Last week it was announced tours of a secured walkway will start on Gunkanjima (Hashima).

As part of the "Modernization of the Industrial Heritage of the Kyushu-Yamaguchi," program from the City of Nagasaki, they will be lifting the ban on tourist visits to the island.

The City has spent 500 million yen to install a secure walkway that traverses the East side of the island. It is 2m wide, and 230m long. It is also configured to allow visitors in wheelchairs, and large foreigners such as Americans. Access to non-secure parts of the island will remain prohibited.

Three tours a day, maximum of 20 people, will allow visitors to view some high-rise apartments and the school.

14,000 people used the non-landing boat tour last year, and it is hoped up to 20,000 visitors will want to visit the island landing tour.

Ladies Day (women only), and guides to give a narrative will also be available. Weather dependent departures are also noted. Prices start at \26,800. Tours start on May 23 from Nagasaki Port.


Just a guess, but access for real exploring would now be a thing of the past... Neko.

Huh, I have a friend who just went there, just last month, via the ol' bribing a fisherman. I'll ask him if he noticed any of this.

Correction: The secure walkway traverses only the south side of the island, and does not go anywhere near the school or famous danchi. Also, they have relocated some of the original hardware from this room:



To where it can now be seen from near ground level on the south side of the island, without the need to climb five levels over broken stuff for 30 minutes into one of the oldest danchi.

Also, the price for Gunkanjima only tours is \4300 per adult. The \26,800 to \70-something is for a multi-day regional heritage pass that includes the Gunkan walkway.

There was a live ten minute spot on Fuji TV this AM. It highlighted the history, showed the walkway, and the path.

South side, looking west from one of the five or so observation landings connected by the path:


South side, looking east towards Kyushu (almost the reverse shot as the one above):


Reporter with map of path - in red - (looking north from similar place as two shots above) :


It also had a ten sec interview with Nakano-san who works in a shoe store, but thirty five years ago, was photographed with his father on Hashima:



See ya! Neko.

Thanks for the update. I wonder if illicit access might now be easier if boats are allowed to enter the waters around it.

Posted by yokes Thanks for the update. I wonder if illicit access might now be easier if boats are allowed to enter the waters around it.

Kuroneko's been vehemently saying absolutely the opposite.

This is the report from my friend, from a visit either late March or early April.
http://www.vicelan...otting-metropolis/

Thanks for the update Kuro, 26k yen is a pretty steep entrance fee though.

Holy crap, my mind's set at Korean won, in which 26 800 would be quite reasonable. 26 000 yen? That's over 200 bucks!

whoa. pricey!

For that price I would like to see more. And some sushi.

Posted by Kuroneko It is also configured to allow visitors in wheelchairs, and large foreigners such as Americans.

hehehehehe!

Posted by Rana X. hehehehehe!

On the bright side, at least they're not paying those Americans to leave their country and never come back.

Posted by Kuroneko http://www.uer.ca/...cs/norm/292703.jpg

Wow, it only took them 2 years after they received the money. That would have taken 20 years here, with the budget quadrupling in the process.

I did post about this possibly going ahead a while back, but it has finally happened.
There are now guided tours of Gunkanjima. Costs about 10 pounds, plus 3 pounds for the boat trip. You are allowed 3 hours on the actual island, and only on a special walkway constructed for the tour. Also, only 3 parts of the island, not the whole thing.
It has been on the TV everywhere here in Japan. I think it will be open for 2 years, then closed again.

Here is a breakfast TV show report
http://www.youtube...atch?v=GmTAmOlQ-1w

Posted by drzeus I did post about this possibly going ahead a while back, but it has finally happened. There are now guided tours of Gunkanjima. Costs about 10 pounds, plus 3 pounds for the boat trip. You are allowed 3 hours on the actual island, and only on a special walkway constructed for the tour. Also, only 3 parts of the island, not the whole thing. It has been on the TV everywhere here in Japan. I think it will be open for 2 years, then closed again.

So then what costs 26 800 yen? Is that some sort of larger tour with other destinations? Ten pounds sounds pretty good actually.

Posted by Kuroneko Also, the price for Gunkanjima only tours is \4300 per adult. The \26,800 to \70-something is for a multi-day regional heritage pass that includes the Gunkan walkway.

Either sounds like a good deal.

Posted by The FNG Either sounds like a good deal.

Ah, didn't read closely. I can't imagine any other sites equalling that being included in the cost. Nagasaki is a cool town to walk around in.

Thanks to gunkanjima I know I was ordering A gunship (gunkan) sushi last week.

A second, unrelated friend (where are these people coming from all of a sudden?) just visited Gunkanjima earlier this week. It says this photo was uploaded and taken on April 26. http://www.flickr....72157617217055949/
Looking at his set, he was not there on a walkway.