49 Abandoned Landmarks That Are More Beautiful Than Ever

6. Hashima Island – Nagasaki, Japan

From afar, Hashima Island resembles a derelict battleship adrift in the sea—hence its nickname, “Gunkanjima” or Battleship Island. Once a bustling coal-mining colony, the island was operated by Mitsubishi from the 1880s until 1974. At its peak, more than 5,000 people lived in its high-rise concrete apartment blocks, packed tightly onto the tiny, sea-walled island. When petroleum overtook coal in the 1970s, operations ceased, and residents were evacuated almost overnight. Now, Hashima sits eerily quiet in the sea, its windowless buildings collapsing inward, vines creeping through concrete corridors. The juxtaposition of industrial decay and oceanic isolation makes it profoundly haunting. It’s also steeped in complex history—some workers during World War II were forced laborers, adding a darker layer to its legacy. Hashima has since gained global attention, featuring in James Bond’s Skyfall and inspiring urban explorers to uncover its forgotten stories—though only parts of the island are now accessible to the public via guided tours.