The Haunted Japanese Island Where No One Lives And Even Visitors Dare Not Look Inside

Off the coast of Japan lies an eerie island that resembles a massive warship frozen in time. Known as Hashima Island, it is also called Gunkanjima or Battleship Island. Located around 15 kilometres from

Nagasaki, the small island now stands completely deserted. Once the most densely populated place on Earth, it is today silent and abandoned.

In 1959, more than 5,000 people lived on the island. However, in 1974, Hashima was abruptly evacuated, and no one has lived there since.

From Coal Discovery To Industrial Hub

Hashima’s story began in 1810, when coal was discovered beneath the seabed. In 1890, the Mitsubishi Corporation purchased the island and developed a deep-sea coal mine. To support the growing workforce, seawalls were constructed to expand the island’s land area, and tall concrete residential blocks were built.

Japan’s first high-rise concrete building was constructed here. At its peak, Hashima had a school, hospital, cinema, and even a swimming pool. Workers and their families lived together, creating a self-contained community.

Despite this, mining conditions were extremely dangerous, and accidents in the undersea tunnels were common.

World War II And A Dark Turn

The island’s most tragic chapter unfolded during World War II. Between 1930 and 1945, Japan forcibly brought thousands of Korean and Chinese labourers to Hashima and compelled them to work in brutal conditions.

The island earned grim nicknames such as ‘Hell Island’ and ‘Prison Island’. Historians estimate that more than 1,300 workers died due to accidents, exhaustion, malnutrition, and disease. Even after the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, labourers from Hashima were sent for relief work, where many were exposed to deadly radiation.

Sudden Abandonment In 1974

As Japan transitioned from coal to petroleum in the 1960s, the demand for coal declined sharply. The Hashima mine officially shut down in January 1974, and by April, all 5,000 residents had left the island almost overnight.

People departed in such haste that many personal belongings were left behind, some of which remain untouched to this day. For nearly 30 years, the island was completely closed to the public.

Rediscovered By The World

In 2000, photographs of Hashima’s decaying buildings began circulating online, capturing global attention. Its stark appearance inspired filmmakers, including scenes in the James Bond film Skyfall. The Thai horror movie Hashima Project and the South Korean film The Battleship Island were also based on its history, bringing renewed focus to its dark past.

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Since 2009, Hashima Island has been partially opened to tourists, though access is strictly limited and only allowed through guided tours. Many buildings are unstable and at risk of collapse.

In 2015, the island was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, South Korea objected, arguing that Japan had failed to adequately acknowledge the history of forced labour associated with the site.

A Haunted Island Today

Today, Hashima stands as a haunting reminder of industrial ambition and human suffering. Visitors encounter crumbling concrete blocks, rusted objects, and structures battered by natural disasters. Locals and tourists alike speak of ghostly presences, believed to be the spirits of workers who lost their lives there.

While visitors continue to arrive, fear often keeps them from venturing too far into the island’s shadowed interiors.