Shibuya's 'Green Frog' Train [Closed]

Visiting the past in Shibuya

Sarashanti Jun 15, 2013 - 1 min read

This first Tokyo Kokyu train type 5000 was manufactured in 1954 and has been on public display since 2006. People refer to it locally as the “green frog".

Inside of the “green frog” there are many photos on display of Shibuya throughout the years and some information brochures are also provided. Admission is free and the car is open to the public from 10 AM to 6 PM.

Visitors can sit down or take a rest anytime they want, but eating and drinking is not permitted.

A view of the modern city from the window of the old wheelhouse.

A classic steering panel inside the wheelhouse.

This book display shows the difference between the Shibuya of then and now.

Old photos showing street scences of Shibuya during the 1920s.

This row of photographs in the little display gallery shows the development of Shibuya over the decades.

Besides enjoying viewing the photographs, many people sit down in the carriage while waiting for someone.

The face of the Tokyu 5000 series car surrounded by modern buildings in the Shibuya area.

Archived content

This iconic green train is moving to Akita's Odate area, where it will sit nearby Akita Dog Visitor Center and Odate Station.

Last updated: Aug 5, 2020

Shibuya is one of the most popular spots in Tokyo for visitors from both Japan and around the world. High buildings, classy restaurants, high class shops, the latest fashions, and huge human traffic all converge on this spot.

But what would Shibuya have looked like if we'd been here 80 years ago? The Tokyu 5000 series "Green Frog" train carriage outside the station (near the Hachiko statue) helps us find out, as an example of the types of train seen in Tokyo between 1954 and 1986.

Aogaeru, or 'green frog', is now converted to a Tourist Information Center that has lived outside Shibuya Station in the Hachiko Square area since 2006.