Hachiko: The Story and the Statue at Shibuya Station

Meet the loyal Akita dog behind Tokyo's best-known meeting spot, and learn how to find the bronze statue and enjoy the area around it.

Published October 21, 2026 at 8:35 PM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Hachiko was an Akita dog born in 1923 who waited at Shibuya Station for his owner, Professor Hidesaburo Ueno, long after Ueno died in 1925. Hachiko passed away on March 8, 1935. The bronze statue outside the Hachiko Exit, unveiled in its current form in 1948, is now Shibuya's most popular place to meet friends.

Almost every visitor to Shibuya walks past a small bronze dog surrounded by people checking their phones. The statue is both a famous tourist photo spot and an everyday meeting point for locals. Behind it is one of Japan's best-loved stories of loyalty. This guide explains who Hachiko was, how the statue came to stand here, and how to make the most of a visit.

Who Hachiko Was

Hachiko was a purebred male Akita, born in mid-November 1923 on a farm near the town of Odate in Akita Prefecture, in northern Japan. Akita dogs are a large, sturdy breed from that region, known for their thick coats, curled tails and calm, loyal character. Hachiko was given to Hidesaburo Ueno, a professor of agriculture at Tokyo Imperial University, and arrived in Tokyo by train in January 1924.

The name is easy to unpack. The word hachi means "eight" in Japanese, and the ending ko is an affectionate suffix that is said to have become common after a famous newspaper article in 1932. Today the dog is often called Chuken Hachiko, which means "Hachiko, the faithful dog."

Ueno was a respected scholar and a pioneer of agricultural engineering in Japan. The bond between the professor and his young dog became the heart of the story that people still tell today.

The Daily Routine at Shibuya Station

Ueno brought Hachiko to live in Shibuya, and the dog went to Shibuya Station each evening to meet him as he came home from work. This daily routine is the part of the story that made the dog so well known. Commuters and station staff began to recognize the dog waiting patiently near the station gate.

On May 21, 1925, Ueno passed away suddenly. He did not return that evening. Hachiko, however, kept coming back to Shibuya Station day after day, according to Wikipedia, and he did so until his own death on March 8, 1935, at the age of eleven.

Over those years the dog lived with several caretakers, and the station area became his regular waiting place. A newspaper article in October 1932 introduced his devotion to readers across the country, and the dog became a national symbol of loyalty and faithfulness.

The First Statue and the Second Statue

In April 1934, while Hachiko was still alive, a bronze statue of him was unveiled at Shibuya Station. The sculptor was Teru Ando, and the statue was a tribute to the dog's loyalty. Hachiko himself was present at the ceremony, which shows how much the public already loved him.

The first statue did not survive the war years. It was taken down in 1944, and the metal was melted down in 1945, as happened to many bronze objects across Japan at that time. After the war, a new statue was made by Takeshi Ando, the son of the original sculptor, and unveiled on August 15, 1948.

That second statue is the one visitors see today. It stands beside the station, at the plaza next to the scramble crossing, and it is a favorite photo spot for visitors from all over the world.

How to Find the Statue Today

The statue stands outside the Hachiko Exit, one of several exits at Shibuya Station, on the northwest side of the station. The exit is named after the statue, so following signs for "Hachiko Exit" or "Hachiko-guchi" is the simplest way to find it. It sits right next to the famous scramble crossing, so the view from the statue includes crowds, giant screens and tall buildings.

Shibuya Station is served by lines operated by JR East, Keio, Tokyu and Tokyo Metro, including the Yamanote, Ginza, Hanzomon and Fukutoshin lines. This makes it one of the easiest places in Tokyo to reach. Because the station has been under a long redevelopment, exits and corridors sometimes change, so signs in English are worth following carefully.

If you have trouble finding the right gate, look for the scramble crossing and the cluster of people gathered around a bronze dog. Locals use phrases such as "meet at Hachiko" because the spot is so easy to recognize.

Making the Most of Your Visit

Mornings and weekday afternoons are usually the calmest times to take a photo. In the evening and on weekends, groups gather around the statue and a small queue for photos sometimes forms. Waiting your turn politely is the custom, and most people are happy to take a quick picture for each other.

