Hundreds of volunteers pull 360-tonne historic Japanese castle back into place by hand

Hundreds of volunteers in Aomori Prefecture, Japan, participated in a unique effort to move the 360-tonne keep of Hirosaki Castle. Approximately 1,800 people gathered over a weekend to pull the structure using an ancient technique called hikiya, which involves placing buildings on rollers or rails. This move was necessary to repair a wall damaged by an earthquake, with the rebuilt wall now restored with its original stones. The relocation, which began over the weekend and is expected to continue through August, aims to move the keep a total of over 16 feet. The castle keep, a three-story structure rebuilt in 1811, attracted significant interest, with applications for volunteer slots four times oversubscribed.

Approximately 1,800 people participated in a traditional Japanese technique called "hikiya" over the weekend in Aomori prefecture to move the 360-tonne keep of Hirosaki Castle. This effort, which shifted the structure over two meters on rails, is part of ongoing renovations to repair a wall damaged by an earthquake. The hikiya method, which involves moving buildings on rollers rather than dismantling them, was used to preserve the historic structure, a nationally designated important cultural property. The public was invited to participate in this community-building effort, with thousands applying for limited slots. The keep will continue to be moved by hand until August, with machinery completing the remaining distance by year-end. The castle keep, one of only 12 remaining in Japan, is expected to reopen to visitors in 2033 after preservation work.