The most terrifying place in Japan!
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If a haunted house seems too clichéd, what do you think of an entire island? Hashima Island is located in Japan and was originally a mining colony. Now she lies there, abandoned, at the mercy of ghost stories. Its imposing buildings, totally deserted, are its main attraction and have served as a scary scenery for films. If you want to know more, go with us to this intriguing island!
Name
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The island of Hashima is also known as Gunkanjima, which means "battleship island" in French.
Nagasaki
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It is part of the 505 uninhabited islands of Nagasaki province and is about 15 km from the town of Nagasaki.
Originally
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The island was inhabited only from 1887 to 1874 and was used mainly for mining.
Owners
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Mitsubishi bought the island to extract coal from its underwater mines.
First concrete building
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The first building, and the largest building on the island, is made of concrete. It was an apartment bar, erected in 1916 to accommodate workers working on the island.
Maximum population
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When it was inhabited, the largest population peak recorded reached 5,259 people in 1958.
Closing
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In Japan, oil replaced coal in the 1960s, ending the island's activities in 1974.
Characteristics
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From the air, the island looks like an abandoned warship.
What she served
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The island had a hospital, two schools, a temple, a few shops and restaurants, and other institutions that are now in ruins.
Access
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Following its evacuation in 1974, the island became accessible only 25 years later, in 1999.
World Heritage Ranking
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In 2009, a request was made to UNESCO to obtain the classification of the World Heritage site.
Controversial
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In 2015, the decision to validate this ranking created controversy. In the past, many South Korean workers have indeed suffered at the hands of the Japanese who forced them to work on the island, in order to extract its coal.
Projects dropped in the water
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For years, it was planned to convert the island into a huge garbage dump. Fortunately, these projects fell through the water.
Reopening
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The island was opened to the public in 2009.
No unaccompanied visit
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The visits of the island are carried out exclusively with a guide. And unless you are an accredited journalist or photographer, access to the island will be restricted.
Access
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Two ways are available to access the island: you can either take a boat that goes around, or go there directly by docking in Hashima.
Not suitable for everyone
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The boat ride can be a little hectic for some people. The swell around the island can sometimes be intense, depending on weather conditions.
Only 60 minutes
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A guided tour of the island only takes sixty minutes. The short time is due to the dilapidation of the island. The Japanese government, aware of its dilapidation, is wary of the risk of landslide or incident.
Popularity
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The island gained international notoriety when Google Street View released images of the island in 2013.
Stories
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Many people believe that the island is haunted and that's what makes it so popular.
Strange sounds
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People reported hearing strange sounds and even whispers as they visited the premises.
Antiquated
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The pitiful state of its infrastructure is what gives this place its anguishing reputation. It is also what makes it so attractive to tourists, eager to visit a haunted place.
Cinema
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If you saw "Skyfall" in 2012, then you may recognize some parts of the island. She has been the scene of several scenes.
Adaptation
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The island has also been highlighted in the film adaptation of the animated series "The Attack of the Titans".
Ghost town
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And you? Would you like to visit this ghost island lost in the middle of the seas?
