Like the African town of Kolmanskop, Hashima Island near Nagasaki, Japan, is another abandoned locationthat has become popular with tourists. Also known as Battleship Island because its shape somewhat resemblesa military ship, Hashima was the siteof an important coal minediscovered in 1887. It was bought by the Japanese company Mitsubishi in 1890, and after that, many buildings and industries were set up. The population grew as more workers were needed on the small island and reached a peak of over 5,000 in 1959. Today, Hashima is mostlydeserted, visited only by tourists and possibly ghosts that many believe representthe memories of Hashima’s dark past.
Prisoners were forced to work on the island from 1930 to just after World War II. The prisoners referred tothe place asJail Island or even Hell Island due to its harshconditions. Perhaps because of this history, some believe Hashima is haunted. Fishermen reported sightingsof lights going on and off in the old, damaged buildings despite the lack of electricity.
