A Shiba Inu crossed his path as he trekked across Japan. It ended up changing his plans for the better

While most owners hesitate to take their pets on long journeys, Kantaro San (@kantaro_japanwalker on Instagram) decided to make an adorable dog his one true travel companion. It all began on day 250 of his walk across Japan when San unexpectedly stumbled upon a sign that read, "Shiba Inu puppies have been born." Driven by curiosity, the man went inside that house, where he met his sweet travel buddy for the very first time. Just one look at her, and San knew he was in love with the little puppy, as reported by Bored Panda.

San took to his official Instagram account to share a heartwarming video of his newfound buddy, excitedly announcing that he would no longer be exploring the streets of Japan alone. "This is Day 1 of walking around Japan with Shiba," San spoke, sharing glimpses of the tiny puppy, peacefully resting in a little bag around the man's neck. "It is actually day 256 of my walk around Japan, but today is a very special day because I got a travel buddy," he added. Further, San revealed how he came across the dog a few days ago and immediately decided to adopt her. "She can't walk with me right now, but one day, someday, we will be walking all around Japan side by side. I cannot wait for that day to come," he said.

Furthermore, he urged his audience to stay tuned to follow their journey together. He wrote, "New chapter begins from today! I’ll be walking all around Japan with Shiba Inu. Stay tuned; countless adventures await us!" in the caption. As promised, San has been religiously sharing his journey across Japan along with San-chan, his travel buddy. Meanwhile, reacting to the wholesome video, @ringelfluff shared, "I used to have Shibas for 16 years. They are wonderful hiking buddies." Similarly, @rush_salik wrote, "Bless your kind heart! I'm sure she will genuinely love you with all her life."

@bethanywbecker, who seemed a bit concerned about the pup, commented, "One month old, she is very much a baby still. I hope you will have help feeding her. At this age, they usually aren’t weaned. May you have a wonderful companion for many years." On the other hand, @aispeak shared, "It’s Fate! I thought the universe would bring you two together. Nothing is a coincidence. The minute I saw your story the other day, it brought me joy. There is nothing like being graced by a dog. A Golden Retriever came into my life, and it changed me forever. You manifested your love within." 

Talking to the news outlet, San revealed that when he met San-chan, he wasn't sure if he would be able to take her responsibilities. At first, he walked away from her but couldn't stop thinking about the puppy. "Every step I took, every corner I turned, my mind kept drifting back to that little Shiba Inu. I realized that if I didn’t go back to Beppu and bring her into my life, I would regret it forever. Without a second thought, I retraced my steps all the way back to Beppu, hoping she was still there. And luckily, she was," he shared.

San further revealed that he learned that San-Chan and her siblings were supposed to be auctioned off on Christmas. The mere thought of her being forcefully separated from her family overwhelmed the man. "I had never owned a dog before, but I made a promise to myself that I would do everything in my power to take care of her and give her all the love I had to offer. And that’s how San became a part of my journey. Or perhaps that’s where our story truly began," San shared. 

You can follow Kantaro San (@kantaro_japanwalker) on Instagram for more updates on San and San-Chan.