1,800 Volunteers Rebuild Japanese Castle Tower in Its Historic Location Using Ropes

In a striking scene that combined heritage preservation with community participation, approximately 1,800 people in Japan pulled the historic tower of Hirosaki Castle in Oomori Prefecture, using ropes and pulleys in the traditional “hikiyama” technique that allows buildings to be moved without dismantling them.

Over two days this week, participants succeeded in shifting the tower, which some reports estimate weighs around 360 tons, by 1.13 meters on the first day and 1.09 meters on the second.

Volunteers took turns pulling the ropes in groups, as part of a project to gradually return the tower to its original location after completion of restoration work on the surrounding stone wall.

The process did not end after the two days; Hirosaki City officially announced that the tower had moved a total of 3.64 meters over five days, up to August 26, as part of events that continued throughout the week.

The current tower dates back to 1810 and is one of only 12 original historic castle towers still standing in Japan. The restoration project is expected to continue until 2033.