Behold the haunting decay of Gunkanjima, Japan's 'Battleship Island' - CNET

So I did just that. Here are the pictures.

The haunting decay of Gunkanjima 'Battleship...

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From Hashima to Gunkanjima

In the late 1800s, Japan ran on coal. Its appetite was insatiable. Enough so that when coal was discovered on the islands near Nagasaki, it was somehow logical to start a mine there. By 1920, 3,271 people lived on Hashima. As the mines got deeper, more personnel were needed.

When they ran out of room on top, they started reclaiming land from the sea. The 16-acre island we see now is three times the size of the one nature built. Imposing seawalls offered a modicum of protection, but more importantly, they granted more land to build on. They also gave the island a new shape, one of a massive battleship. "Gunkanjima," literally "Battleship Island," was bo.

At its peak, 5,259 people lived on Hashima, an equivalent of a population density of 216,264 people per square mile. Not just miners, but minors and mothers too. Hashima was a tiny city, with schools and shops, two public pools and more. The hundreds of families that squeezed onto Hashima often lived six to a single apartment.

Though the lack of privacy was an issue, the mine employees were well paid and were early adopters of TVs and other "luxury" goods. There was also, apparently, no crime on the island.

As Japan moved away from coal, expensive mines like Hashima became unprofitable. By the early '60s, the mines were so deep it would take workers two hours to get to the mine face. In 1974, Mitsubishi pulled the plug. The mine would close, though most workers would be relocated to mines elsewhere in the country, if desired.

Many belongings were left behind as the thousands of families abandoned their homes for the mainland.

And suddenly, for the first time in nearly a century, Hashima was silent.

Without humans to keep entropy at bay, the sun and the surf, the wind and the weather, all took their toll. The once bustling micro-city decayed, becoming a haunting relic on the edge of the sea.

By the '90s, two decades had had their way with the Island. The legend of the place spread with the Inteet. Urban adventurers sneaked onto the island to explore this rare and specific type of ruins. Getting to the island wasn't difficult per se. But it wasn't easy, either. Many, like myself, became fascinated with this unique place.

Then the new dock was built, and tours began. I went with Gunkanjima Concierge as they had an audioguide in English and cost 4,000 yen, about $40.

In 2015, Hashima was granted World Heritage Status (not without some controversy). The island city was featured on TV shows like "Life After People," and was a setting for Raoul Silva's lair in "Skyfall"(though most scenes were shot on a set, not in actual Hashima).

Are the mode, sanitized tours as good as what exploring this place was like 10 or more years ago? Almost certainly not. For one, you only get to walk around a small section of the island, nowhere near the dilapidated buildings. You also walk on bright, new concrete, with railings to keep you in. At least you don't have to worry about getting brained by a chunk of falling concrete. Or a Super Mutant.