Some 1,000 people helped tow the 400-tonne keep of Hirosaki Castle, one of Japan’s famous tourist attractions in Aomori Prefecture, on Aug. 23, moving it 109cm closer to its original position after it was relocated 11 years ago.
The keep – referring to a castle’s main tower or central stronghold — is a national historical treasure in the city of the same name, and was moved in 2015 to allow repairs to the stone walls supporting it, Kyodo News reported.
It is expected to be moved 78 meters and back to its original position by the end of this year, Japan's Mainichi newspaper repoted.
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Japan’s Hirosaki Castle. Photo courtesy of Hirosaki Park |
The 1,000 people divided into groups and pulled a cart carrying the tower with ropes.
Built in 1611 within Hirosaki Park, the castle is home to the Tohoku region’s only original Edo-period castle keep.
It attracts millions of tourists for its feudal architecture and world-famous cherry blossoms.