Deteriorating Japanese castles face huge costs and discussions about renovating them

This photo, taken on March 31, 2026, shows Okayama Castle in Okayama, western Japan. The castle underwent extensive restoration work between 2021 and 2022. (kyodo)

Osaka (Kyodo) – Many Japanese castles with wooden structures dating back to the feudal era were destroyed during World War II. Although it was later rebuilt using steel-reinforced concrete, it deteriorated over time and became more vulnerable to earthquakes.

Some local governments have closed the castle long cherished by locals and plan to either repair the concrete structures or restore the original wooden structures. But municipalities face problems of high costs, while the controversy over the two options is an obstacle.

The reconstructed five-story Hiroshima Castle in western Japan, believed to have been built by samurai warlord Mori Terumoto in the late 16th century, was closed in March because it was not sufficiently reinforced to withstand earthquakes. Before the closure, the historic symbolic building attracted many locals and tourists.

A 35-year-old visitor who came to the castle in Hiroshima with his family said: “Although there are different options, I would prefer that we could take a tour inside it” after the castle that once showcased the local samurai culture was renovated.

The original building was destroyed in the US atomic bombing in 1945 and was rebuilt using reinforced concrete in 1958. It served as a museum, but decades later the exterior walls began to collapse and there was a “leaky roof,” according to a city official. The 2019 financial survey identified the castle as being at risk of collapse in the event of a major earthquake.

The city is currently planning two options: repair the concrete structure or rebuild the wooden structure. During the discussions in which experts participated, some argued that “the castle rebuilt in wood could function almost permanently if it underwent repairs.”

But the path to achieving this reconstruction remains uncertain. It will take time and money, as the city estimates that construction of the wooden fort will not be completed before fiscal year 2049, with costs reaching 19.5 billion yen ($123 million).

Other reconstructed concrete castles, called “tenshō” in Japanese, are also facing the need for repairs as they reach the end of their useful life and the seismic reinforcements become weaker.

The concrete keep of Nagoya Castle has been closed since 2018. Nagoya City plans to recreate the original 17th-century wooden structure by demolishing the tower built in 1959. But reconstruction has not yet begun due to controversy over the city’s plan not to install elevators that could damage the columns and beams.

Discussions are underway in the western city of Wakayama about whether to renovate the concrete tower of Wakayama Castle or recreate the medieval wooden structure that was destroyed in an air raid during the war. The 1958 concrete barrier remains open, with additional safety measures implemented.

Meanwhile, the city of Okayama in western Japan, which chose to renovate the concrete fortress of Okayama Castle and carried out major repair work between 2021 and 2022, saw visitor numbers increase by about 100,000 visitors.

The renovation included improving earthquake resistance, creating facilities for the disabled and the elderly, as well as enhancing immersive exhibits and video guidance. Costs, including costs for other facilities at the castle, amounted to 1.8 billion yen, according to the city.

A city official said, “The castle tower is a symbol of the city. Its disappearance, even temporarily, during reconstruction was never an option.”

“Although rebuilding the structure in wood is very expensive, it allows visitors to get a better sense of what the original site looked like, enhancing the intrinsic value of the historical monument,” said Yoshihiro Senda, a castle archaeologist and professor at Nagoya City University.

Regarding the costs and how the castles will be used in the future, Senda added: “It is necessary to provide comprehensive explanations to the public, in cases of reconstruction or renovation.”

(Written by Yu Nishimura)

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