Why Was Gunkanjima Abandoned?

Why Was Gunkanjima AbanHashima Island was once a symbol of prosperity. In the mid-20th century, thousands of people lived and worked here, extracting undersea coal to power Japan’s rapid industrial growth. But by the 1970s, the energy landscape had shifted—from coal to oil. The Mitsubishi Mining Company shut down operations in 1974, and within weeks, the island’s entire population left. From the world’s most crowded island to a ghost town—almost overnight.
Walking through the ruins today feels surreal. The school gym still has its faded scoreboard. Empty stairwells echo with the sound of waves. Nature is slowly reclaiming the concrete skeletons of a once-bustling city.

I visited Gunkanjima in spring 2025 on a morning tour from Nagasaki Port. After 30 minutes on the boat, the island came into view—dark and compact, just like in the photos. We wore helmets and walked a fixed path near the pier. Our guide pointed out a collapsed school, rusting apartments, and the old bathhouse. You can’t explore freely, but just standing there, surrounded by broken concrete and silence, was unforgettable.

Why Is Hashima Island Considered Scary?

The nickname “ghost island” isn’t just for show. Hashima’s abandoned concrete structures—cracked walls, empty windows, rusted balconies—create a haunting atmosphere. Nature is reclaiming the space, but slowly. There’s no electricity, no residents, and almost complete silence. For many visitors, it’s not horror, but a strange mix of awe and sadness.

The idea that thousands of people once lived, worked, and raised families here—now gone—adds a weight that’s hard to shake. Some locals whisper ghost stories, and the island has appeared in horror-themed media. But the true “scariness” of Gunkanjima lies in its silence, its shadows—and its memory of Japan’s rapid rise and sudden abandonment.

Last updated: December 2025

What is Dutch Slope (Orandazaka) in Nagasaki?

Dutch Slope, or Orandazaka (オランダ坂), is a quiet stone path in Nagasaki’s Higashi-Yamate area. It got its name because many Westerners lived nearby in the 1800s—not just Dutch people, but also British and American traders.
Today, you can still walk past old Western-style houses, ivy-covered walls, and scenic corners. It’s one of the best places in Nagasaki to enjoy a peaceful walk and take great photos.

I walked past a quiet row of preserved Western-style houses. One had delicate lace curtains in the window and a small brass plate near the door—details that hinted at the lives once lived here.

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History of the Dutch Slope

During the late Edo period and into the early Meiji era, Nagasaki was one of the few Japanese cities open to foreign contact. It quickly became a center for trade and Western influence. As Japan modernized after 1868, more Westerners arrived—traders, missionaries, and diplomats. Many settled in the Higashi-Yamate area, where Dutch Slope is located.
The name “Orandazaka” (オランダ坂), or “Dutch Slope,” doesn’t only refer to people from the Netherlands. In 19th-century Japan, “Dutch” was a common term for all Westerners. This came from the Edo period, when the Dutch were the only Europeans officially allowed to trade with Japan.

Along the slope, many Western-style homes were built using brick and timber—rare materials in Japan at the time. These houses had balconies, steep roofs, and glass windows, showing a clear Western influence. Some of these buildings still remain today. One example is Higashi Yamate 13-ban Kan (東山手十三番館), a public heritage site where visitors can step inside a preserved Western-style house from that era.

Inside the Higashi Yamate 13-ban Kan, I saw old furniture, high ceilings, and glass-paneled doors. It felt like stepping into a 19th-century Western residence. It’s amazing that these homes—once lived in by foreign residents—are still standing here in Nagasaki.

Around Dutch Slope – Nearby Sights to Explore

Glover Garden

A scenic open-air museum of preserved Western homes from the Meiji era. Enjoy panoramic views over Nagasaki Port and learn about the life of Scottish merchant Thomas Glover, who played a key role in Japan’s modernization.

Visit early in the morning to avoid crowds and catch great photo lighting.

Oura Church

Japan’s oldest existing Christian church, built in 1864 by French missionaries. This Gothic-style building is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers a quiet look into Nagasaki’s Christian history.

It’s located just downhill from Glover Garden—an easy add-on to your walk

Dejima

A restored former trading post that once served as Japan’s only official window to the West during the Edo period. You can explore reconstructed buildings, exhibits, and the unique layout of the fan-shaped island.

A great spot for history lovers—especially if you’re interested in Japan’s isolation era.

I spent a full morning walking from Dutch Slope to Glover Garden, Oura Church, and finally Dejima. Each spot revealed a different part of Nagasaki’s international past—from 19th-century merchants to early missionaries and Edo-period trade.

