There are many recognised mysteries of the world such as Stonehenge, the Mayan civilisation, the Easter Island statues, the Loch Ness Monster, crop circles and more. One of the lesser-known mysteries though is a small island off Nagasaki called Gunkanjima or ‘Battleship Island’. The island also provides the latest James Bond film, “Skyfall” with a stunning location for Daniel Craig to do his best for Britain.
This 480m x 150m island was home to approximately 5000 people up until 1974 which is when the island and the Mitsubishi owned coal mines that brought people there, were suddenly abandoned…by everyone. The island has been out of bounds since 1974 but in 2009 a boat dock was added allowing paying tourists to get near the island for a glance at the heavily built up island. However, a ‘friend of IJT’ (who shall remain nameless) hired a fisherman to travel to the island in the early hours of the morning to see the island for themselves – true James Bond style.
The intrepid traveller (we shall call them Bond), snapped some sneaky pics from the hospital, the pachinko parlour, onsen and school. Bond also visited apartments which still had washing in sinks, kids toys on the floor and even a bottle of sake with cups lined up ready for pouring in one. It was as though people had left the island in a hurry and there is no indication as to why. Since the adventure, Bond has been told that such actions would have warranted deportation if caught. People in Nagasaki are seemingly uninterested about answering questions on the subject or are perhaps a little cagey.
Why did people leave the island in such a rush?
Why have people not been allowed to visit the island?
Why is the island still standing and the buildings not demolished?
These days you can visit the island which is approximately a 50 minute boat ride from Nagasaki. People are allowed to visit the island for about 45 minutes, but exploration of the island is strictly prohibited because of the dangers provided by the typhoon torn buildings….but is that the real reason??……
Filed under: Culture, Opinion, Sightseeing, Tours, Travel, Travel Advice Tagged: | 'Japan travel', Battleship island, Culture, Gunkanjim, InsideJapan Tours, James Bond, Japan, Japan trip, Japanese culture, Nasaki, Secret island, Skyfall
What a fantastic post! I’d love to explore a place like that.
Your next mission Haikugirl, should you choose to accept….
I’ve been to the island (on one of the organised tours) and you are allowed to walk around, but only in carefully restricted zones, not amongst or inside the buildings themselves
Great post. I would like to visit the island after watching Skyfall as well
. The reason they give is a bit vague as you questioned!
I think it should 10 Abandoned Ghost Towns in the world. Very insteresting place.
You can participate in Gunkanjima island tour from the Nagasaki harbor in Japan.
I visited Gunkanjima island on tour on December 29, 2012.
Please see pictures of Gunkanjima island on my site below.
http://nobuneko.com/blog/archives/2012/12/gunkanjima_concierge.html