Hashima Island was known as Gunkanjima because its concrete sea wall and high-rise apartments resembled the silhouette of the battleship Tosa.
The island once had the highest population density ever recorded in human history in the 1960s.
The digital reconstructions are based on laser scanning technology to preserve the deteriorating structures of the island.
Hashima was the site of Japan's first reinforced concrete residential building, constructed in 1916.
The museum uses life-sized screen installations to simulate the cramped conditions of the island's narrow corridors.
The facility includes a reproduction of a coal mine face, providing a visceral sense of the depth and conditions faced by miners.
Many displays incorporate 3D models developed specifically for historical preservation purposes.
The Gunkanjima Digital Museum utilizes immersive projection technology and augmented reality to reconstruct life on Hashima Island, a former coal mining facility abandoned in 1974. Located in Nagasaki, it serves as a gateway to understanding the island's UNESCO World Heritage status before or after taking a boat tour to the physical site. The exhibits feature digital recreations of residential apartments, school classrooms, and the subterranean mining tunnels once used by thousands of workers. Visitors can interact with touch-screen archives containing survivor testimonies and historical documents detailing the island's peak industrial years. The museum focuses on the transition of the island from a Mitsubishi-operated industrial hub to a symbol of urban decay. It provides context on the architectural density that earned Hashima the nickname 'Battleship Island.'
The interactive projection room that recreates the island's residential apartment corridors.
Visit before your scheduled boat tour to better understand the significance of the structures you will see on the island.
Take time to read the survivor interviews, as they provide primary source accounts not available on the island tours.
Use the interactive tablet stations to explore 360-degree views of off-limits areas on Hashima.
Don't assume the museum is a substitute for an actual boat tour to the island; it is designed as a complementary experience.
Open daily throughout the year, but may close briefly for maintenance during the New Year period.
