Gunkanjima
Gunkanjima, officially Hashima Island, is an abandoned former coal mining island whose dense concrete apartment blocks, built to house thousands of miners and their families, gave it a silhouette resembling a battleship (hence the nickname, meaning 'battleship island'). Mining ceased in 1974 and the island was abandoned virtually overnight, leaving the crumbling buildings as an eerie time capsule, later used as a filming location for the James Bond movie Skyfall and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its role in Japan's industrialization.
Access is only via guided boat tours, and even then, only a limited walking area is open due to the structural danger of the deteriorating buildings; landings are frequently canceled due to rough seas, so it's worth having a flexible schedule if this is a priority.
Gunkanjima FAQs
No, only a small, controlled walking path is open to tour groups due to the structural danger of the crumbling buildings; you view most of the island from a distance.
Rough seas around the island frequently prevent boats from docking safely; cancellations are common enough that it's worth building flexibility into your schedule.
The island inspired the abandoned base setting in Skyfall, though the actual interior scenes were filmed on a set, not on Gunkanjima itself.
Typically half a day including the boat ride there and back and time on the island.
Several operators run tours from Nagasaki Port; booking in advance is recommended, especially in peak season.
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