Hashima Island

Hashima Island, located in Nagasaki, Japan, is a small, remote island that has been turned into a ghost town. The island was once a thriving coal mining community and once had a population of over 5000 people. During its heyday, the island had many amenities including an elementary school, hospital, movie theatre and further evidence of the modernity of its residents, a large fishing industry. When petroleum replaced coal as the main source of energy in Japan, the mine was shut down and the residents left, leaving the island to the elements. Today, the island remains in the same state of abandonment, with crumbling buildings and rusting machinery. Hashima Island has become a popular tourist destination for those wanting to explore its haunting ruins. Access to the island requires booking a boat tour from the nearby port in Nagasaki.