Gunkanjima (Warship Island)
Hashi Island, nicknamed “Warship Island,” is located on the open sea 19 kilometers southwest of the Port of Nagasaki. Since Mitsubishi became the owners of the island in 1890, it served as the base for an undersea coalfield. The island has a 10-meter high breakwater and a variety of closely built structures, including steel-reinforced high-rise apartments, that give it the appearance of a marine fortification similar to the battleship Tosa. As a result, it came to be known as “Warship Island.” The coalmine, however, was closed in January 1974 due to the depletion of the coal, and the island that once housed more than five thousand people at its peak was left unpopulated. The group of buildings fell into ruin and the island remains in a desolate state. While landing is prohibited, those interested in seeing Warship Island up close can take a cruise to the island. Cruises are available from the Port of Nagasaki and the Nomozaki Peninsula.
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