Visitor Info – Dutch Slope, Nagasaki

• Location: Higashi-Yamate District, Nagasaki City
• Entry Fee: Free
• Opening Hours: Open 24 hours (outdoor public area)
• Photography: Allowed. Early morning or late afternoon offers the best natural light.
• Nearby Rest Areas: Benches available along the slope; cafés and shops within 5 minutes’ walk
• Barrier-Free Access: The slope is steep and cobbled—comfortable shoes are recommended. Wheelchair access is limited.

The morning hours are best for quiet photos—and the light hits the slope beautifully from the east.

Last updated: December 2025

Clock Paralyzed in Time

Upon entering the museum, there is a spiral corridor that makes you think that you are going back in time. You get transported from our time to 1945. The first thing you will see is a clock paralyzed in time, forever stuck at 11.02. This is the exact time the bomb exploded. In the first part of the museum, you can see a replica of how Nagasaki looked just after the explosion. This way, the visitor can experience firsthand the impact and destruction of the bomb. It is very impressive.

In the next room, objects that were left after the explosion are on display such as melted bottles and burned clothes. Even more poignant are the bones of a human hand glued to a melted glass, and a lunchbox with its still charred content. The helmet with the remains of the skull of a victim on the inner surface really makes the terror tangible. The following section shows the damage caused by the radiation and the damage caused by the explosion. You can also see appeals of the atomic bomb survivors and the rescue and relief activities that were carried out.

There is also a high-tech demonstration that shows in a 3D model of the city how the bomb’s wave destroyed everything from the epicenter to the outskirts of the city. Touring the museum, you will also find many religious symbols such as rosaries that due to the strong heat melted. This museum contains explicit images of the victims after the bombing and a real-size replica of ‘Fat Man’, the name of the atomic bomb that was dropped in Nagasaki, is on display.

Reflecting on Peace

The penultimate section is dedicated to how the first bombs were created and why it was decided to drop them in Japan, from the decision that was taken in the Manhattan Project until August 9 when the second and last atomic bomb was dropped.

Finally, the museum leaves us in the last room with a chance for reflection on peace. Here you can see how nuclear weapons have evolved since the bombing of Nagasaki and it shows how many nuclear weapons each country has. The museum hopes to make clear that the atrocity generated by these weapons can be repeated if human beings do not react and prohibit nuclear weapons.

The museum promotes a pacifist philosophy and prays that this tragedy does not happen again, but to protect the future you have to know what happened in the past. This museum was founded in 1966 and remodeled to the establishment that is today in 1996.

Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall

A few meters from the museum, you can find the Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims. 12 pillars of light make up the monument, along with photographs of the victims. At the top, there is a beautiful water basin bordered by trees through which the 12 pillars of light continue to rise from below. At night, 70,000 fiber optic lights illuminate the surface of the water, symbolizing the victims. Nagasaki today is considered a city of peace.

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Atomic Bomb Museum Access Information

Access
From  Genbaku-Shiryokan tram station or Hamaguchi-cho bus stop
Entrance fee
Adults 200 yen, Under high school students 100 yen
Hours
May to August: From 8.30 am to 6.30 pm (last entry 6 pm)
September to April: From 8.30 am to 5.30 om (last entry 5 pm)

Atomic Bomb Museum Area Map

Peace Statue

In the center of the park is the icon of Nagasaki Prefecture, the Peace Statue, sculpted by Seibo Kitamura. It is 10 meters high with the right hand pointing towards the sky. Hereby it refers to the threat of nuclear weapons that is still there while the extended left hand symbolizes eternal peace.

Its soft face symbolizes divine grace and its closed eyes offer a prayer for the peace of the victims’ souls. The bent right leg means meditation, and the left leg extended the initiative to stand up and rescue the people of the world. This statue was created as a symbol of reflection in the struggle for global harmony. Being 10 meters tall, it conveys the depth of knowledge and beauty of health and virility.

In front of the statue, there is a black marble vault with the names of the victims of the atomic bomb. The survivors who died in the following years area also commemorated. And finally, there is a nearby plaque with the words of the sculptor, explaining the meaning of the statue. The plaque reads (translated into English): “After experiencing that nightmare war, that carnage that curds the blood, that unbearable horror, who could leave without praying for peace?”

Monuments and Fountain

On both sides, in the park’s paths, there are important monuments for peace donated by the following countries: Cuba, China, The Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Italy, Turkey, New Zealand, Australia, and the US city St. Paul City.

