Hashima Island

Overview

Hashima Island, in Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture, is commonly known as Gunkanjima, meaning "Battleship Island." It prospered from undersea coal mines from the Meiji through the Shōwa era and covers about 6.3 hectares. Since the mine closed, the island has been uninhabited.

Highlights

• ●The distinctive silhouette resembling a warship that gave rise to the nickname "Battleship Island"
• ●A dense cluster of modern architecture, including what is regarded as Japan's first reinforced-concrete high-rise apartment block
• ●Historical value as an industrial heritage site developed around undersea coal mining
• ●The surrounding seawall and concrete buildings gradually being reclaimed by nature

History

Developed around undersea coal mines from the Meiji through the Shōwa era, the island reached a peak population of 5,259 in 1959, giving it an exceptionally high population density. In 1974 the mine closed and the residents departed, leaving the island uninhabited. In 2015 the Hashima coal mine was inscribed as part of the UNESCO World Heritage "Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining."

Map

32.6278, 129.7383 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Board the tour boat at the departure point in central Nagasaki
2. 2View the full profile of the island from the sea during the crossing
3. 3After landing, follow the designated viewing areas among the modern buildings
4. 4Observe the industrial heritage, such as the seawall and former apartment blocks, then return by boat

Did you know?

💡 The name was formerly also written with the characters for "Hashima" (羽島).

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