Hashima is an island off Kyuushuu and is also known as Gunkanjima or “Battleship Island”. It was in use from 1887 to 1974 as a coal mining facility. When the coal mining industry collapsed, it was abandoned just as it was and fell into ruins. Now it’s famous for looking a bit like a battleship and its post-apocalyptic landscape.
From April 2009, the general public has had the opportunity to land in certain restricted areas of the island. You are advised to book in advance because these cruises fill up quickly around popular holiday times. If you want to walk on the island, you’ll want the Jouriku Course (上陸コース), which costs 4000 yen for one adult. Bear in mind that all English signs at the harbour (few though they be) make no mention of the names Gunkanjima or Hashima, but refer only to the “Battleship Island Cruise”.
Book through the official tour site here.
I was unable to land on the island, but I was still able to go around it on the regular cruise and I loved it. The photographs show the view from the boat as it started off at Dejima Wharf, went through Nagasaki Harbour and past Soroban Docks before arriving at Hashima. Worth mentioning is that you travel on a fairly small boat out into the open sea, so don’t expect a smooth trip.
Finally, remember your sunscreen. I wish I had.
Wow nice shots. I was almost going to go there on my recent summer vacation but in the end it would have cost too much. I saw this island in the tour book and really wanted to see it, a great photo op anyways.
Thanks!
I recommend it, but it’s quite a trip out of the way if you’re going by Shinkansen. I believe there are other ruins on Honshuu though. Nagasaki in general really is beautiful and has lots of dragonflies floating about the place. It does feel magical.
Wow – how odd to think of a city just abandoned like that…
The part in the pictures looks pretty modern, too. Too bad you weren’t able to take the tour that walks around.
The lighthouse is certainly a fairly new addition, but I would guess the blocks of flats were one of the last things built that were intended for use by the island’s inhabitants.
There definitely are lots of ruins in honshu. Little can compare to an entire abandoned island, but around the Tohoku area there are lots of ghost towns. Around Kanto there’s lots of everything, abandoned apartments, hotels, love hotels, soaplands, military bases, etc.. If interested- see my site for over 50 locations.
We have a tiny ruin down the road near us. Used to be a shop, but not worth travelling for! :)
Great site! Would love to know if/how you’ve edited some of your photos, particularly Osarizawa mine. How do you find those kind of places?
[...] Spam From Japan: The Ruins of Gunkanjima [...]
wow the photos are great, there’s something very creepy and haunting about the place, i’d love to be able to visit it! :)
I recommend it. It’s definitely better than climbing Mt Fuji (which I found out today!).