Hachiko Statue ハチ公像
Visiting Hachiko Statue today
- What it is: A bronze statue of Hachi, an Akita dog born in Odate, Akita, in 1923. After his owner, Professor Ueno of Tokyo Imperial University, died suddenly in May 1925, Hachi kept coming back to Shibuya Station to wait for him. Hachi died in March 1935.
- History: The first statue was unveiled on 21 April 1934, with Hachi himself at the ceremony. It was taken away in the wartime metal collection of 1944 and melted down. The statue you see today was made by the original sculptor's son and unveiled on 15 August 1948.
- Getting there: Just outside the Hachiko Exit of Shibuya Station, beside the Scramble Crossing.
- Hours: Outdoors, free and always open.
- Tip: This is Shibuya's best-known meeting spot and it gets very crowded, so come early in the day for a clear photo. Hachi's mounted pelt is at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno.
- Then and now: In this 2009 post Hachiko was wearing a sash for the Labor Insurance month campaign.
Best timeGood any time of yearOutdoors; any season
Checked against: Hachiko Statue (GO TOKYO) · About Hachiko (Shibuya City Library, Japanese) · Hachiko's story (Akita, Hachiko 100th anniversary). Check opening times and prices before you go.
Hachiko Statue on Shibuya246
Photos and stories from our visits, as they were written at the time.
Shopping
Hachiko for Labor Insurance
Hachiko is working it hard at the moment to support the Labor Insurance month campaign. Go Hachiko! It is strange that nobody has taken off his sash…