This video covers a traveler’s long-anticipated visit to Gunkanjima, also known as Hashima Island, located off the coast of Nagasaki Prefecture. Commonly called Battleship Island due to its distinctive silhouette, Hashima is famous as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of Japan’s rapid industrialization in the early 20th century. The island was once a thriving undersea coal mining facility and home to thousands of residents, but has stood abandoned since the 1970s, leaving behind dramatic concrete ruins.

Before embarking, the creator expresses excitement and uncertainty over whether it will be possible to actually set foot on the island, a real possibility given the frequent closures due to sea conditions. Fortunately, the landing is successful, and the video shares vivid first-hand impressions of the crumbling infrastructure, silent apartment blocks, and industrial relics that now stand in stark contrast to their once-bustling history. The island’s atmosphere, with sweeping ocean views and weathered buildings, attracts both history enthusiasts and fans of abandoned architecture (haikyo) alike.

Gunkanjima’s story is woven with not only its industrial legacy but also with elements of popular culture—the creator mentions being inspired by the drama ‘Umi ni Nemuru Diamond’ after visiting, and advises those planning an excursion to explore related documentaries and personal testimonies by former residents for a deeper understanding. The video highlights how Hashima is one of several islands in this part of Nagasaki that flourished during the mining boom, and kindles the traveler’s curiosity to explore similar historic islands in the region in the future.

Known today for guided tours departing from Nagasaki Port, a visit to Hashima is a uniquely atmospheric experience—offering visitors a rare glimpse at the ruins, stories, and human legacy left behind on one of Japan’s most iconic abandoned islands.