Hirosaki Castle: The entire castle tower was moved | The cutting edge of cultural property restoration on display at the moving shop [Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture]

At Hirosaki Castle in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, construction work to move the castle tower approximately 70 meters from its original location began in 2015 .

This construction method of moving a building as is without dismantling it is rare even in Japan, and it attracted attention as an initiative that combines cultural property preservation, architecture, and civil engineering technology

The castle tower is currently a temporary base return it to its original base is scheduled to begin around July 2026. After that, earthquake reinforcement and preservation repairs will be carried out, and the interior will be closed to the public until 2032.

, now is the time you can see the castle tower in its relocated state

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Why was a "Hikiya" necessary? The background to the bulging stone wall and repairs

Hirosaki Castle was built in the early Edo period (1611), and the current castle tower was rebuilt in 1811

It is an important relic in telling the history of the castle, but in recent years, a "bulge" was discovered in the stone wall on the east side of the main enclosure. This bulge is thought to be caused by soil pressure behind the stone wall, ground movement, and deterioration over time, and it has been pointed out that if left unattended, there is a risk of it collapsing.

Repairing the stone walls requires dismantling and rebuilding the stone walls of the castle tower base that support it, but dismantling the castle tower could damage the building's structural history and its value as a cultural asset

The method adopted "hikiya" construction method, which involves moving the castle tower as is without dismantling it.

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Highlights of the Hikiya technique and construction

According to documents published by Hirosaki City, the castle tower has been confirmed to be of the following size:

• Height: Approximately 14.4 m
• Weight: Approximately 400 tons (estimated)
• Distance traveled: Approximately 70-77 meters (northwest)

The castle tower was first lifted several tens of centimeters to one meter using a hydraulic jack, and a cart and rails were placed underneath. It was then carefully towed, with its position adjusted in increments of several tens of centimeters. The horizontal and vertical precision of the building is constantly measured and managed to prevent any distortion

A temporary castle tower base was set up at the new location, and an observation deck and explanatory panels were installed so that visitors could observe the progress of the work even during the repair period. Another major feature was that the repairs were not carried out behind closed doors, but rather as an open project

Each stone is numbered and re-stacked

The stone walls on the east and south sides of the Honmaru citadel, which were the subject of repairs, were dismantled and re-laid over an area of ​​approximately 100m + 17m. A total of 2,185 stones were dismantled, and records were kept of the relative positions of the stones, processing marks, and differences in lamination methods over different eras

In the re-stacking, techniques similar to those used when the castle was first built (e.g., uchikomi-tsugi) were used, and care was taken to not damage its characteristics as a cultural asset

Upcoming schedule (based on official announcements)

• Tours of the inside of the castle tower (open to the public on the temporary castle tower base): Until Sunday, November 23, 2025 (national holiday)
• Returning the castle tower to its original base: July to November 2026
• Earthquake reinforcement and preservation repair of the castle tower: Until 2023
• Planned reopening of the castle tower interior: After 2032
  (Source: Hirosaki Park Management Office / Hirosaki City )

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Important points to keep in mind when visiting

When you visit the site, we will organize the points that will help you realize, ``Ah, these are traces of the Hikiya.''

1. Comparing the location of the temporary castle tower base and the distance it was moved
   According to official documents, the current location of the castle tower was moved approximately 70 meters northwest from the original castle tower base. Let's compare it with the "original location" on the information boards and exhibition maps.
2. Searching for repair marks in the stone wall "Harami"
   Some of the stones on the east side of the stone wall have been rearranged for repairs, and numbered tags and information boards have been installed. Looking closely, there are some places where the way the stones are stacked is subtly different from other sections.
3. Best photo spot:
   During cherry blossom season (e.g. late April to early May), a popular composition is the castle tower and Mt. Iwaki after moving. We also recommend the atmospheric lighting of the castle tower and stone walls at dusk.
4. Please note when visiting:
   Parts of the Honmaru may be off-limits during repairs. Please check the official website for the latest information.
5. Panels explaining the technology and exhibits
   Inside the castle and in the nearby museum, there are models and panels on display that show the mechanisms of the Hikiya (jacks, carts, rails), making it well worth seeing for anyone interested in the technology.

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A "moving castle" where culture, tourism, and preservation intersect

The Hirosaki Castle relocation project is not just about moving a building. It is about reusing the castle, a cultural asset, as a local tourist resource, and by making the physical task of repairs visible, it has been elevated into a social project that involves local residents and tourists

By adopting an open construction method, we were able to break down the image of "repair = no entry" and instead transform it into repair that can be observed

Additionally, the stone walls are engraved with a history of alterations made to the castle from the time it was built up until the Genroku period, as well as details of repairs made during the Meiji and Showa periods. Another fascinating feature is that by looking at the stones, you can determine in what era the castle was altered

Traditionally, Hirosaki Castle was visited primarily to enjoy the scenery of cherry blossoms and the castle, but with the relocation of the castle tower, the reasons for visiting have diversified, including those interested in construction and repair techniques, history buffs who want to understand the structure of the castle and stone walls, and tourists who want to see the repair site open to the public

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The legacy of history seen through the "moving castle"

The current Hirosaki Castle tower is not in its final form, but rather is in the process of being passed on to future generations. The fact that the repair process is open to the public and records of the changes are kept is itself what makes the castle valuable

Hirosaki Castle is not just something that has been "left behind," but a cultural asset that is constantly being protected. Come and experience its ongoing history on-site

Hirosaki Castle＜Information＞

• Name: Hirosaki Castle
• Address: 1-1-1 Shimoshiroganecho, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, 036-8356 (inside Hirosaki Park)
• Phone number: 0172-33-8739
• Official URL: Hirosaki Park Official Website

Google Map

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Source

• Hirosaki City | Hirosaki Castle Honmaru Stone Wall Repair Project
• Hirosaki Park Official "About Touring the Inside of Hirosaki Castle Tower"
• Hirosaki Tourism and Convention Association | "Main Castle Stone Wall Repair"
• Hirosaki City (PDF) "Hirosaki Castle Tower to be moved approximately 70 meters (publicity materials)"
• Hirosaki City (PDF) "Finally moving! Hirosaki Castle 8/1 (Hirosaki Public Relations)"
• Hirosaki City (PDF) "Honmaru Excavation Survey Summary Report I (2016)"

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