University of Tokyo’s Iconic Red Gate Closed for Seismic Repairs, Set to Reopen in Autumn 2027

The University of Tokyo’s famous Red Gate, a designated Japanese national important cultural property, is being reinforced after years of closure over its inadequate earthquake resistance. The university expects to open it again in autumn 2027, when the gate marks 200 years since its construction.

The gate has stood in Tokyo’s Bunkyo Ward since the Edo period, when the Kaga domain built it as a palace gate for the marriage of a shogun’s daughter. The Maeda family later donated it to the University of Tokyo, where it became one of the institution’s best-known landmarks.

The large-scale renovation began in 2025. To preserve the historic structure while improving its safety, the work includes reducing the weight of the roof and installing counterweights to prevent it from lifting during an earthquake. Shimizu Corporation is handling the construction, and the project aims to raise 1 billion yen through a foundation.

The university recently held a special site visit to show the public how the work is progressing. Graduates who never passed through the gate as students, along with nearby residents, entered the scaffolding-covered construction site wearing helmets. They viewed the columns and beams being reinforced and examined the roof structure after the tiles were removed.

The old tiles are being reused after weight-reduction work. Some still bear the Maeda family crest and are temporarily stored on the scaffolding. The university says it will continue to disclose progress through site visits and updates on the reopening plan as it prepares to open the Red Gate again in 2027.