On Google Maps, its Street View feature is a great way to see what neighborhoods look like from a human’s perspective. But the Mountain View, Calif. company is trying something a little different with its Japan edition: viewing places from a dog’s point of view.
Image Credit: Google
In a blog post on Google Japan (and translated using Google) the company shares that they partnered with the city of Odate to give visitors a glimpse of what the place has to offer. Because Akita dogs are such an integral part of the city’s culture (Odate is the birthplace of the breed), it was only fitting to have Akitas act as tour guides.
Image Credit: Google
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Strapping on cameras to three Akita dogs — named Asuka, Ako and Pu — employees took them around the city to map out the location with 360-degree views. In the videos, you can see the dogs’ ears in the shots, as they checked out the city.
Image Credit: Google
Some of the major landmarks shown include the bronze statue of Hachiko, the famous Akita known for his loyalty to his owner. (After his owner passed away, the dog continued to wait for him at the train station for years.)
Hachiko. Image Credit: Google
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The pups also went to a hot spring foot bath, the Akita Dog Museum and the Old Dog Shrine.
The foot bath. Image Credit: Google
A video posted by Google shows the behind-the-scenes mapping of the locations, with the dogs having a blast. They are seen running in the snow, playing and posing near the landmarks.
The shrine. Image Credit: Google
Google says this is just the beginning. The company plans on adding more dogs’ viewpoints of new locations and during different seasons.
