How 1,800 People Moved a 360-Ton Japanese Castle Using Ropes and Rollers
On the weekend of August 22 and 23, 2026, approximately 1,800 volunteers gathered in Aomori Prefecture to move Hirosaki Castle’s 360-ton main tower using ropes, rollers, and an ancestral relocation method known as hikiya, according to reports from The Guardian.
The Mechanics of Hikiya at Hirosaki Castle
The manual relocation technique requires placing heavy historical structures onto rollers so they can be shifted incrementally without dismantling the original timber architecture. Rotating teams of 80 people took turns pulling the ropes over the weekend. The structure was moved a total of 2.22 meters—specifically 1.13 meters on Saturday and 1.09 meters on Sunday.
This community-driven effort is part of a broader restoration project. Thousands of citizens are scheduled to participate in multiple stages through late August 2026, aiming for a cumulative manual shift of 5 meters. Heavy machinery will eventually handle the remaining 73 meters of the journey, with completion anticipated by the end of the year.
Repairing Earthquake Damage to Ancestral Stone Walls
The necessity for this extraordinary logistical feat stems from significant seismic activity in the region. The castle tower was moved to accommodate the repair of a stone wall damaged by a major earthquake. This meticulous reconstruction project required repositioning 2,185 individual stones back into their original positions, a multi-year engineering undertaking finalized in December 2024.
Hirosaki Castle’s main tower, known as the tenshu, holds rare historical status. Completed initially in 1611, the original tower burned down in 1627 after a lightning strike. The current replacement structure was built in 1810, surviving more than two centuries as one of only 12 original towers preserved nationwide and the sole surviving tower in the Tohoku region.
Global Participation and Community Heritage Projects
Public interest in the 2026 relocation far exceeded expectations. Organizers received 8,000 applications for just 1,800 available volunteer spots. Participants traveled from across Japan as well as from North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia to join the coordinated teams.
“It’s a way to connect with history and the community,” said Motoharu Nakata, 61, a participant who traveled from Hiroshima after previously taking part in a similar relocation initiative 11 years ago, as quoted by The Guardian.
While the current manual relocation phase progresses through August 2026, visitors will face extended closures. The castle tower will remain inaccessible to the general public for several years, with the official reopening currently estimated for 2033.