If you plan to meet someone here, agree on a precise spot, such as "the front of the statue," because the plaza can be crowded. Mobile phone maps may be less accurate in the middle of Shibuya's tall buildings, so a clear description helps.

Combine the statue with a short walk. The scramble crossing is only moments away, and the Shibuya Sky observation deck at the top of Shibuya Scramble Square rises roughly 230 meters above the district, giving a wide view over the city. Check the official site for opening hours and booking details before you go.

Hachiko Beyond Shibuya

Hachiko is remembered in several other places. The dog's birthplace, Odate in Akita Prefecture, has several statues, including one near the station and one at the Akita-inu Hall. On the University of Tokyo's Yayoi campus there is a bronze statue, unveiled in 2015, that shows Hachiko jumping up to greet Professor Ueno at the end of a workday, a gentle image that many visitors love.

Hachiko's preserved fur is displayed at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno Park, Tokyo, for visitors who would like to see more. A remembrance ceremony is held at Shibuya Station each year on March 8, the anniversary of the dog's death, and the Hachiko Festival is held at the station in April. Dates and details can vary, so it is best to check local announcements.

Hachiko has also appeared in films. The Japanese movie Hachiko Monogatari from 1987 was a major success, and the American film Hachi: A Dog's Tale from 2009 retold the story with a new setting, showing how the story has traveled well beyond Japan.

What the Story Means in Japanese Culture

Hachiko's tale is often linked to loyalty, a value that Japanese storytelling has long celebrated, but it also speaks to something wider. People of many cultures find comfort in the idea of steady companionship. For children, it is a gentle introduction to the bond between people and animals, and for adults it is a reminder of the meaning of patience and devotion.

Loyalty and dignity are traits that Akita owners often mention, and the dog has become a well-loved symbol of the Akita region in northern Honshu.

The statue also shows how a small, human-scale tribute can become a civic landmark. The story has outlived war, rebuilding and enormous changes in the neighborhood, and people still gather at the statue every day.

Planning a Neighborhood Walk

After visiting the statue, Shibuya offers many easy ways to continue. The streets around the station are full of shops and cafes, and the district is known as a center of youth fashion and culture. Yoyogi Park and Meiji Shrine are a pleasant walk or short train ride away, and offer greenery after the city bustle.

A relaxed plan is to visit the statue in the morning, walk across the scramble crossing, have lunch at a nearby cafe and then spend the afternoon at the observation deck or in the park. Evenings in Shibuya are lively, with restaurants and izakaya, and the area looks especially photogenic when the screens glow.

As with any popular site, patience and kindness go a long way. Keep to the side of walkways when stopping for photos, and allow others to use the space.

Want to go deeper? Tokyo Paul's book Japan Photo Book: Shinjuku, Akihabara, Shibuya is available on Amazon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Hachiko statue in Shibuya?

The Hachiko statue stands just outside the Hachiko Exit of Shibuya Station, beside the famous scramble crossing. Follow signs for Hachiko-guchi inside the station. It is a plaza-level spot in the middle of the district, so it is easy to reach from every major line serving Shibuya.

Is the Hachiko statue the original?

No, the current statue is the second one. The first was unveiled in 1934 and removed during the war years, then melted down. Takeshi Ando, the son of the first sculptor, made the replacement, which was unveiled on August 15, 1948 and still stands at the station today.

What kind of dog was Hachiko?

Hachiko was an Akita, a large and sturdy breed from Akita Prefecture in northern Japan. He was born in November 1923 near the town of Odate. Akita dogs are known for their thick double coats, curled tails and calm, loyal character, which fit the story told about him.

Further Reading

To explore further, see Hachiko, Shibuya Station and Shibuya.

Keep Exploring

More guides from Tokyo Paul: Shibuya: The Famous Crossing and the Streets Around It, A Photo Walk Through Akihabara and Shibuya and The Yamanote Line: Tokyo's Loop Line and How to Ride It.