In the south of the park is the Fountain of Peace. It was built in August 1969, as a prayer for the repose of the souls of the many victims of the atomic bomb. The fountain specifically commemorates those who died in search of water, and it is a dedication to world peace. The lines of a poem by a girl named Sachiko Yamaguchi are engraved on a black stone plate in front of the fountain. She was nine years old at the time of the bombing. It reads: “I was thirsty beyond what I could resist. The surface of the water was oily, but I wanted the water so much that I drank it as it was.”

Every year on August 9, a peace commemoration ceremony is held in front of the statue. This is the anniversary of the atomic bombing. At that time, the mayor of Nagasaki delivers a Declaration of Peace to the world.

Hypo Center

After you go down the long escalator, there is another part of Peace Park called Prayer Zone. There is a tall black pillar which is the monument of the hypocenter. The bomb exploded 503 meters above the ground.  There used to be a tennis court right below the spot where the bomb was dropped. Now it is a quiet park where people visit to pray for the bomb victims. There is a stone box in front of the pillar. It contains the name list of all the victims who died from the bomb.
Visiting the Nagasaki Peace Park can be one of the most memorable activities while you are on a holiday in Japan.

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Access Information

Access
From  Heiwakoen tram station or Matsuyamacho bus stop
Hours
You can visit freely for 24 hours.

Peace Park Area Map

History of Sanno Shrine

One of the most impressive and curious places in Nagasaki is the Sanno Shrine because the main torii (gateway to the shrine) maintains only one pillar, due to the fact that the other was destroyed by the atomic bomb. This shrine was founded in 1638 by Nobutsuna Matsudaira (1596-1662), a feudal lord at that time.

A civil war broke out in Shimabara in the same year, so the general of the government forces arrived in Nagasaki to suppress the war. When he passed through this area, he discovered that the landscape was similar to that of Mount Hiei. So he encouraged the local governor in Nagasaki to build a shrine and the order was obeyed, eventually founding the Sanno Shrine which literally means ‘king of the mountain’.

Many years passed, and Japan, as it entered the Pacific War, suffered the calamity of atomic bombs. The first was the one launched in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.

Subsequently, the second atomic bomb was dropped on August 9th, 1945 in Nagasaki, causing death and destruction in its wake. The epicenter of the explosion to the Sanno shrine was only 8 kilometers away. An unimaginable explosion of heat and fire destroyed this shrine in an instant.

One-legged Torii

Miraculously, the main torii of this sanctuary remained to stand, although it was halved by the explosion of the atomic bomb. One support column was knocked down; but the other somehow remained upright, keeping the door in position. The force of the shock wave turned the torii about 30 degrees on its pedestal base.

It should be remembered that most buildings made of metal or wood that were close to the bomb’s epicenter melted or simply degraded on the spot. It is therefore a truly miraculous event that a torii so close to the epicenter has remained standing. What is most impressive is that it has been over 70 years since the tragedy hit, and this torii has stood on its own two feet throughout the years.

People in Nagasaki call this door the ‘One-legged Torii‘.

Regrown Trees

Near the torii, there are photographs of what the shrine looked like before the bombing. Near the main sanctuary, there are also two large camphor trees. They are said to be 500-600 years old. This means that these trees were exposed to the atomic bomb. One-third of the trees disintegrated and the remaining parts were burned so badly that the trunk turned completely black. But after two years, an incredible life force created the new leaf buds. The citizens of Nagasaki embraced these trees and took them as a symbol of life and hope to move forward. These trees are designated as national natural treasures.

The miracle of the torii that remained standing along with the miracle that nothing happened to the Suwa Shrine (the most important site in Nagasaki) and that it remained intact, was a strong indication to the residents that the energy of the Shinto shrines is truly powerful, capable of withstanding even hell on earth because of its high spiritual power.

Visiting the torii of the Sanno sanctuary can give the visitor the opportunity to observe in a more direct way all that happened that catastrophic day, but in spite of everything, the torii remained undefeated, demonstrating that even in the worst moments there is a point of light and hope.

Access Information

Access:

From Uragami (JR Line) station or Daigaku-Byoin tram station

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Sanno Sanctuary Area Map

Founding of Suwa Shrine

This sanctuary was founded in 1614 under the order of the Tokugawa shogun as a way to expel the Christian faith from the region. During the Edo period, Nagasaki was one of the few places where there was contact with foreigners. Missionaries from Portugal and Spain began to spread the Christian faith from this region to the rest of Japan. But soon, the Tokugawa shogun in charge banned Christianity and started to expel the missionaries. Nevertheless, Nagasaki is currently still the place where more churches can be found compared to the rest of Japan.

