Rotating teams used an ancient technique known as hikiya, in which buildings are placed on rollers or rails and moved intact. The technique is used to preserve historic Japanese buildings that might otherwise be damaged or destroyed.
"We had about 8,000 applications for the 1,800 slots over the last two days, roughly four times oversubscribed, so not everyone could participate," Kensuke Hayasaka, head of the parks and green spaces division in Hirosaki City, told The Guardian.
"Not only from the city, but from across Japan and overseas; a fair number from Southeast Asia, Europe and North America."
Pulling the castle keep by hand will continue through the end of August, with about 4,100 people scheduled to move it a total of more than 16 feet, Samurai era in 1868 or were destroyed during World War II.