Eyes Dog outlines 20-site network across eight Japanese prefectures as it seeks franchise partners, including veterinary clinic locations

I One Co., Ltd., which operates the Eyes Dog grooming salon brand, outlined a network of around 20 company-owned and franchised locations across eight Japanese prefectures in an announcement dated 7 October 2026. The company began franchising in 2025 and has since opened franchised salons in several regions. As it seeks further expansion, it is welcoming enquiries not only from vets and groomers, but also from owners interested in using space within veterinary clinics or existing businesses.

Expansion into Tohoku, Kanto and Kansai since franchising began in 2025

Eyes Dog lists eight prefectures in its network: Aichi, Nagano, Gifu, Tokyo, Saitama, Yamagata, Aomori and Hyogo. Its footprint extends beyond the Chubu region, which includes Aichi, into Kanto, Tohoku and Kansai.

The company identifies Matsumoto in Nagano, Kakamigahara in Gifu, Tokyo’s Nerima ward, Kasugai in Aichi, Tokorozawa in Saitama and Yamagata city as places where franchise locations have opened since the programme began in 2025. This indicates that franchise development has spanned several prefectures rather than being concentrated in a single area.

Locations listed as new openings for 2026 include Nisshin in Aichi, Kawagoe in Saitama, the Aomori Misawa salon in Oirase, Kamikita District, Aomori, Hino in Tokyo, and the Adachi Kohoku salon in Tokyo’s Adachi ward. Further openings are planned in Ashiya, Hyogo, and Fujimi, Saitama.

However, while the announcement states that the chain has ‘20 locations as of October 2026’, its individual location descriptions also include planned openings. Readers should therefore distinguish between trading salons and future sites when assessing that figure. The total also combines company-owned and franchised locations; it is not a count of franchise outlets alone.

Enquiries welcomed about sites within veterinary clinics and existing businesses

A notable feature of this recruitment drive is the range of prospective partners and location formats it covers. Eyes Dog welcomes enquiries both from owners who want to open a grooming salon within a veterinary clinic and from those who wish to make part of their clinic premises available.

The announcement treats running a salon within a clinic and providing space for one as separate options for discussion. However, inclusion in the recruitment programme does not mean that the contractual arrangements or operational responsibilities will be the same. The precise terms of participation need to be checked individually.

The company also welcomes enquiries from people wishing to open within an existing business, such as a dog café. Its approach therefore allows for discussions about using part of an established facility or shop, rather than only setting up a standalone salon.

For those considering Japan’s franchise market, this offers a potential route to participation that is not limited to opening entirely new premises. However, the announcement provides no specific track record or criteria showing how widely clinic-based or in-store formats have been used, or the conditions under which they are approved.

Open to vets, groomers and applicants without prior experience

Prospective franchise owners may include vets, groomers and people with no previous experience. The company’s policy is to accept enquiries beyond those with a professional background in the sector.

The support advertised for franchisees includes training, operating manuals and regular assistance after opening. The company says its support covers both preparation for launch and ongoing operations.

However, accepting inexperienced applicants is not the same as saying that a salon can operate without suitably skilled staff. Prospective franchisees should clarify separately what work the owner will undertake, how grooming staff will be secured and who will manage day-to-day operations.

The announcement does not give detailed information on training duration or curriculum, the frequency of post-opening support, or whether recruitment assistance is available. Rather than relying solely on the fact that training is offered, applicants should establish how much support they can expect given their own experience and intended salon format.

Assess the network and the support package separately

I One was founded in April 2012 and lists pet grooming, pet boarding, general pet-related consultancy and seminars among its activities. Eyes Dog’s franchise programme is stated to have begun in 2025. It is important to distinguish the company’s founding date from the start of its franchise operations and associated franchisee support.

The announcement sets out the broad proposition: expansion across several regions, enquiries about using existing facilities, training and post-opening support. It does not, however, disclose the figures needed to prepare a business plan, such as initial franchise fees, royalties, required start-up capital or historical sales and profit performance. The network’s geographic spread is one factor to examine, but it is not enough on its own to assess the terms or viability of an individual location.

A practical first step is to decide whether the proposed business will be a new standalone salon, a salon within a veterinary clinic or one within an existing business. Applicants should then check the costs, staffing arrangements and training relevant to that format. They should also confirm how many franchised salons are already trading and how many are planned, before defining their own operational responsibilities and the scope of support from the franchisor.