The shogun founded the Suwa Shrine and made it mandatory that all Nagasaki residents participate in the sanctuary festivals. Those who did not show up were interrogated, and if it was discovered that they were Christians they could go to jail or even be executed. Beyond the Christian persecution, the Suwa sanctuary flourished to become a center for citizens to meet.

The Shrine in the Modern Era

At the beginning of the Meiji Era, the Suwa shrine entered the list of important sanctuaries in the country. The Meiji Era also saw the end to the persecution of Christians, giving way to building churches in Nagasaki. On August 9, 1945, the Americans dropped their second atomic bomb in Nagasaki three days after they dropped the first on Hiroshima, destroying a large part of the city in its path.

When the atomic bomb fell, most churches were completely destroyed. Survivors ran to see if the Suwa sanctuary had also disappeared, but it did not. Due to its strategic position, the Suwa Shrine was not damaged. To the Japanese, this was seen as symbolic of the power of the native Gods over an imported God. The priests of the sanctuaries had an arduous job purifying the entire city after the bombing. Every August 9th, a commemorative act is held to pray for the lost lives.

Today’s Shrine

To get to the Suwa sanctuary, you have to climb 277 steps of stairs. Upon reaching the top you can see the entire city of Nagasaki, a truly spectacular view. The sanctuary is a very beautiful and imposing structure. The building is made up of other small sanctuaries that are worth walking through. Another interesting fact is that the first ‘omikuji’ (fortune-telling paper) in English was distributed in this sanctuary. If you want to connect with history and take a look at ancient Nagasaki, visiting the Suwa shrine is a great choice.

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Access Information

Access :
From Suwa-Jinja tram station

Suwa Shrine Area Map

History of Shimabara

During the late 16th and early 17th centuries, it was the site where foreign trade and Christianity were blooming. This means that many of Shimabara’s population were Christians. Because of high taxes, mistakes by the government, and the persecution of Christians, the population started the Shimabara rebellion in 1637, which was cut down by the shogun in a violent way.

Shimabara acquired the status of ‘city’ in 1940 and the city’s area was still growing in 2006. The seismic activity of nearby Mt. Unzen has had a large impact on the city throughout its history. A large tsunami destroyed the city in 1792, and also in the 1990s eruptions of Mt. Unzen have caused problems.

Shimabara Now

Parts of the national park are accessible by ropeway, and all seasons have something to offer in the Unzen-amakuza park. Unzen Onsen is a hot spring resort with acidic pools that give plenty of health benefits to the people bathing in the baths filled with this natural spring water.

Just outside of the resort area you can find the Unzen Jigoku, or Unzen Hells; hot steam escapes from fissures in the ground from over 30 ‘hells’ here. Underground gases turn to steam by influence from the nearby magma reservoir that lies very close to the earth’s crust in this area, which makes the area indeed feel a bit like hell.

Hiking is also a favorite pastime in the region of Mt. Unzen. If you like koi fish, Shimabara is also a destination of interest because of its many waterways and the koi fish that swim in the little creeks freely.

There is also a reconstruction of Shimabara Castle with a museum and a garden. If you want to feel a historical atmosphere, the Samurai Houses are also interesting to visit. For those who want to learn more about volcanic activity, the Gamadasu Dome is a great museum to visit.

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Information

Access

From Shimabara (Miike-Shimabara / Shimatetsu Line) station, Shimabara bus stop or Shimabara Port (ferry from Kumamoto)

Shimabara Area Map

Christian Missionaries in Japan

Around 1549, Christian missionaries started arriving from Europe. They usually came from countries such as Spain and Portugal. Their objective was to spread the word of the church. In the beginning, the government of Japan welcomed them. It was thought that they were going to help to take away power from Buddhist clans that controlled large sectors of the country. All this suddenly changed when the San Felipe Incident occurred, during which a Spanish ship was shipwrecked on Shikoku island. This ship was on the way from Manila, the Philippines to Acapulco, Mexico.

The feudal lord of the land where the ship was wrecked seized the cargo and held the crew captive. The problem was so great that it reached the ears of daimyo Toyomi Hideyoshi himself, who was the Military Chief of Japan at the time. The Spanish captain confessed the true plans of Europe. It was said that if any non-Christian land was found the church had the responsibility of converting the residents. Later, the government of a European country would conquer the land, as had already happened in America and in the Philippines.

