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Hashima Island, also known as Battleship Island, is a former coal mining island off Nagasaki, Japan. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist attraction, but also a site of forced labour and war crimes during World War II.
Gunkanjima is a nickname for Hashima, a small island that resembled a battleship due to its high population density and industrial buildings. Learn about its history, how to visit the island or its digital museum, and see photos of its ruins.
Learn about the history and heritage of Hashima, a former coal mining island that became a ghost town in 1974. Find out how to visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site by tour boat from Nagasaki Port.
Lying nine miles from mainland Nagasaki, Hashima—or Gunkanjima (Battleship Island) as it is more commonly known—is the most famous of Nagasaki's 505 uninhabited islands. Given the nickname for its battleship-like silhouette, the eerie island and its former coal mine are one of Japan's most unlikely tourist attractions.
- Nagasaki-shi, Nagasaki-ken
- Where Is Gunkanjima?
- What Happened on Hashima Island?
- Important Things to Know Before Visiting Battleship Island
- Tours to Hashima Island
- Getting to Nagasaki
- Make Sure You Have The Right Island
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Hashima Island (aka Gunkanjima) is located 12 miles (19 km) off the coast of Nagasaki. Nagasaki is located on the east coast of the island of Kyūshū, the southernmost of Japan’s four major islands.
As a world-class undersea mining operation, the island was once a symbol of Japan’s rapid industrialization. Mitsubishi bought the then uninhabited island in 1890, and soon it was transformed with modern buildings and conveniences. These included early examples of concrete apartment blocks and electric lighting. By the 1950s, the population had swe...
If you want to visit Hashima Island (aka Gunkanjima aka Battleship Island), here are some things to know beforehand.
Depending on the company, you might see tours listed for “Battleship Island”, “Abandoned Japanese Island, “Skyfall Island,” or “Ghost Island.” But when it comes to what you see on Hashima Island, all tours are the same. Only a small section of the island is open to visitors, and you’ll be joining a guided tour (with probably 15–30 other people) alo...
Visiting Gunkanjima requires first getting to Nagasaki, which is in Kyūshū. There are international flights to Nagasaki Airport from Shanghai and Hong Kong. Otherwise your only option is to come from elsewhere in Japan. Fortunately, Nagasaki is a major city served by frequent domestic flights, trains, and buses.
We’ve seen quite a few mis-spellings online for Hashima. The most common is “Nashima”. Presumably people are getting it confused with the famous art island of Naoshima, which believe us could not be more different. While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change. This post was first published in March, 2015. Last updat...
Gunkanjima is a former mining island near Nagasaki that became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a movie set. Learn about its history, how to visit it safely and what to expect from this guide.
Hashima Island, also known as Gunkanjima or Battleship Island, is a former coal mining island in Nagasaki, Japan. Read traveler reviews, see photos, and book tours to explore this historic and abandoned site.
Gunkanjima, also known as Hashima, is a World Heritage Site that was once a bustling metropolis with apartments, schools and shops. Now, you can visit this eerie island on a ferry tour from Nagasaki port and see its battleship-like silhouette.
