Under cherry blossoms in full bloom, a group of roughly 80 people, both Japanese and foreign alike, gathered to celebrate the 89th Anniversary since the faithful dog Hachiko’s passing.
The story of Hachiko, a Shiba-ken bread of dog who patiently waited near Shibuya Station for the return of his deceased owner, gained considerable fame, both domestically and internationally. The 2009 feature film HACHI: A Dog’s Tale, staring Richard Gere, also aided the world-wide notability of the beloved dog.
The ceremony is typically held closer to the known date of Hachiko’s passing, March 8, but was pushed until early April to coincide with the warmer sakura cherry blossom season.
Roughly 80 attendees were present at the memorial service, among them were the family of the statue’s sculptor, Tsukasa Ando, Shibuya Ward Mayor Ken Hasebe, and the mayor of Hachi’s hometown of Odate, Akita Prefecture.
Also in attendance was Junko Tsukasa, Ando’s eldest daughter, expressed, “I’m grateful we could hold the service amidst the falling cherry blossom petals. I wish for the Hachiko statue to endure as a symbol of peace into the future.”
Take the Hachiko Exit at the JR Shibuya Station and walk straight and slightly to the right. The statue is not difficult to find. Please use the map below to help you find it!
Regular Price: Adults: 3,100 yen on weekdays/3,400 yen on holidays Junior High / High School: 2,350 yen on weekdays/2,550 yen on holidays Elementary School: 1,450 yen on weekdays/1,550 yen on holidays
You can enter the Tembo Deck and Tembo Gallery at the specified date and time.
Tickets can be purchased online from 30 days to the day before your visit.
When exchanging for an admission ticket, you will need the “QR code” issued after the reservation is completed. Please bring a device that can display a QR code or a printed version of the QR code.
Date cannot be changed after purchase. Please purchase again after canceling.
▶︎ How to change the number of people reserved on the day of admission
Increase in number of people: Please purchase additional advance tickets.
Reduced number of people: Please apply at the ticket counter on the day of admission.
A processing fee of 300 yen per ticket (150 yen for persons with disabilities and accompanying persons) will be charged and the refund will be made. However, this is only applicable if one or more people enter on the day.
▶︎ Cancellation Policy If you cancel this ticket, the following cancellation fees will apply.
On the day of purchase: 0%
From the day after the purchase date: 20% Cancellations are possible up to the day of use (cancellations are not possible after the day of use)
▶︎ Observation Deck (350m) admission fee
Regular Price: Adults: 2,100 yen on weekdays/2,300 yen on holidays Junior High / High School: 1,550 yen on weekdays/1,650 yen on holidays Elementary School: 950 yen on weekdays/1,000 yen on holidays
You can enter the Tembo Deck on the specified date and time.
Tickets can be purchased online from 30 days to the day before your visit.
When exchanging for an admission ticket, you will need the “QR code” issued after the reservation is completed. Please bring a device that can display a QR code or a printed version of the QR code.
Date cannot be changed after purchase. Please purchase again after canceling.
▶︎ How to change the number of people reserved on the day of admission
Increase in number of people: Please purchase additional advance tickets.
Reduced number of people: Please apply at the ticket counter on the day of admission.
A processing fee of 300 yen per ticket (150 yen for persons with disabilities and accompanying persons) will be charged and the refund will be made. However, this is only applicable if one or more people enter on the day.
▶︎ Cancellation Policy If you cancel this ticket, the following cancellation fees will apply.
On the day of purchase: 0%
From the day after the purchase date: 20% Cancellations are possible up to the day of use (cancellations are not possible after the day of use)
Hey, guys, it’s Blaze! For anyone who’s ever visited the Shibuya area of Tokyo, you might be really surprised the next time you visit because wow! It’s really undergoing some major changes! I almost didn’t even recognize the place! Here’ll I’ll touch a little bit on the extent of the construction and what’s in store for the city!
As a normal part of the human condition, it’s often difficult to let go of the past and accept change, and that is no different with the recent changes that the city of Shibuya have been undergoing. Although some of your favorite cityscapes might be gone for good, the future ahead is finally beginning to take shape and blossom. Let’s take a look at the four major developments currently underway in Shibuya!
While you’re being nostalgic, here are some photos of what the station looked like before several of the train lines, in this case the Toyoko Live, were moved in 2013. As you’ll see below, this area was repurposed for the Shibuya Station South Area.
Located on the east side of Shibuya Station, the first of the major changes to hit Shibuya came in the form of this 43-story, 183-meter-tall skyscraper that connects to the station both above and below ground. Completed in 2012, it stands as a one of the area’s prominent shipping, business, and entertainment hubs.
② Shibuya Station South Area
35 stories, 4 underground floors, 180m
▲ The Shibuya Stream was completed in 2018 and is located just south of Shibuya Station. The building hosts the head office for Google Japan.
Shibuya 109 (or known simply as ichi maru kyuu) | Photo by Time Out
This a stretch of town that includes the Hachiko statue just outside Shibuya Station, Shibuya 109 across the street at the famous Shibuya Crossing, as well as further up the hill that curves off to the left the further you get from Shibuya Station.
The last time I walked this area was sometime late last year, and construction had already progressed to the point of removing complete buildings. It will be very interesting to see what gets built instead.
