The island of Hashima is also known as Gunkanjima, which translated means warship island. Hashima received this name because of its shape, which resembles that of a warship. The island is located about 16 kilometers off Nagasaki and is considered a somewhat haunted tourist attraction because it resembles a ghost town. Home to about 5,000 residents in its heyday, the island was abruptly abandoned in 1974 when the Mitsubishi company shut down the coal mine there. In the wake of a growing interest in dystopian destinations, Hashima was first opened to tourists in 2009 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015.
