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Gunkanjima

長崎県

4.3

Tourist Information of This Area

general.prefecture.

The island of Hashima, a World Cultural Heritage site, supported modern Japan.

Gunkanjima (Hashima Island), an abandoned island floating in the sea, was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2015! It flourished as an undersea coal mine from the Meiji era, and you can feel like you're in a different world with the construction of Japan's first high-rise reinforced concrete apartment complex.

Features & How to Enjoy

Classic HistoryCulture

Highlights

Point 1

Tour of a Historic High-Rise Apartment

Gunkanjima, or Battleship Island, flourished as a coal mine from 1870, when coal was discovered in the late Edo period, until it closed in 1974. Many historic buildings remain on the island, and it has been registered as a World Heritage Site as part of the "Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution." One of the most famous buildings is Japan's first high-rise apartment made of reinforced concrete. While visitors cannot enter the interior, just seeing the exterior, which has decayed over time, is impressive.

Point 2

Enjoy a Cruise Tour of Battleship Island

Currently, four cruise companies offer tours that allow you to land on Battleship Island, where you can cruise around the island's surrounding sea by boat and stroll along designated courses on the island. Among them, the "Battleship Island Landing Cruise" also stops at Takashima, where you can visit the Coal Museum and the world heritage site on Takashima, deepening your understanding of the history of Battleship Island. As some apartments on the island collapsed in 2020, there is a possibility that landing on the island may become impossible in the future, so early visits are recommended!

Point 3

Learn about Gunkanjima Digitally at the Museum

At the Gunkanjima Digital Museum, information about the history, culture, and architecture of Gunkanjima is introduced using digital technology. Visitors can learn about Gunkanjima through exhibits, videos, photos, and interactive content. Furthermore, it's possible to experience the buildings and scenery of Gunkanjima realistically through a virtual tour. Imagine the hustle and bustle of the former coal mine and people's lives.

Point 4

Observing Battleship Island with a Live Camera

Even if you can't land on Battleship Island, you can still see what it looks like with a live camera installed at the Nagasaki City Dinosaur Museum. Since you can see it in real time, you can enjoy different views depending on the weather and time of day. In addition, the live camera footage is also available on the Nagasaki Cable Media official YouTube channel "World Heritage Battleship Island," making it a useful reference and memory for your tour.

Point 5

Aim for Battleship Island with a Sea Kayak

At Takashima, located about 3km from Battleship Island, the group "Takashima LOVERS" offers sea kayaking experiences. You can enjoy the Takashima and Battleship Island area by sea kayak for 1-3 hours. In the beginner course, after getting used to handling the kayak in a beginner's lesson, you can go to the side of Battleship Island and enjoy the island and sea views. It's also nice to savor the view from the horizon as a memory of Battleship Island.

Point 6

Enjoy Souvenirs and Goods from Gunkanjima

One famous souvenir from Gunkanjima is the "Gunkanjima Coal Rusk" snack. It's a rusk that's made to resemble the coal from Gunkanjima, and it has a strong impact due to the use of bamboo charcoal to make it black. In addition, at the "Gunkanjima Digital Museum," you can also get face towels and T-shirts with Gunkanjima designs. Why not reflect on the history of Gunkanjima, which contributed greatly to Japan's modernization, while enjoying these souvenirs?

Access

About a 30-minute walk to the harbor in Nagasaki City

"Gunkanjima" is located about 18km southwest of Nagasaki Port in Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture. Currently, the only way to land on Gunkanjima is to participate in a cruising tour. The cruising plans offered by four companies, "Gunkanjima Concierge," "Yamasa Kaiun," "Seaman Shokai," and "Gunkanjima Landing Cruise," start from the departure point after checking in at the harbor in Nagasaki City. The check-in locations are all about a 2-30 minute walk from Nagasaki Station, and the cruising time varies from 2.5 to 3 hours and 20 minutes depending on the cruising tour company. Please check the operation information as it may be canceled depending on the weather and wave conditions.

Basic Information

Address

Hashima, Takashima-cho, Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture 851-1315

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