Two-year-old Melon slept on a small bed at one of the many beauty salons in Tokyo's Daikanyama shopping district, under a mist of negatively charged ions that reputedly reduces stress.
The hourlong relaxation treatment -- with a price tag of 9,000 yen -- included a body massage using specially blended aromatic oil and a thorough brushing. Afterward, Melon popped up onto his four legs, wagging his tail excitedly.
With more Japanese treating their dogs as actual family members, spending on pooches has taken off. Experts say the market for related businesses has ballooned over the last few decades and could become larger still.