Hirosaki Park and Hirosaki Castle, Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, Japan
About this story
Hirosaki is returning its intact castle keep to the original southeast corner of the main enclosure after stone-wall repairs. The keep was moved roughly 70 meters into the enclosure in 2015 so unstable and bulging masonry could be dismantled and repaired. The return uses hikiya, a traditional method in which the building is supported and moved on a prepared rail-and-roller system rather than disassembled. Public participants pulled ropes attached to the approximately 400-ton structure during programmed sessions. The official city program identifies the operation as the first comparable return movement since 1915.
Status and timeline
The return operation began in July 2026. Public rope-pulling sessions involving the approximately 400-ton keep ran August 22–26. Lighting and a temporary photography installation remain open through August 28. The keep is planned to reach its original stone base around mid-November 2026.
Design highlights
Whole-building relocation without dismantling; traditional hikiya engineering; conservation of repaired stone ramparts; sequencing of heritage structure and foundation work; public participation in preservation; temporary interpretation through lighting and visitor access.
Important dates
· light up and temporary castle moving photography installation end · Details ↗
