1,000 people join forces to pull a 400-ton Japanese castle back towards its original position

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Hirosaki Castle Keep Returns to Its Original Site After Major Restoration

This Is Hirosaki Castle

The Keep Was Moved in 2015

Why Did the Castle Need Moving ?

Thousands of Stones Had to Be Rebuilt

The Return Journey Started in 2026

People Really Did Pull It With Ropes

Thousands More Are Taking Part

It Uses a Traditional Japanese Technique

The Ropes Are Only Part of the Operation

The Keep is Being Raised and Rotated Too

The Keep Weighs Around 400 Tonnes

The Public Event Marks a Rare Moment

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Over 1,000 people recently took part in an extraordinary restoration project at Hirosaki Castle in Aomori, Japan, focused on the wooden keep, which weighs more than 1,000 tonnes and is being restored to its pre-repair position. In 2015, it was decided to move the keep approximately 78 meters to improve access to the castle's damaged stone walls, and engineers were consulted. It's 2026, and the return trip was made possible by cutting-edge engineering and a traditional Japanese building-moving method.
 

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