Sunday, 22 March 2026, was a sad day for the city of Hiroshima, as the Hiroshima Castle keep had closed its doors to the public after 68 years. The iconic castle structure has been an attraction for locals and international tourists alike.

After the original 1589 castle structure was designated as a site of former national significance in 1931, but later destroyed during the bombing of Hiroshima in 1945, located only 1 kilometre from the epicentre. Much like the rest of Hiroshima, the castle was decimated by the blast of the Atomic bomb. The castle seen today was constructed out of reineforced concrete in 1958

The castle keep closed its doors to the public on 22 March 2026, citing concerns with the ageing structure. It was an emotional day for the hundreds who flocked from all over the country and world to attend the closing ceremony and to visit the castle for the last time.

The future of the structure is unknown, as rebuilding it to modern standards is costly. Still, the city of Hiroshima is weighing options to rebuild the castle keep. A saving grace for the visitors, is that the castle itself will remain in-tact, at least for now, with just the interior of the castle being closed indefinitely to the public. The structure is not currently planned to be demolished, and the castle grounds can still be enjoyed.