26 Martyrs

What happened when this information, which was kept secret for a long time, was discovered? The government of Japan strictly prohibited Christianity throughout the country and the main 26 Christian missionaries were captured. These were 4 Spaniards, a Mexican, a Portuguese, and 20 Japanese converted members. The damned walked from Kyoto to Nagasaki and were executed in the same way as Jesus Christ. To set a strong example to those who still had the Christian faith, the 26 were crucified and thrown in front of the crowd.

Christianity was seen as a form of conquest and was banned until 1868, the beginning of the Meiji era. Before that, from 1629, every year Nagasaki residents were ordered to step on an image of Jesus and the Virgin Mary to prove that they were not of the Christian faith, and those who refused were executed on the spot.

26 Martyrs Monument and Museum

In the year 1629, the 26 that were crucified were beatified, and later in the year 1862, they were canonized by the Catholic Church. One hundred years after the canonization of the 26 martyrs, the city of Nagasaki inaugurated the monument in honor of the martyrs in the same place where they were executed. It is made of bronze, and it is formed like a great wall that frames a great cross in which the images of the 26 martyrs stand out. Its meaning is “Singing martyrs rise from the cross to heaven.”

When the country opened in the Meiji era, the missionaries returned to Nagasaki where they were surprised to discover that despite so many years, some families had kept their Christian faith hidden for many years. The monument is impressive, and visiting this monument while reflecting on the history of Christianity in Japan is one of the reasons tourists come to Nagasaki.
At the same time, Twenty Six Martyrs Museum was constructed. These are the aims of the museum:

1. To propagate the virtue of the Martyrs and their messages.
2. To present the history of Christianity in Japan from Francis Xavier’s arrival in Japan until the Meiji Era, and give the Christian’s vision of the events.

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Access Information

Access
From Nagasaki Station
Entrance fee (museum)
Adult 500 yen, High school and junior high school student 300 yen, elementary student 150 yen
Hours
From 9 am to 5 pm

26 Martyrs Monument Area Map

Glover Garden

At the southern tip of Nagasaki, there are several old houses of the first European residents of the Meiji era who had gathered around this garden. Among them, Thomas Blake Glover, a merchant from Scotland, became the most famous and important person. He came to Japan in 1859 and played a large role in starting up international trade. Glover got married to a Japanese lady and spent the rest of his life in Japan.

Dejima Museum

There was an island called Dejima which was the only place where business or contact was allowed to be made between the Japanese and the Dutch during the time of international isolation. It is now a museum where they reconstructed the building where Dutch traders used to live. You can learn what they exported to and imported from Japan through the exhibitions.

Nagasaki Peace Park

Nagasaki Peace Park was constructed around the hypocenter of where the atomic bomb was dropped on August 9, 1945. There was a prison at that time. The area has become a huge park, and the Peace Statue designed by Saibo Kitamura was constructed.  Around the statue, there are many monuments donated by foreign countries such as the USA, Russia, China, Australia, New Zealand, Brasil, etc.

Atomic Bomb Museum

Next to Nagasaki Peace Park, there is the Atomic Bomb Museum. The museum was established in 1996 for the remembrance of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. This museum covers the history of the event like a story, focusing on the attack, and the history leading up to it. It also covers the history of nuclear weapon development. The museum displays photographs, relics, and documents related to the bombing.

Nagasaki China Town

There are several Chinatowns in Japan. The one in Nagasaki is the second biggest one in Japan after the Chinatown in Yokohama. About 40 shops and restaurants are in the area.  There are four entrances and each entrance has a Chinese-style gate. During Chinese New Year, they hold the Lantern Festival, during which the streets are beautifully decorated with lanterns. If you have a chance to go there, don’t forget the local delicacy “champon”, which is a unique noodle dish.

Oura Church

Oura Church was constructed in 1862, which makes it the oldest existing Catholic church in Japan. During the Edo period, Christianity was banned by the shogun government. In 1854, when Japan stopped the isolation policy and Nagasaki Port was opened to most western countries (before, it was only open to the Netherlands) in 1859 after which a lot of westerners started to live in Japan. French missionary Bernard-Thadée Petitjean constructed the church for the westerners. Now it is Japan’s national treasure and one of the World Heritage sites in Japan.

Hypocenter Nagasaki

Below the exact spot where the bomb exploded in 1945, a park that symbolizes Nagasaki’s revival offers a place to think about what happened. Even though they thought there would be no plants able to grow at that spot for 75 years, only a month after the bombing greens already started to sprout from the ground here. Now, it became a mature park with 500 cherry trees. You can also find a memorial monolith in the park at the exact location of ground zero, with parts of a church that were preserved next to it. There is also a layer of ground from 1945 that is exposed, so you can see what was left of houses right after the bomb fell.

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