Japan Castle To Get Outdoor Elevator

Kokura Castle in Kitakyushu, Japan, is set to have an outdoor elevator installed, connecting visitors to the keep, The Japan News reports. To reach the first floor of the keep, which sits atop stone walls, visitors must climb two flights of stairs. Motorized stairlifts have been installed, but they are difficult to use. The city has been looking into installing an outdoor elevator since fiscal 2020. Construction is scheduled to begin after the new year with completion expected in fiscal 2026. Full-scale construction of Kokura Castle began under Hosokawa Tadaoki in 1602 and reportedly took seven years to complete. A fire destroyed the castle in 1837, and it was rebuilt with reinforced concrete in 1959. In 2019, as part of renovations, an elevator was installed inside the keep, connecting the first floor to the fifth. The castle drew approximately 300,000 visitors last fiscal year.