Portuguese 
Approximately 1,800 volunteers moved the 360-ton tower of Hirosaki Castle more than two meters using 30-meter ropes and the traditional hikiya technique. The structure begins its return to the original location after restoration of the rampart, while machines will complete part of the remaining historical route in 2026.
About 1,800 people participated in the manual relocation of the Hirosaki Castle tower, located in Aomori Prefecture, in northern Japan. The 360-ton structure moved slightly more than two meters as groups of volunteers pulled long ropes in an operation linked to returning the building to its original location.
The information was published by UOL, in a piece by Deutsche Welle on August 26, 2026, authored by Felipe Espinosa Wang. The operation employs hikiya, a traditional Japanese technique capable of moving entire buildings on rollers or tracks without dismantling the structure.
360-ton tower was pulled by the local community
The movement took place with direct participation from the volunteers, who pulled the structure while chanting the call “so-re, so-re.”
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The tower weighs 360 tons and is part of Hirosaki Castle, a historical site whose current structure was rebuilt in the early 19th century.
Ropes used in the operation were 30 meters long
The volunteers did not all work simultaneously on the pulling line.
According to information from The Guardian cited in the source, rotating groups of 80 people were organized, responsible for pulling 30-meter ropes during the relocation.
Tower moved 1.13 meters on the first day
The movement was carried out gradually.
On Saturday, participants managed to move the structure by 1.13 meters, keeping the operation at a controlled pace to preserve the historic building.
An additional 1.09 meters were moved on Sunday
The activity continued the next day.
On Sunday, the tower advanced another 1.09 meters, bringing the total movement over the weekend to just over two meters.
Hikiya allows buildings to be moved without dismantling them
Photograph: (X| Japan News)
The method used is known in Japan as hikiya.
This technique allows for the entire transfer of a building from one point to another using rollers or tracks, avoiding the need to dismantle the building beforehand and reconstruct it afterward.
Technique has been used to clear space for roads and constructions
Hikiya did not emerge solely as a historical preservation tool.
For a long time, this method has been employed to transfer buildings and free up areas for urban development, road widening, and other interventions.
In Japan, the same technique has also gained a role associated with the conservation of historic buildings.
The cultural status of the tower influenced the operation choice
Video: social media/X
The authorities opted for a slow and controlled process due to the historical significance of the structure.
The tower is considered a cultural property of national importance, a status that requires special attention during interventions and movements.
Tower Already Moved in 2015
The current operation is not the first experience for Hirosaki Castle with the hikiya.
In 2015, the tower was moved from its original position to allow for repairs on a wall damaged by a strong earthquake.
2015 Operation Had Unprecedented Community Participation
The previous movement also marked a change in how the method was conducted.
According to the Guardian, that was the first time the public participated in a hikiya and the first time in a century that any variant of the technique was used to move a castle.
Wall Had to Be Rebuilt Stone by Stone
After the tower was moved, the work focused on restoring the wall.
The restoration required the repositioning of 2,185 stones in their original positions, a process completed in December 2024.
Wall Restoration Completed in December 2024
The completion of this phase allowed for the tower’s return to begin.
With the wall restored, the 360-ton structure began its journey back in 2026 to the point from which it had been removed.
Eight Thousand People Competed for 1,800 Spots
Interest in participating in the operation far exceeded the available capacity.
Kensuke Hayasaka, responsible for parks and green spaces for the Hirosaki City Hall, told the Guardian that about 8,000 applications were received in just two days for 1,800 spots.
Applications Came from Different Continents
The inquiries were not limited to residents near the castle.
Requests to participate came from different regions of Japan as well as from Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America.
61-Year-Old Man Returned After Participating in Previous Move
Some volunteers already had experience with moving the castle.
Motoharu Nakata, 61, traveled from Hiroshima after having also participated in the previous transfer. He reported that being able to integrate into the operation again had special significance.
Community Participation Expected to Reach About 4,100 Additional People
The effort by the initial 1,800 volunteers represents only a small portion of the complete journey.
Community participation is expected to continue until the end of August, with approximately 4,100 more people anticipated to contribute to complete five meters of the move.
Machines Will Complete the Remaining 73 Meters
Human power will not be used throughout the entire movement.
After the section reserved for volunteers, the remaining 73 meters are expected to be covered with the aid of machines before the end of the year, according to information cited by the Guardian.
Hirosaki Castle Was Originally Completed in 1611
The history of the fortification predates the currently moved tower by centuries.
The Hirosaki Castle was completed in 1611, but its original tower had a different configuration than the one preserved today.
Original Five-Story Tower Disappeared in 1627
The first keep had five stories.
In 1627, a lightning strike caused a fire that destroyed the structure, leaving the castle without its original tower.
Current three-story structure was reconstructed in 1811
The tower involved in the current operation was erected nearly two centuries later.
The current building has three stories and was reconstructed in 1811, remaining one of Japan’s preserved historical structures.
Only 12 historical keeps remain standing
The rarity of the construction helps explain the care taken during the movement.
According to the Guardian, only 12 keeps are preserved in Japan.
The one in Hirosaki is the only remaining keep in the Tohoku region.
Castle entered the list of the 100 best in Japan in 2006
The historical recognition also shows up in national rankings.
In 2006, Hirosaki Castle was included by the Japan Castle Foundation in the list of “100 best castles” in the country.
Return to original site will not end restoration
The arrival of the tower at its original point will be just another step.
After being repositioned, the building will undergo new conservation work, during which it will be covered and inaccessible to visitors.
Castle expects to welcome visitors again in 2033
The conservation schedule spans several years.
According to Kensuke Hayasaka, the current forecast is that the tower will reopen to visitors in 2033, following the completion of the stages after its return to the original location.
In your opinion, what stands out most about this operation: moving 360 tons with volunteers and ropes, preserving a traditional technique like hikiya, or reconstructing the wall with 2,185 stones before returning the tower to its original place? Leave your thoughts in the comments.
