Visit Your Dog's Ancestral Home - Shiba Inu

Origin: Japan

Story: A half dozen Japanese dog breeds are believed to have existed around 10,000 B.C., and one of them was the bushy-tailed, compact watchdog Shiba Inu (roughly translated as "brushwood dog"). Shibas didn't snag official recognition until the early 20th century, though, and the bombs and epidemics of World War II all but wiped them out. Luckily, the number of Shibas has since rebounded.

The trip: We can safely assume that Shibas have long been present in Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto. For a casual afternoon, strut your leashed bundle of fur through Kyoto's Maruyama Koen Park, known for its gorgeous, giant cherry trees. It's a short distance from the central train station. From Kyoto, hop on a superexpress train for two hours and 15 minutes to Tokyo, modern Japan's truest dog-meet-dog town. (Note, Japan Railways charges $134 one-way for the trip and about $2.75 to bring a small dog in a carrier.)

As the nation's birth rate has dropped, the love of pets has expanded—a trend that's most visible in the country's largest city. Here you'll find dog gyms, dog boutiques (hawking dog-size perambulators), and dog dancing studios (teaching owners and pets to trot in sync). It's rare, however, for downtown Tokyo hotels to accept dogs. The Hilton Narita at Tokyo's main airport has two rooms for guests traveling with dogs (011-81/476-331-121, hilton.com, $225 plus refundable deposit).

Hot tip: Taking your dog to Japan from the continental U.S. is such a grueling trip that few owners will contemplate it — especially once they factor in the 12-hour quarantine.

Credit: msnbc.com; Photo: creaturecomforters.net