Hirosaki Castle Tenshukaku (towing back the castle tower) event to be held from August 21, 2026 Event name to be publicly solicited and tax payments to be made Call for participants to experience the towing back of the castle tower

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Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, will move the Hirosaki Castle Keep, which has been moved for stone wall repairs, to the keep's base, and will hold the "Hirosaki Castle Keep Pulling Back Event" from Friday, August 21 to Friday, August 28, 2026. In addition, we are also inviting people who would like to participate in the "towing back the castle tower" from August 22 (Sat.) to August 26 (Wed.), 2026, as a special offer in addition to the tax return of the hometown tax.

This will be the first time in 111 years since 1915 (Taisho 4) that the towing back of the castle tower will take place. Please come and witness this historic moment that will never be seen again.

Hirosaki Castle Tenshukaku Hikika Experience (2015)

■Hirosaki Castle Keep Towing Back Event Period

Friday, August 21 - Friday, August 28, 2026

■Venue

Hirosaki Park

■Special website

https://www.city.hirosaki.aomori.jp/ishigaki/hikimodoshi-top.html

Event Summary

The decision will be made after a resolution at the first regular meeting of the Hirosaki City Council in 2026.

The festival will be held on the eve of the festival.

Ceremony, projection mapping of the castle tower, drone show, and lighting up of the castle tower will be held as a special show in the Honmaru.

Date: Friday, August 21, 2026

Various events

A variety of hands-on programs will be held throughout Hirosaki Park. In addition to historical and cultural experiences, visitors can also enjoy gourmet food.

<Programs

Tour of the inner moat

Japanese boat ride at West Moat

Canoeing at the moat in the middle of the moat

Riddle solving quiz rally

Tsugaru-nuri sharpening experience

Bamboo basket making, demonstration and sales

Apple juice sales

Shinomaru Water Park (water playground)

All Japan Tug-of-War for Hirosaki Castle

Stalls in the Ninomaru and Yonomaru areas

Projection mapping of the castle tower

Date：August 22 (Sat.) and 23 (Sun.), 2026

Pulling back the castle tower

Visitors will be able to experience pulling the castle tower, which weighs approximately 400 tons, back and forth on a rope.

Date：August 22 (Sat) to 26 (Wed), 2026

Honmaru Light-up

Date：August 22 (Sat.) - 28 (Fri.), 2026

Special opening of a photo spot for pulling the castle tower back to the ground

A spot will be set up in front of the castle tower where visitors can take photos as if they are pulling a rope to pull the tower back.

Date：August 24 (Mon.) to 28 (Fri.), 2026

Public Call for Event Name

In order to make the event more widely known throughout Japan and to further promote the event, we will publicly solicit names for the event. The winner will be invited to the ceremony and will be invited to participate in the pulling back of the castle tower.

Application period: Friday, February 13, 2026 - Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Eligibility ： Residents of Japan

Note: Only one entry per person.

　　　　　　　 Entries that use another person's trademark or an existing name that is associated with a specific organization or company are not accepted.

　　　　　　　 There is no limit to the number of characters, but environment-dependent characters may not be used.

Application form: https://242f7836.form.kintoneapp.com/public/bcef62db3b8b1e338f74d95e97ba23cee4669ceb431e63ee30267a93257a77b9

Call for participants in the pull-back of the castle tower

We are looking for participants from all over Japan to take part in this valuable experience of pulling the castle tower weighing approximately 400 tons on a rope.

Details will be announced on the website as soon as they are determined.

<Precautions

For safety reasons, children under elementary school age (including baby strollers) are not allowed to participate.

Wheelchair users may participate only if they are able to secure their own safety.

The event will be held rain or shine.

Participants are responsible for transportation to the event site and accommodation expenses.

About the "Tenshukaku Hikobashi (Pulling back the castle tower)" experience for Furusato tax donors only

In addition to the tax return gift, we will be accepting applications for the "Hirosaki Castle Tenshuki-yuki (pulling back the castle tower) Experience" as a special offer.

Eligible applicants: Those who have paid their hometown tax in Hirosaki City from February 13 (Fri.) to May 24 (Sun.), 2026.

　　　　　　　 Those who donate (deposit) more than 10,000 yen to "Ishigaki Fubon Support Course" of Hirosaki City Furusato Tax Payment from February 13 (Fri.) to May 24 (Sun.), 2026.

Application period: February 13 (Fri.) - May 29 (Fri.), 2026

Number of applicants: 300

　　　　　　　 Up to 2 persons, including the donor, may apply.

　　　　　　　 If there are too many applications, a drawing will be held.

Application form: https://apply.e-tumo.jp/city-hirosaki-aomori-u/offer/offerList_detail?tempSeq=20490

Application Form 2D Code

Event Date : Saturday, August 22, 2026 in the afternoon

　　　　　　　　August 23 (Sunday) morning

　　　　　　　　Monday, August 24, morning

　　　　　　　　Tuesday, August 25, morning

　　　　　　　　August 26 (Wed.) a.m.

Notification of decision: Late June 2026 (tentative) *Only the winners will be notified.