Hachiko Statue

Hachiko Memorial Statue, Shibuya, Tokyo

If are a dog lover, or you’ve read about the story of Hachiko, and you plan to visit the famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing in Tokyo, you’ll definitely want to stop by the Hachiko Memorial Statue!

Located in the Hachiko Square outside the Hachiko Exit of Shibuya Station, the bronze statue of Hachiko is a quick 2-minute walk from Shibuya Crossing.

It’s a popular meeting spot for locals, and a popular photo spot for tourists.

The Story of Hachiko

If you aren’t familiar with the story of Hachiko, the beloved Japanese Akita dog is known as the epitome of loyalty.

Hachiko was bought as a puppy by his owner, Hidesaburō Ueno, a professor of agricultural science at the University of Tokyo.

Once he was older, Hachiko would walk with Professor Ueno to Shibuya Station each morning to see him off to work, and then return in the afternoon to pick him up upon his return from work.

Tragedy struck less than 1.5 years from the time Hachiko became the professor’s beloved companion.

Hachiko waited as usual at Shibuya Station for the professor to return, but he never did. The professor had suffered a brain hemorrhage at work and died.

Hachiko was taken in by a former gardener of the professor, who lived nearby.

Each afternoon for almost the next 10 years (the rest of his life), Hachiko would make the daily trek to Shibuya Station and wait patiently for hours for the professor to return.

Several years later, the loyal dog’s story was published in a Japanese newspaper, turning him into a national celebrity.

In 1934, Japanese artist Teru Ando created the sculpture of Hachiko and it was installed outside Shibuya Station. The current statue dates back to 1948. It was created by Takeshi Ando, the son of Teru Ando.

Hachiko’s story has been documented in many movies including the Hollywood production, Hachi: A Dog’s Tale.

Planning a trip to Shibuya Crossing? Visit our Shibuya Crossing home page for the complete rundown on every single detail!