Gunkanjima: Nagasaki's Abandoned Battleship Island
How to visit Gunkanjima (Hashima), the ghostly coal mining island off Nagasaki: landing tours, what you see, weather rules and history.
Quick answer
- What it is: an abandoned coal mining island about 15 km from Nagasaki, officially called Hashima.
- Famous for: its battleship shape and crumbling concrete apartment blocks.
- Status: part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution.
- Visiting: only on licensed boat tours, which land when sea conditions allow.
- Time needed: around 2.5 to 3 hours for a tour.
From the sea, Gunkanjima looks like a warship, its high walls and grey towers rising from the waves. Up close it is a ghost town, where concrete apartments have stood empty since the last miners left in 1974.
Why Gunkanjima is a wonder
Coal was mined under the sea here from 1890 until 1974. To house the workers, the island was expanded with sea walls and filled with some of Japan's earliest concrete apartment buildings.
At its peak in 1960, more than 5,000 people lived on an island just a few hundred metres long, one of the highest population densities ever recorded.
Life on the island
The island had schools, shops, a hospital, a cinema and rooftop gardens. Residents rarely needed to leave.
Its history also includes hard and dangerous labour, including by workers from Korea and China during the war years. Many guides and museums now cover this side of the story.
Tour at a glance
| Part | What you see | Time (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Boat trip out | The Nagasaki harbour and coastline | 40 minutes |
| Landing | Walkways past ruined mine buildings and apartments | 45 minutes |
| Circling the island | The classic battleship view from the sea | 15 minutes |
| Return | Views of shipyards and the Nagasaki skyline | 40 minutes |
| Gunkanjima Digital Museum | Exhibits about island life in Nagasaki city | 1 hour |
When to go
- Spring and autumn: calmer seas and the best chance of landing.
- Summer: hot, and typhoons can cancel tours.
- Winter: rougher seas and more cancelled landings.
- Morning tours: often calmer than afternoon sailings.
Our tip: Book a morning tour early in your Nagasaki stay. If the landing is cancelled because of the sea, you will still have time to try again.
Getting there
- To Nagasaki: the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen and limited express trains link Nagasaki with Fukuoka in under 2 hours.
- Tour boats: several licensed operators run tours from piers around Nagasaki Port.
- Booking: reserve in advance, especially at weekends and holidays.
Tour rules
- Landing depends on Nagasaki City's safety rules, and it can be cancelled even when the weather looks calm.
- Stay on the walkways. The ruined buildings are not safe to enter.
- Wear flat shoes. Umbrellas and parasols are not allowed on the island.
- There are no toilets, shops or drinks on the island.
Frequently asked questions
Can you walk around Gunkanjima?
Only on the walkways of a licensed landing tour. Most of the island is off limits for safety.
When did people leave Gunkanjima?
The coal mine closed in 1974, and the island was abandoned soon after.
What if the landing is cancelled?
Tours usually circle the island instead, and some operators offer a partial refund.
Why is it called Battleship Island?
Its sea walls and tall buildings make it look like a warship from the sea.
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We check this guide regularly. Prices, hours and rules in Japan can change, so confirm with the official sources below before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.