Covers have been placed over an iconic dog statue outside Tokyo's Shibuya Station to deter Halloween revelers from gathering in the area.

The statue of Hachiko, modeled after a loyal Akita dog, is a popular meeting place in the busy Shibuya district.

Workers commissioned by Shibuya Ward took about two hours on Wednesday to set up a covered enclosure around the statue.

Officials in the ward are urging people, including foreign tourists, not to come to Shibuya to celebrate Halloween.
But they remain concerned that large crowds of revelers may flock to the area, posing the risk of a crowd crush or problems related to drinking.

Hachiko will remain covered through Friday.

A ward official says closing off Shibuya's icon is a difficult, but inevitable decision. He called on people to stop coming to Shibuya for Halloween, either to show off costumes or view them.