ODATE, Akita Prefecture--Long a familiar sight in front of Shibuya Station in central Tokyo, the landmark "green frog" train car made the long hop more than 600 kilometers north here to entice tourists to this snowy city.

The train car, once paired with the iconic Hachiko statue, was transferred from Tokyo to Odate, the famed dog’s hometown, for the exhibition that ran from Nov. 1-8.

The train car, the former property of Tokyu Railways, will be shown to the public again next spring following full-scale maintenance work. Local officials hope it will capture the hearts of the public and serve as a local attraction in Odate.

Last year, Odate city set up the Akitainu Visitor Center near JR Odate Station to show off the appeal of the municipality, to which Akita Inu dogs are indigenous.

The tourism exchange facility was designed in the appearance of how Shibuya Station looked when Hachiko displayed his now-legendary loyalty to his master by waiting for him outside the station even after his death.

A Hachiko statue stands near the entrance to the center, and the train car was installed at the grass field on the establishment’s grounds in August.

Though visitors usually cannot enter the green frog, its interior was shown during the limited-time display. Images of its relocation work and exchange programs of Odate and Shibuya, as well as material connected to Hachiko, were also on exhibit.

Kazuhiro Sato, director of the Akitainu Visitor Center, said the unique appearance of the train car is already drawing attention as a new tourist spot.

“Many individuals who have ridden aboard in their student days and while they were working as company employees currently visit here to take a picture,” Sato said.

Called the green frog because of its green rounded body, the former Tokyu 5,000 series train operated on Tokyu Railways’ Toyoko Line, which connects Shibuya with surrounding areas, and elsewhere between 1954 and 1986.

The car deployed to Odate is one of the carriages from the first 5,000 series train and was used on a local line of what is now known as Uedadentetsu Co. in Nagano Prefecture until 1993, following the end of its operation at Tokyu Railways.

After its retirement there, the green frog was kept by Tokyu Railways.

In 2006, the train car started on its second career as a symbol of Shibuya Station. In its new role, instead of carrying passengers on tracks, it was donated to Shibuya Ward and reinstalled near the Hachiko statue.

Although some vandal once painted doodles on the train car, it proved popular as a meeting spot in front of the station. It also housed the local sightseeing information bureau where visitors could stop by and pick up information on local attractions.

When Shibuya Ward sought a suitable location for the train car when it needed to be relocated due to large-scale redevelopment around the station, the municipality failed to find one nearby so it eventually decided to donate it to Odate.

Shibuya and Odate have deepened their interactions as both cities are linked to Hachiko.

They have signed an agreement to assist each other during emergencies. Rice produced in Odate is used for school meals in Shibuya, promoting interactions between children in the two municipalities.

“Odate city offered to make use of the train car, and we willingly agreed to the plan to relocate it,” said a Shibuya Ward official.

For the green frog project, the two municipalities organized a news conference in February this year to announce Shibuya’s donation of the car to Odate.

“The bonds between Shibuya and Odate will be boosted,” Odate Mayor Junji Fukuhara said at the news conference.

Ken Hasebe, mayor of Shibuya Ward, also expressed high hopes.

“Few ward residents know that Odate is the hometown of Hachiko,” Hasebe said. “If they visit Odate to see the green frog, our bonds of friendship will deepen further.”

The green frog, measuring 11 meters long and weighing 11 tons, was lifted with a crane and loaded onto a truck on Aug. 3. After leaving Shibuya, the truck traveled slowly on conventional roads and only at night, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., for three days to reach Odate.

The body of the green frog, which is to begin its third life in Odate, has long been suffering from rain and wind damage.

Following the latest exhibition, the rust will be removed and eroded parts repaired at a plant within the city for its reintroduction, scheduled for March next year. Anti-rust treatment and repainting will also be carried out to enable it to endure the harsh winters in the northern town.

The maintenance work is estimated to cost 11.8 million yen ($112,400), and 10 percent of the expense will be covered with the funds raised through a government crowdfunding campaign in the “furusato nozei” (hometown tax payment) program.

Under the program, donations can be used only for predetermined objectives, so those supportive of the causes will make contributions. Odate will accept donations on the furusato nozei site, called Furusato Choice, through Dec. 31.

“If the green frog is reinstalled next spring, the combination of the green frog and Akita Inu will be displayed again here,” Sato said. “I am confident that they will provide something extra together.”

Asked about the project, a Tokyu Railways official said the company hopes the train car “will be loved by people in Akita Prefecture as it was in Shibuya.”