crowding and accidents, one representative per family wears a numbered tag, and each family gets 10–15 minutes per turn. If tags are available and nobody's waiting, you can go again as many times as you like. On our rainy-morning Sunday it was quiet, so we effectively had no waiting — but on a sunny midsummer weekend, brace yourself.
After the pool, a warm-water shower and blower station (100 yen per 10 minutes) lets you rinse and dry your dog before the drive home. No shampoo allowed — it's a rinse station, not a grooming salon.
The Stream: Tiny Canal Expedition
Besides the pool, there's a small stream — more of a stone-lined canal — for water play. This thing is quietly excellent.
The mountain water stayed clear even after the rain. If your dog finds pools intimidating but loves water, this stream might be the perfect middle ground.
The Lawn Area, Where Momiji Embarrasses Us
Water cravings satisfied, we moved to the lawn runs. Several areas exceed 1,000 square meters — big dogs can hit full sprint with room to spare.
Here, Momiji does the thing. Our dog prefers humans to dogs — other dogs mostly annoy her. And yet she cannot resist stealing other dogs' balls. She charges after them with total commitment.
Stop. Please stop. Dad is begging you.
Worse, she barks at the dog who's rightfully chasing its own ball, trying to claim it mid-run. Cue apologetic bowing to the other owners. A fulfilling afternoon for Momiji; a mildly mortifying one for us.
The Café and Events
The on-site Nanatsuboshi Café serves dishes made with local Matsuda vegetables — and a proper dog menu, including venison. Soft-serve ice cream and shaved ice for the humans, "wanko soft-serve" for the dogs.
A poster advertised a 30-meter dash time-trial event for dogs, apparently a year-round series. This isn't just a fenced field — it's the kind of place that gets more fun the more you come back.
Visitor Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Yadoriki Nanatsuboshi Dog Run |
| Address | Yadoriki 5605, Matsuda Town, Ashigarakami District, Kanagawa, Japan |
| Access | By car: ~15 min from Shin-Hadano IC (Shin-Tomei Expwy) or ~20 min from Oi-Matsuda IC (Tomei Expwy). By train/bus: bus from Odakyu Shin-Matsuda Station to Yatoguchibashi stop, then a 3–4 min walk |
| Parking | Available, 500 yen per car (about 50 spaces) |
| Fees | Adults 330 yen, children (3–17) 220 yen, dogs 440 yen each. Pool and stream included. Shower & blower 100 yen per 10 min. The adjacent riverside area costs an extra 800 yen (confirmed on site, Aug 30, 2026) |
| Hours | Mar–Sep 9:00–17:00, Oct–Feb 9:00–16:00 (last entry 30 min before closing). Closed Tuesdays (open if a holiday) and Dec 29–Jan 3 |
| Dog policy | Dogs welcome, obviously. Membership registration and proof of rabies vaccination within one year are mandatory. Pool is seasonal (summer); weekends/holidays use a numbered-tag rotation (10–15 min per family) |
| Official info | Yadoriki Nanatsuboshi Dog Run (Yadoriki area official site, Japanese). For same-day conditions, check their Instagram Stories or call 0465-89-3113 |
📍 Google Maps: Open Yadoriki Nanatsuboshi Dog Run on Google Maps
Final Thoughts
Yadoriki Nanatsuboshi Dog Run cost our family — two adults, one dog, one car — 1,600 yen, and for that we got eight fenced areas, a free natural spring-water pool and a stream, from 12:45 to 14:37. Nearly two hours of full-throttle dog joy. The only weakness is the remoteness. We can't come every week — but honestly, the mountain seclusion is half the charm. Nature, fully enjoyed. Dog, fully enjoyed.
On the drive home, Momiji slept like a log in the back seat. A fulfilling day for her; a slightly embarrassing one for her parents.
Postscript: at the supermarket that evening, I scored a whole sea bream for 598 yen — about 30 centimeters of fish. Salt-grilled, it was a triumph. The dog got her water; the old man got his fish. A very good Sunday.