Several new skyscrapers are currently being erected south of the station and west of the Yamanote Line to completely alter the area, making it nearly unrecognizable. One of these is a 180-meter tall, 36-story office tower while the other will be a 150-meter tall, 32-story condo. Among many other companies relocating, one of these buildings will serve as the new Square Enix headquarters, moving from the the Shinjuku Eastside Square. It will be interesting to see if the Square Enix cafe ARTNIA will also be relocating or will stay at its current location just outside the East Shinjuku Station.
The Statue of Liberty at the Odaiba Marine Park | 2014 moom
Hey, everybody! Today I’m introducing a hot tourist spot in the Tokyo area! This is Odaiba, but specifically, I’ll be taking a look at the Odaiba Marine Park! Check it out!
▶︎ First, Getting to the Odaiba Area
There are several different ways that you can get to the general Odaiba area; my favorite way from Yokohama was to take the YCAT bus across the Yokohama Bay Bridge, but that route was removed after the pandemic due to decreased patronage.
Did you know that there’s actually Statue of Liberty in Tokyo? In fact, there is! But it’s not necessarily as big as the real deal (it’s about 1/7th the size of the original). What’s really curious about this is that… you’d think it’s presence in Tokyo would allude to the relationship between Japan and the United States, but in fact, that’s not it at all.
“It was originally erected in 1998 as a temporary tribute to Japan’s relationship with France, but the statue was so popular she was made a permanent feature in 2000. What’s most interesting about the Odaiba Statue of Liberty is that she is not the only one in Japan, she also has sisters in Shimoda and Osaka.”
Additionally, statue stands approximately 11m tall, excluding the pedestal, and weighs about 9 tons. [source] You can find it as part of the attractions along the pier.
You can find the Odaiba Marine Park Pier with great views of Rainbow Bridge just in front of the AQUA CITY Odaiba shopping center. What’s fun about the Rainbow Bridge is that it’s a double decker bridge, with the upper deck available for car traffic whereas the bottom is where the Yurikamome Line, which is a type of automated guideway transit (ATG) rather than typical train. Plus, this area is super nice at night!
Rainbow Bridge at Night | Charlotte Lau▲ Click to view on Google Maps.
The Tokyo Cruise Odaiba offers a great seaside view of the city on 3 of their flagships: the Emeraldas, Himiko, and Hotaluna. You can check out more detailed information in English on the official website here.
▲ Click to view on Google Maps.
▶︎ Other Attractions in the Area
Besides the Marine Park, there’s still a ton of things to do while you’re in the Odaiba Area. If you’re a Gundam fan, then you’ve come to the right place!
This is the home of many conventions held throughout the year including the annual Comic Market, or as it’s shortened in Japanese, Comiket. If you’re a Japanese subculture fan, then you must already know about these events! But if not, definitely check it out! But be warned, this is one of the most crowed events you are likely to have ever experienced. In the summer, waiting for long periods of time out in the sun just to enter the venue can be extremely dangerous due to heat stroke. Please be careful!
▶︎ Palette Town & Venus Fort [Permanently Closed]
I’m including this entry just because it’s super nostalgic. Unfortunately, the area of Odaiba has experienced quite a lot of hardship ever since the pandemic, and this landmark shopping mall has closed permanently. The beloved ferris wheel has also been demolished and this entire area is scheduled for redevelopment. The above is a screenshot from Google maps that still shows the ferris wheel as it once stood.
▲ Video Description: The Palette Town Ferris Wheel, which has been a popular symbol of Odaiba, Tokyo, closed on the night of August 31, 2022. On this day, a large number of people who missed the remnants visited Palette Town in Koto Ward, Tokyo. Demolition work on the Ferris wheel, which was 100m in diameter and 115m high from ground to top and was recognized by Guinness as the world’s largest Ferris wheel when it was built in March 1999, began in September, and a multipurpose arena that will be used as a sports and concert venue will be built on the site will be redeveloped. [YouTube]
Here’s a nice view of actually riding the ferris wheel before it was dismantled.
There’s still a ton of things to see and do in Odaiba, but I’ll stop here for now! If you’ve been here before, be sure to let me know what you thought and if I should recommend something more!
The redeveloped Azabudai Hills in the Toranomon district of Tokyo, not far from Tokyo Tower and home to Japan’s tallest tower at 330 meters, opened to the public today.
A modern urban village brimming with nature
Imagine a neighborhood that, like a public square, brings people together every day, while also looking after their well-being by filling the streets with lush nature and intertwining wellness into every activity. This is the concept behind Azabudai Hills, a multi-use complex designed to enrich lives through a “Green & Wellness” concept. People are the lifeblood of a city—and that is why we chose a people-centered design.
Azabudai Hills embodies the essence of “future Hills” with its impressive scale and impact, presenting a contemporary urban village enveloped by lush greenery that fosters community connections. Centrally located, this project seamlessly integrates diverse urban functions, including offices, residences, hotels, international schools, commercial spaces, and cultural facilities. It epitomizes the evolved version of the Hills concept, encompassing the cumulative expertise garnered throughout the years.
Starting out as an urban regeneration endeavor three decades ago, the project launched in August 2019 is has now opened to the public. Hills rededicated their commitment to co-cultivate the urban expanse with inhabitants, fostering a collaborative approach to urban development that enhances Tokyo’s allure and magnetism.
FirePress Japan by Blaze 'n' Rekka 
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