Akita Inu Museum

Akita Dog Hall is a facility located in Odate City, Akita Prefecture, serving as a center for preserving and promoting the Akita Inu and sharing its appeal with a wider audience. As befitting Odate City, the birthplace of the Akita Inu, it attracts strong support from people who deeply love Akitas as well as tourists interested in dogs.

This hall is also home to the headquarters office of the Akita Inu Preservation Society, a public-interest incorporated association, and it handles the registration of Akita Inu pedigrees from around the world, the issuance of pedigree certificates, and exhibitions held to help preserve the breed. The building is three stories tall, and each floor features distinctive exhibits related to the Akita Inu.

Highlights and Facility Layout

1st Floor: Meeting the Mascot Dog and Shopping for Goods
At the office on the first floor, an Akita Inu managed by the Preservation Society may greet visitors on weekdays (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) (please note that it may be absent due to health or scheduling reasons). Seeing the Akita Inu up close, with its fluffy coat and dignified build, captivates many visitors.

A variety of Akita Inu-related goods and original items from the Preservation Society are also available for purchase, making them ideal souvenirs.

2nd Floor: Hachiko Materials and Reading Corner
The second floor exhibits materials related to Hachiko, the loyal dog born in Odate City. Hachiko is famous for his statue in front of Shibuya Station, but in his hometown, visitors can find valuable materials, photographs, and literature that look back on his life. There is also a reading space where dog-related manga and books can be enjoyed.

3rd Floor: Akita Inu Museum Room (Japan’s Only Dog Breed Museum)
On the third floor is the “Akita Inu Museum Room,” the only museum in Japan dedicated to a specific dog breed. Here, many academically valuable materials are displayed, covering the origins of the Akita Inu, its evolutionary process, breeding methods, ecology, and biography.

The Akita Inu is said to have been created about 400 years ago in the Odate region by crossbreeding hunting dogs used by matagi (mountain hunters) with native dogs, against the backdrop of a history in which feudal lords encouraged dog fighting. The exhibition room covers a wide range of themes related to the Akita Inu, including ancient hunting tools, its connection to matagi culture, and a panorama related to the Yawata Shrine dedicated to old dogs.

“Bokyo no Hachiko” Statue
In front of Akita Dog Hall stands a bronze statue called “Bokyo no Hachiko” (“Hachiko Longing for Home”). Modeled after Hachiko at age 12, in his later years, it realistically depicts him with one ear drooping.

The first Hachiko statue in front of Odate Station was requisitioned under the Metal Collection Order of 1944, and this statue was erected about 60 years later by reusing its pedestal. It quietly gazes toward Daigo-nai in Odate City, where Hachiko was born, deeply moving all who visit.

Experiencing the Charm of the Akita Inu
The Akita Inu is the largest of Japan’s native dog breeds and is designated as a National Natural Monument. Its characteristics include a well-proportioned body, erect ears, a large head, a curled tail, and a strong sense of loyalty. Despite its adorable appearance, it is highly intelligent and brave, and shows deep affection and loyalty to its family.

In recent years, it has also gained worldwide attention after being presented to a Russian figure skater.

Recommended Visiting Time
From late April to mid-November, Akita Inu dogs are kept in the outdoor kennel as well, allowing visitors to see them active outdoors. On weekdays (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), there is a particularly high chance of meeting an Akita Inu inside the first-floor office, making this an especially recommended time for dog lovers.

Akita Dog Hall, where you can experience the charm of the Akita Inu firsthand in Odate City, the breed’s hometown, is a deeply meaningful destination not only for Akita Inu fans but also for anyone interested in Japanese dogs, culture, and history. Be sure to stop by and add it to your travel memories.