Your story matters,
and many of the chapters in the book
of your life are yet to be written.
See Actual Hachi Film Locations on Google Maps
Want to see all the “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale” film locations? While the true story of Hachiko took place in Japan, the movie was filmed in Rhode Island and we show you where!
The Hachi film locations were chosen for their feel, accessibility, and relation to the real story of Hachiko, the loyal dog of Japan. After watching the film, Sira Sudhindranath decided to find all the major locations where the movie was filmed.
Note: Sira heard that the train tracks (known as the “Slatersville Secondary”) will be removed in the coming years due to maintenance costs (bridges, grade crossings, signaling, etc).
To view location images below, please click location titles.
1. “Bedridge” Train Station
(There is now a statue where Hachi waited in the film.)
1 High St., Woonsocket, RI 02895.
2. “Bedridge” Train Station
(View of track and platform.)
3. Downtown
(Where Parker walks home carrying Hachi as a puppy.)
Arnold St and Main St., Woonsocket, RI 02895
4. Parker and Cate’s home
High St and Walley St., Bristol, RI 02809
5. Andy and Michael’s home
Glen Road, Woonsocket, RI 02895
6. Road down which Hachi runs after escaping from Andy’s house
Glen Road, Woonsocket, RI 02895
7. Milton and Myra’s butcher shop
Arnold St and Sayles St., Woonsocket, RI 02895
8. Train tracks
(Hachi walks on these tracks after running away from Andy’s home.)
Railroad crossing at Harris Ave and Railroad St., Woonsocket, RI 02895
9. Railway Bridge under which Hachi walks
(Hachi stops at a fork in the train tracks.)
Blackstone St., Woonsocket, RI 02895
10. Location of stationary train cars
(Hachi sleeps under these train cars.)
View from Harris Ave, View from River St.
(You can see the building marked “DOM POLSKI. In the movie, it can be seen in the background when Hachi first arrives at the location)
11. Street where Hachi is shown walking from station to Milton & Myra’s butcher shop
12. Downtown
(This is where the elderly Hachi is seen for the first time.)
Main St., Woonsocket, RI 02895
Bonus: The Hachi Trail Map
(A walking tour of all the Hachi film locations in Woonsocket. Rhode Island.)
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Thanks for posting this.
Here is the trail route that I came up with –
1 High St
Woonsocket, RI 02895
1. Head northwest on High St toward Fountain St
0.2 mi
2. Take the 1st right onto Arnold St
446 ft
3. Take the 2nd left onto Railroad St
220 ft
4. Continue onto Harris Ave
0.2 mi
5. Turn right onto Blackstone St
0.2 mi
6. Take the 2nd right onto Arnold St
0.5 mi
7. Turn left onto Main St
0.3 mi
8. Turn left onto High St
89 ft
On a map, the route looks like the number… “8” It’s wonderful that the “Hachi trail” is shaped like “Hachi” – which means “8” in Japanese!
High St
I found some old directions given to the crew during the shoot. It had a diagram of the University of Rhode Island with these notes: the lecture hall was filmed at Edwards Auditorium, the dojo rehearsal scene was in the Fine Arts Center, and Ken’s office was filmed in Green Hall.
The moving movie I’ve ever seen hiabhi
Here is the map of the “Hachi Trail”:
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=201379960184204613204.0004f60fbacb714448b63
Thanks for providing this Hachi Trail route. Perhaps the city of Woonsocket can make it official. The eight configuration is especially meaningful!
Thanks Vicki. I can contact the city about this. But I think you probably already know some of the officials personally. So, it might be easier for you to take this up with them, I think.
Thanks!
If you look closely at the Woonsocket Train Depot (“Bedridge” Station in the movie) you will see that the low brick wall that Hachi waited on and the statue now resides on, is not showing in current images of the real station. In the movie this was a larger area with room to sit. A much smaller wall, barely above ground level now exists. So it was either a temporary prop or rebuilt to a smaller size after shooting the scenes, perhaps to accommodate vehicle access to the station area.
