Hashima Island

What it is

• A former undersea coal mine that flourished from the Meiji to Showa eras
• Commonly known as Gunkanjima or Battleship Island due to its unique shape
• A UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site registered in 2015
• An uninhabited island since the closure of the mine in 1974

What to see

• The first reinforced concrete high-rise apartment building constructed in Japan
• Remnants of a complete urban infrastructure including schools and hospitals
• The results of three major land reclamation projects that expanded the island
• Specific areas of the abandoned city opened to tourists since 2009

Notes written by Japan Gems from facts in Japanese Wikipedia.