Nagasaki

Gunkanjima, or Hashima Island, is an abandoned concrete city rising from the sea near Nagasaki. Once the most densely populated place on Earth, this UNESCO World Heritage Battleship Island is now a haunting ruin reachable only by guided boat tour. This first-timer guide covers how to reach Nagasaki, which tour to choose, costs in yen and dollars, the island coal-mining history, what you will see on the walkway, the best season to visit, and practical tips for weather-dependent landings.

Complete first-timer’s guide to visiting Hashima (Gunkanjima) Battleship Island, the UNESCO World Heritage abandoned coal-mining city 15 km off Nagasaki. Covers how to book a landing tour, what to expect on the boat and on the island, the layered history including forced labour, cost breakdown, the best months to go, and what else to do in Nagasaki around your visit.