Recently I read a blog by someone who is from Woonsocket and watched production of some of the film. He said in his blog that the circular brick area where Hachi sat waiting was built for the movie. Since the bronze statue of Hachi was placed there in about 2011, the garden wall must have been removed after filming in 2009. As it played an important role in the film, sad it was removed. It would have made a nice addition to the depot station area.
That was what I heard as well. The larger circular area was removed after the movie was completed. I agree that it would have been really nice if the circle had been left behind!
I wonder if the current pentagonal area could be replaced by a circle, not a large like in the movie, but a circle of the same size…
Btw, if you are on Facebook, please visit this page started by me and click “Like” – https://www.facebook.com/thehachitrail
Being from Woonsocket, I can tell you that the circular garden stayed intact after the filming. The last time I remember seeing it was in or around 2016. I hope it stays for good!
However, one of the things that was done for the movie remained there even after it was completed (and is probably *still* there!)
http://www.instantstreetview.com/2hxrymz22aaebz1anzkvz2u
“Bedridge Barber Shop”
In the movie, it is most clearly visible when Cate is walking with Ken, sees the old Hachi for the first time and crosses the road to go down to where Hachi was seated.
Wishing Vickie and Hachi Fans Merry Christmas, and may your New Year be a Happy and Healthy Year!
Take the time to watch Hachi this season, it is always special .
Merry Christmas Hachiko!
Thanks BruceB. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to you too. Yes, it is a good time to watch Hachi during the holidays. I am gifting the DVD to a few of my close friends and relatives.
Best wishes,
–Sira.
This is a very cool page, I’ve really enjoyed the movie a lot several times since buying the DVD and as usual I like to know where the filming locations of movies were. I find it interesting that odd triangular shaped corner building in the movie had a “law office” sign on it which I figured was as usual- a prop sign, and that in this movie the sign is a real one!
I also have the Japanese version of this story, it was difficult to locate, it was different and had a different “feel” to it, the American version was much better, even the passage of time was very well done, especially with the leaves growing and blowing off the tree outside the station 3 times in a time lapse technique- very clever!
I have seen photos of the dog statue in Japan, it had replaced the original bronze which had been melted down during WWll, frankly, as a sculptor and dog owner I found the replacement bronze dog very poorly done, it was so disappointing because the artist could have done so much with surface textures and modeling, the bronze has an awful surface texture and is very un-lifelike and looks like a shaped lump of mayonaise or something.
I’m half tempted to do a lifesized model one of these days of Hachi and give it some life and expression, but as can be imagined it costs money and time, but we’ll see!
To RD Wolff
FYI, there is also another Hachi statue at One Depot Square, Woonsocket, RI 02895, placed there and donated by the Beacon Charter High School for the arts.
This monument stands where the movie was filmed in 2009.
Information can be found by calling the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, 401-724-2200
The unveiling and presentation of this memorial was covered in this blog, and was attended by Japanese and US dignitaries.
Here is the weblink for this ceremony
http://www.www.vickiandhachi.com/blog–whats-new/hachiko-statue-dedication-at-woonsocket-train-station
However, personally. I find both statues quite beautiful.
Thank you for your interest, we all love Hachi !
To RD Wolff and BruceB,
Talking about the props used for the movie, take a look at this:
http://www.instantstreetview.com/@42.003537,-71.513499,-194.1h,-8.61p,1z
“Bedridge Barber Shop”. Right across the street from “Bedridge” station. The picture is dated June 2012, i.e. long after the movie was completed. Perhaps the sign remains there to this day.
I was curious about one other location. The cemetery. I believe the one used in the film is the Union Cemetery, located at the very end of Main Street, in Woonsocket.
