As petroleum replaced coal in Japan in the 1960s, coal mines began shutting down and the Nagasaki Battleship Island mines were no exception. Mitsubishi officially announced the closing of the mine in 1974 and today it is empty and bare which is why it is sometimes called Ghost Island.
With no industry to support it, the island was quickly abandoned and has remained that way ever since. The eerie atmosphere and well-preserved concrete structures continue to spark the imagination of photographers and filmmakers alike, most recently serving as the inspiration for the villain Silva’s island lair in the 2012 James Bond film SKYFALL.
It was a real ambition of mine to get a closeup of this magnificent structure even though it is crumbling and falling apart as we speak. To see an island that literally falling into the sea and slowly but surely disappearing from view was an amazing experience that everyone should have the opportunity to do whilst they can still can or better still whilst the island is still there. You had better hurry up while is still exists, barely though!
Please check out Battleship Island on a map:
Please click on the pictures below to enlarge:
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| Getting closer |
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| close up |
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| Great day for it! |
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| Looks like a Battleship |
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| Popular with tourists |
Please click on the video below to view Nagasaki Battleship Island: