If you're looking for something genuinely unique to experience during a trip to Japan, Hirosaki Castle in Aomori is about to offer a rare glimpse of living history. From August 21 to 28, visitors can watch the castle's historic keep being pulled back to its original position, 111 years after it was last moved.
The Hirosaki Castle keep was relocated about 70 meters in 2015 so that its stone walls could undergo extensive repairs. Now that the work is complete, the keep is finally returning to its original location. It is one of just 12 surviving castle towers in Japan, making the relocation a particularly special event for history and architecture enthusiasts.
The main relocation activities will take place on August 22 and 23, with visitors able to watch the keep being pulled back up close. There will also be special tours of the inner moat, traditional Japanese boat rides, a mystery-solving quiz rally and a water park around Hirosaki Park.
The event begins with an opening ceremony on August 21, followed by a nighttime show featuring projection mapping, castle illumination, a drone show, and fireworks. From August 24 to 28, visitors can also take photos at a special spot designed to make it look as though they are helping pull the castle with a rope.
For travelers, this is a chance to see something that goes far beyond simply visiting a Japanese castle. You can actually watch an important piece of Japan's architectural heritage move, while exploring Hirosaki's history and culture at the same time.