It could well be the Union Cemetery but I was not able to fully confirm it based on the Google and Bing maps info together with the footage from the movie. But it is quite likely that they would have chosen a nearby cemetery for the scene, and among the choices, as far as I can see with the maps, Union Cemetery appears to be the closest match.
Thank you I am trying to find out what cemetery it is as well. I live in North Smithfield and I am very familiar with Union Cemetery unfortunately it does not look like that is the cemetery used. In one of the wide shot angles you can see a long road and across the street from the cemetery is a three-tiered white fence. Also the roads in the cemetery end in the T formation. It definitely is an older cemetery it might be one from Cumberland but I cannot find it. Any other suggestions would be incredibly helpful.
Thanks for confirming that it is not the Union Cemetery. I went through the footage and the maps several times and could not locate the narrow parallel road next to the wider road on the map.
But when we see the location that Vicki mentions – North Burial Ground, Bristol, RI on Bing Maps, it is very clear that is the location. I am still not sure exactly which part of the ground it is. I will have to view both the cemetery scenes closely a few more times before I can make a guess!
I found some old directions given to the crew during filming. The cemetery scene was filmed at the North Burial Ground in Colt State Park, Bristol, Rhode Island. I recall meeting Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa there for the first time. He was cast as the professor’s friend Ken, and was getting ready for the funeral scene.
What wonderful find. I have watched the movie many times and all the information within serves as a great source for a trip this summer. I am a Vietnam vet with PTSD after 48 years dogs have and still help with me with their unending loyalty. But it is a major mystery to me how people can be so cruel to the animals that give unending loyalty in return.
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
Please check out this Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/thehachitrail for details to help you with your trip to the movie locations. If you need any further info, you can make a post on that site and I will respond.
Please also checkout the site at http://hachikousa.com/
Best wishes.
I loved the Hachi movie.I have watched it many times
and I never get tired of seeing the love Hachi had for Parker. I noticed one thing probably because I have seen it so many times . The steps are missing on the brick circle during the fetch seen at the train station but show up later in the film. Also I looked up the house Parker and Cate owned and it is a real house in Bristol Rhode Island. I have to say it is the best film have ever seen.Hachi is such a loving dog.This coming from a cat lady!!!!!
Hi Judi, Thanks for pointing out the brick steps. I never noticed it before, and haven’t viewed the film again- but sharp eyes! Hachi is a celebration of dogs, cats and all animals, and we even receive emails from people who didn’t like dogs (before)!
Hi Vicki, on one of the sites for the Woonsocket station Hachiko monument there is mention of continued improvements which to me would mean getting this to match the condition we viewed in the movie. I know the statue came years after filming was gone but was there ever an offer to just leave all the bricks in place or the station clock? I guess I understand the film company is supposed to leave things like they were never there but the bricks were an improvement over the current setup. Too bad they didn’t just leave them in place like the “Bedridge Barbershop” window lettering.
Yes, I have noticed the absence of that step during the “fetch” scene at the station. Perhaps it is because that scene was filmed earlier in the schedule, before they had installed the step.
Also, you can see the time-lapse scene where they use CGI to show the leaves of the tree falling, coming back and falling, you can notice that it was probably filmed early on – the ‘Bedridge Barber Shop’ towards the right is still not set up.
Interestingly, the Bedridge Barber Shop prop is *still* there. Or at least, it was there when I visited the site in June 2015.
See http://www.instantstreetview.com/@42.003537,-71.513499,-190.54h,-2.18p,1z
Have you ever looked in the window of Bedridge Barber Shop? Ii has a chair, and nothing else. Even the floor is a prop. It remains the same and probably will for decades.
Hi,
I am heartbroken because Netflix is removing the movie Hachi from the list of movies to watch as of Sept.1,2016. How sad!!!!
The opening scenes of the movie are shot in South Korea I believe. The big bell being rung and the train station has Hangul characters on it.
The film credits mention Japan.
Thanks for the clarification Chris! After the US shoot, a second unit shot the early Hachi scenes in Japan.
