Hashima Island
端島 (長崎県)
A full-day attraction built for families and repeat visitors.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons — click any image for the photographer and licence.
What this place is
Hashima Island (端島; or simply Hashima, as -shima is a Japanese suffix for 'island'), commonly called Gunkanjima (軍艦島; meaning 'Battleship Island'), is an abandoned island about 15 kilometres (8 nautical miles) from the centre of Nagasaki, Japan.It is one of 505 uninhabited islands in Nagasaki Prefecture.The island's most notable features are its abandoned concrete buildings, undisturbed except by nature, and the surrounding seawall.While the island is a symbol of the rapid industrialisation of Japan, it is also a reminder of Japanese war crimes as a site of forced labour prior to and during World War II.The 6.3-hectare (16-acre) island was known for its undersea coal mines, established in 1887, which operated during the industrialisation of Japan.The island reached a peak population of 5,259 in 1959.
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Why it is worth the trip
- Headline rides and shows that anchor the day, plus smaller attractions with much shorter waits.
- Themed areas designed as complete environments, right down to the food and the shop fronts.
- Seasonal overlays — summer water events, autumn Halloween, winter illumination — that change the whole park.
What you can do here
- Buy tickets online in advance and head to the furthest popular ride first, working back toward the entrance.
- Book timed-entry or express passes for the two or three attractions you care about most.
- Catch at least one parade or stage show; they are usually included in admission.
- Save the illumination or night show for the end — the park looks completely different after dark.
Getting there
We do not have step-by-step transit directions for this spot yet. Open the location on Google Maps for routes from where you are staying.
Good to know before you go
- Peak crowds are Japanese school holidays: late March–early April, Golden Week, mid-August.
- Bring your own water bottle and a light rain poncho; both are expensive inside.
- Popular restaurants require reservations made the moment the park opens.
Traveler reviews
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