Ruins to Remember

From a distance, it resembles a battleship: Gunkanjima, the island that inspired the villain’s lair in the 2012 James Bond movie “Skyfall.” Officially named Hashima Island, it’s accessible through guided tours from Nagasaki Port.

There is not too much to explore in reality, though. Since it was opened to tourism in 2009, visitors have been restricted to a fenced concrete walkway several hundred meters long. A full reopening is unlikely, as it would require serious investment in restoration and safety. The island has not been maintained for several decades, leaving its structures vulnerable to collapse. To prevent further damage, some areas have already been reinforced with concrete.

The history of the island is linked to a near underwater coal mine that was exploited from there in the pre-oil era. At its height, Gunkanjima was home to more than 5,000 miners, making it the most densely populated place in the world. In the 1970s, coal was increasingly replaced by oil. When the coal reserves were exhausted, the mine was closed and the island emptied of its inhabitants.

Google’s Street View technology provides extensive coverage of the site. It offers a glimpse inside the buildings, revealing remnants of the island’s former inhabitants, like discarded soda bottles and yesterday’s CRT television sets.