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🇸🇬 Singapore /Culture & Society

Deteriorating Japan castles face high costs, debates over renovation

From The Straits Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Several Japanese castles, rebuilt with reinforced concrete after World War II, are deteriorating and vulnerable to earthquakes.
  • Local governments face high repair costs and debates over whether to renovate concrete structures or restore original wooden designs.
  • The closure of historic castle keeps, like Hiroshima Castle's, impacts local tourism and cultural heritage, with restoration timelines stretching decades and costs soaring.

Japanese castles, once rebuilt with steel-reinforced concrete after wartime destruction, are now crumbling. Many, like Hiroshima Castle, have closed due to earthquake safety concerns, disappointing locals and tourists who miss accessing the historic structures. The city of Hiroshima faces a dilemma: repair the existing concrete keep or undertake a costly, decades-long restoration of the original wooden design. This challenge is not unique to Hiroshima; Nagoya Castle's concrete keep has also been closed since 2018, with plans for a wooden reconstruction stalled by debates over modern amenities like elevators. Similarly, Wakayama Castle is weighing renovation against restoration. While some cities, like Okayama, have opted for concrete renovation and seen visitor increases, the future of many of these cherished landmarks remains uncertain as they grapple with high costs and differing visions for their preservation.

although there are various options, I would prefer it if we could take a tour inside

— a visitorcommenting on the closure of Hiroshima Castle's keep
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Straits Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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