Hachi was on TV tonight. I live in Covina, CA. I had not ever heard of this movie, but liked the blurb. I didn’t know Hachi’s master would die; I am still choked up over the faithful dog and his death. I didn’t understand why Parker’s wife had to be so hostile to the idea of a dog, or why he was sent to the U.S. Maybe I missed something.
Peta, in the story, the puppy Hachi was being shipped to an address in the US. The address label gets torn and the puppy is rescued by Parker (played by Richard Gere). He tries to locate the person to whom the puppy was intended but doesn’t find the person. So, he decides to adopt the dog.
Also, I am not sure if Parker’s wife was hostile to the idea of a dog. The narrative appears to say that they had a dog (named Luke) in the past and the wife is not keen on having a dog again, maybe because she thinks it is too much responsibility or work to take care of a dog.
Hi Sira!
Thank you for your insightful comments, as always. Parker was very affected after Luke (previous dog) passed away. Remember Hachi’s monkey toy? It was Luke’s. Parker’s wife was trying to prevent another heartbreak.
Thanks again!
Thank you for your reply. Sorry I only just caught up with it. I see, because the label was lost, there was no way of knowing why Hachi was sent to the US. That makes sense.
Hi Peta, an interesting thing I picked up viewing with freeze frame is puppy Hachi’s address label that gets torn away during transit and blows away is for Stephen Towers in (fictional) Bedridge. Either an individual’s name or possibly a high rise residence. So Hachi’s intended owner was always in Bedridge. The zip code on that label actually is the one Woonsocket RI where much of the movie was filmed uses.
Kind of makes it more amazing no one in town was looking for their Akita puppy they had arranged to ship from Japan. More likely if there was some kind of tracking to look up is Hachi’s carrier just quit getting updates somewhere on his long journey and only shows as “in-transit”. That buyer had no idea his puppy was in town the whole time.
Thank you, Chris. It figures! There was Richard Gere and there was Hachi, and the label had only just come off, but Hachi was more-or-less at his destination. It seems to me the sending of the dog to the US was a symbolic gesture, denoting the original animal was in Japan and a film of his life would be made in the US.
Yes, if I remember right, the address says “121 Jordan Ave (or St?)”.
I would guess that nobody had arranged to get a puppy shipped to the US. Instead, I would think it was being shipped as a surprise gift to a recipient, and that person had probably left town without leaving a forwarding address. So, even if the sender sent a letter later, it would not reach the person to whom the gift was intended.
Also, note that the puppy was shipped in 1996 or thereabouts. There were not a lot of ways for the shipping company to get updates. At that time, even email was not very common, except among people in universities and those working in technology companies.
Hi Chris! In reference to the station site condition after the shoot- the production company leased the location from the state, and responsible for returning it to original condition. I’m so pleased that the city of Woonsocket chose to honor Hachiko and the film with the statue! It’s a lasting monument to a dog who embodied all the higher qualities we strive to achieve.
Thanks Sira for your insight! It was never specified how Hachi came to be lost, so your thoughts are perfectly plausible…
Japan filming locations and are they some distance from his Shibuya statue?
Hi Chris! I’m not certain where the Japan shoot took place. It was a second separate unit and I was not present. It was a beautiful setting however!
Location where Parker and Hachi run along the water’s edge?
It was filmed in Woonsocket along the River Island Park, I believe. This was minutes from the train station.
Thank you, Vicki. I think I found it on the map @ Bernon Street on the Blackstone River.
River Island Park, Bernon Street, Woonsocket, RI
Also, this is the same location that was used to film the brief scene where Hachi was shown in the 1st “person” playing with Parker.
Chris, that is great! Do you have the exact coordinates? How were you able to figure it out?
–Sira.
