Gunkanjima, Japan

From series “The Most Impressive Abandoned Cities on the Planet”

12 out of 13 - Grand-Bassam, Côte d'Ivoire

Year: 1916.

Gunkanjima is a Japanese abandoned city-island with rich industrial past, known for its undersea coal mines. In 1890 substantial deposits of coal were discovered on the seabed near to the island. In the same year Mitsubishi company purchased the island and began the resource development. In 1916 the first house for the workers was built there. Later Gunkanjima housed thousands of workers in its heyday.

The island reached a peak population of 5259 in the middle of the 20th century. In the early 60s of the last century coal mining declined and in 1974 the last mine was closed. More than 30 high-rise apartment buildings once occupied by workers and families survived so far.

The tiny island has had several dozen shops, a school and a hospital. There has been even a cemetery in the city. Several decades Hashima Island commonly called Gunkanjima was the most densely populated place in the world. Currently entering the territory is illegal but for persistent photographers and tourists no taboos exist. Upon the initiative of local authorities Gunkanjima has been proposed to the UNESCO World Heritage list, but this request received no response.

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Gunkanjima - interactive map

Useful staff nearby

ATM bankomat: 'Shinwa Bank' located in 36 km (

check the route on the map).

Fuel station: 'Eneos Gaiko SS' in 12 km

Supermarket: 'Daiei Nagasaki Branch' in 17 km

Railway station: 'Dejima Station' in 17 km

Nearest airports:
» Kumamoto Airport KMJ - in 107 km

» Fukuoka Airport FUK - in 126 km

» Kita Kyushu Airport KKJ - in 175 km

» Oita Airport OIT - in 208 km

» Gimhae Airport PUS - in 292 km

Deadlier than roller coasters. Most Dangerous and Lethal Roads

Science fiction. The Greatest Tunnels in the World

Cities nearby

» Guide to Nagasaki

» Cuisine & restaurants

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» Culture & art

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» Hotels in Nagasaki

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» Guide to Fukuoka

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» Guide to Busan

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Best hotels near Gunkanjima

Nagasaki Hotel Seifu

Located in 17 km from Gunkanjima
Route on the map:

Rooms: 100

Air-conditioned rooms have an interior in neutral colours, and come with a seating area, an LCD TV and a fridge. All rooms come with an attached … More: photo, rates and booking

Nagasaki Orion Hotel

Located in 18 km from Gunkanjima
Route on the map:

Rooms: 53

Hotel Orion Nagasaki is a 6-minute drive from the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, an 8-minute drive from Glover Garden and a 10-minute drive from the … More: photo, rates and booking

Nagasaki International Hostel Akari

Located in 19 km from Gunkanjima
Route on the map:

Rooms: 10

Guest can choose to stay in private rooms with an en suite bathroom or in dormitory-style rooms with bunk beds. Guests in the dorm room share … More: photo, rates and booking

Amakusa West Coast Backpackers Fu-raibou

Located in 34 km from Gunkanjima
Route on the map:

Rooms: 2

Guests sleep on bunk beds and share a room between 6 to 10 persons. Each comes with sea views and air conditioning/heating facilities. Bathrooms and … More: photo, rates and booking

Nearest unique sightseeing spots to visit

17 km - Confucius Shrine

From the series 'The Surviving Artifacts of the Confucian Civilization'

Several monuments of the Confucian culture have survived in Japan. One of them can be seen in the city of Nagasaki. That's the Confucius Shrine. The building, which visitors can admire today, was built in 1893. The mausoleum is located in the place where the world's …

121 km - Aso Minami Route

From the series 'The Most Dangerous Railroads in the World'

The Minamiaso railway crossing lies in Japan. It can be easilly called the most feared and dangerous in the world. Part of the rail lines passes across the high iron bridge whose fragile structure seems totally unreliable at first sight. The bridge is rather narrow and …

123 km - ACROS Park

From the series 'Top 16 Most Unusual and Original Parks and Gardens'

In 1995, the opening of one of the most spectacular urban parks of the planet called ACROS took place in Fukuoka. The history of the foundation of this unique park is very amazing. In 90s, the city authorities expressed a need to build a new office building. They …

138 km - Aira Volcano

From the series 'Sleeping Super-Volcanoes Capable of Destroying Whole Regions'

Kyushu Island has a huge Aira Volcano. Its length is 23 kilometres and 17 kilometres width. According to the scientists’ research, this caldera has appeared about 22 000 years ago after a tremendous volcano explosion. Even now the volcano is quite dangerous for the …

144 km - Sakurajima Volcano

From the series 'Volcanoes and Traps That Changed the Face of the Planet'

One of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world is in Japan. Sakurajima volcano is constantly active since 1955. Researchers believe that its eruption may be the most extensive in the history. This disaster can begin at any time. One of the last eruptions happened in …

178 km - Seagaia Ocean Dome

From the series 'The Greatest and Fanciest Water Parks'

One of the most enormous and spectacular water parks in the world is located in the Japanese city of Miyazaki; it's called Seagaia Ocean Dome. This title fully reflects the main feature of the water park. It is covered and, in fact, represents a huge metal dome with a …

Top destination around Gunkanjima - Nagasaki

The city is famous for the variety of modern scenic parks, and Glover Garden is among the most beautiful ones. The best landscape designers work on this garden. It is located near the coast and is literally buried in lush greenery. The park features many stone-paved paths and spacious viewing platforms offering stunning views of the city. This garden is quite old, so many historic structures and cozy national-style gazebos have been preserved on its territory.
A great place to relax on a hot day is Nagasaki Seaside Park. Besides interesting plants and landscape decorations, the park has a lot of beautiful fountains. You can also find many spacious grounds for outdoor activities and sports games, nice cycling and picnic areas. The park is quite large, so it is always easy to find a place for secluded relaxation here.

Vacationers with children who are lucky enough to visit Nagasaki during the cherry blossom season should spend a day in Tateyama Park. This is a fabulously beautiful place where you can admire flowering trees in an atmosphere of complete harmony. The park provides picnic sites and regular entertaining events and festivals.
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