Located just off the shores of Nagasaki, Japan, Gunkanjima presents itself as a haunting enclave at first glance. Enclosed by formidable walls and tightly packed buildings, this island appears as a deserted metropolis, void of any inhabitants. For over forty years, Gunkanjima and its structures have remained abandoned, nestled in the Pacific Ocean, devoid of life. But what lies behind the enigmatic history of this forsaken isle?

Gunkanjima, also called Hashima or Battleship island, was once rich in coal

Mitsubishi Corporation realized the potential of this island and began developing it in the early 1900s

Once renowned for its abundant coal reservoirs, Gunkanjima, also known as Hashima or Battleship Island, caught the attention of the Mitsubishi Corporation in the early 1900s. Over the ensuing century, the island flourished as the coal mines extended deeper, penetrating even below the ocean floor. By 1941, Gunkanjima became a vital source, supplying Japan with 400,000 tons of coal, albeit at the expense of coerced labor.

Over the next century, Gunkanjima grew and the coal mine got deeper, eventually reaching beyond the seabed itself

The island itself became a self-contained world, with schools, restaurants and apartments crammed within the seawall

Transformed into a self-contained microcosm, the island boasted schools, eateries, and residences crammed within its seawall confines. At its peak, nearly 6,000 individuals resided here, marking the highest population density ever recorded globally. Dubbed "Midori nashi Shima" or the "Island without Greenery" in Japan, its landscape was dominated by stark industrial structures.

Nearly 6,000 people lived at one point here, the highest population density in the world ever

Eventually, however, the mine ran out of coal, and Mitsubishi could dig no more

As the coal reservoirs depleted, Mitsubishi's excavations ceased, leading to the island's abandonment. Although its inhabitants departed, the island endured, along with its edifices and memories. Over time, nature reclaimed its domain, gradually enveloping the once barren structures in greenery. Since 2009, curious visitors have embarked on tours of this reclaimed city, witnessing the gradual transformation of Gunkanjima from an urban hub back into an isolated island sanctuary.

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