Hi Sira, I don’t have an exact location so your assistance would be great and maybe Vicki has exact detail. If you check the Hachi Trail Map at the bottom of the “8” where we first see 10+ year old Hachi. Go a bit South of that and you’ll see Bernon Street (and Arnold) and the Blackstone River. To the right of the Museum of Work and Culture is the park Vicki mentioned. I’m also sure that’s in the ballpark just from other images where the turbulent water from the nearby Woonsocket Falls dam matches with the film scene. Where exactly on the shore they were running I’m not sure.
In that shot where we first see old Hachi in the background you can see the River Falls restaurant which is on the river close to the dam and park and also marked on the Hachi Trail map.
P.S. is there a way to get updates if anyone posts on the various threads even if I’ve not posted there? I only see the option to get updates to a post I’ve already commented in.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1CJu25yQYzhlsUoqXIt63VE8kDX0&hl=en&ll=42.00395360936519%2C-71.5172685&z=16
Hi Chris, thanks! Let me check it out when I have the time. Btw, the location where they old Hachi for the first time is right in front of New York Lunch restaurant on Main St. During our Hachi Trail tour two years ago, I made it a point to walk with my little dog in the exact location where old Hachi walked in the movie. It was almost a religious experience and I am not exaggerating about it.
Thanks Vicki for posting the info about the cemetery. It would have been bad if it was the Union Cemetery and we had missed it during our Woonsocket tour earlier this year! As it turned out, I was not aware of the locations #5 and #6 until a few days before our trip. Our friend in Woonsocket pointed it out to me when I spoke on the phone, and so we included it in our list of places when we made the trip!
I think I have located the spot more precisely. You can plug in 41.687603, -71.282471 on Google/Bing maps and select streetwide view (Bing seems to have a better image). This is the street on which you see a lone van moving along as the funeral is taking place. And the above location is likely the nearest point on the street from where the services were being held.
I believe the two cemetery scenes were filmed in different parts of the cemetery (or from different angles at least) in order to give the impression that there were a few more gravestones added during the 10 years from when Parker passed away to the time when Cate revisits the place.
There is just one more location that I have not been able to place yet. And that is where, near the very end of the movie, Ronnie gets off the bus and meets his dad, Michael and his little puppy. I have searched on Google and Bing in some areas of Woonsocket near the train tracks area (where at the very end, Ronnie and the puppy are walking along the track) but have not found it so far!
Hi Sira! I was going through my Hachi memorabilia from the shoot, and discovered lots of interesting things. I found the daily call sheets that describe each days shoot, local Woonsocket newspapers with Hachi news, all kinds of paperwork from our production! Lots of interesting items that triggered many sweet memories…
The Hachi trail map in shaped like an 8.
Hi Brad! Yes, and Hachi means “eight” in Japanese… what a coincidence!
I live in Woonsocket and am watching the movie again as I’m writing this . I a have convinced myself that Union Cemetery was used in rhe movie . On the other hand , it’s kind of cool to say that Richard Gere walked on my street !!
We used a cemetery in Bristol, but rest of scenes shot in your lovely town of Woonsocket!
Just watched the movie and cried and cried! I caught a glimpse of the Shiba Inu puppy at the beginning and was hooked. (We have beloved shibas in the family.)The story of the loyal Akito Inu Hachiko is so beautiful yet heart wrenching. The fact that this is based on a true story is almost too much. Thank you for sharing this wonderful film and loving
tribute to man best friend.
Hi Patrice! Thank you for your kind words. I love sharing Hachiko’s story- especially meaningful because of my own Shiba (Hachi)… 🌈🐶
Hey all – so I’m planning on visiting the area to do the Hachi trail in October, really can’t wait, but I have some questions. First of all, i’ll be driving, can I just park my car in the train depot and leave it there while I walk the rest of the trail? Secondly, I plan to walk the entire trail and i’ll be my myself, is this a good idea? Are there any areas I should potentially avoid?
Join the discussionSorry, another quick question. Right at the end of the film there is a brief scene where we see old Hachi walking along the train tracks in the snow, towards the train station for the final time – do you know which train tracks these were?…
Hi Angel! You can contact the Blackstone Tourism Council for updated information of Woonsocket and the Hachi Trail at https://www.hachikousa.com. I visited the Hachi statue, at the train station, a few years ago. The Hachi Trail was not created at that time. Please share your visit with us on “The Hachi Wall” of this website. Or, join our private Hachi Community on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/VickiWongAndHachi and post pictures for Hachi friends to enjoy! Have a Wonderful Trip and bring back more warm Hachi memories!
Es una gran historia, y hecha por mi ídolo richard here mejor… Siempre ke tengo oportunidad la veo me ha dejado una gran enseñanza de amor de amistad de cariño… Y siempre lloro…. Es una gran historia….
Its makes me feel sad
I spent the first 11 years of my life growing up in Woonsocket, specifically 165 Star Ave. I have a strong French Canadian ancestry; as did most in neighborhood we shared. (late 60s to 1979) It will always be a special place to me. Thank you the decision makers behind the scenes of this move for choosing this area to recreate such a great story.
Hello David! Woonsocket captured the ideal “feel” for our story, and the inactive train station made filming easy. A few years later, a Hachi statue was dedicated at the station. I went back to see it and the town was as charming as ever. Thanks for sharing your story!
Why parker died at the age of 51. I really in a nostalgic cry and really in a mood of disgusting
.Hachi waited for his master for nine years.His face is in such a mood of anytime his master will come by opening the bedridge railway station door.But he doesn’t know that his master will never come and embrase him.Hachi waited for his master until his death.Upto his death, he doesn’t know that his master died.His face is in an eager for his master’s arrival.He waited under the train in the night. for nine years for his beloved master’s arrival.What happened to his master’s wife. Why she sold her house. Where she had gone.Hachi waited waited and waited for his master.Hachi died without his master’s embrase.This is not a film. But the great love of parker and hachi.This film will live until the end of universe.hachi;s waiting for his master,it is horrible. The railway station,downtown,parker’s house,hachi’s waitng area in front of bedridge railway station these are unmemmorable.
Helpful to see locations. Watching on ch 13 tonight. Was nervous dog had no collar,leash able to run free. Though Hatchinwould get hurt. Didn’t know story, sad,but dogs so smart, devoted to man.
Thank you Barbara! Yes, dogs are the best! 🐶😍
i read the book, have the movie, but have not watched it yet. I viewed some trailers for your movie and am very disappointed that your movie does not take place in Japan, but in the United States. It is so Americanized. I love the book and hope this setting does not take away from the story.
Woonsocket RI is a beautiful place and was the perfect place for HACHI to be filmed!
My love for animals only increased when I saw Hachi, I watch it at least
4 times a week for 5 years and still cry. I often think of Richard Gere, how
did he say goodbye to Hachi when the movie was finished. I know that I
couldn’t. It is a great movie and the animal trainers deserve enormous credit. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful movie.
Hi Maryanne, Thanks for your note! The animal trainers were fabulous – each of the 3 Akitas had different personalities and we used them according to the scene. Hope Hachi’s story and lessons create more joy & happiness for you! Look for our upcoming “Be Hachi. Be Happy.” free 6-part course coming soon. It’s all about living the Good Hachi Life! Vicki
wehre did hachi live
i’m sad
hi i fawnth this and awan to no were thed hachilive
Thanks for providing these info and photos, we saw Hachi just 10 mins back! And what a touching true story it is!
If only our devotion is like our beloved Hachi or our own pet Dog life will be so nice and family will be intact ,this movie always brings tears to me Love and Adore it just like my love for my adorable Nala who was taken from us in 2018❤️❤️❤️Now we have Jack and Pepper that brings so much joy to all of us Jack constantly wait for us to come home❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for sharing!
One of the moveing story ever told
It’s unbelievable that an a pet has. More more love for there master than most people have.