My favorite experience in Japan so far and I've traveled extensively throughout Japan.
I am glad there are still a few places in Japan not full of tourists, especially those from Xiaohongshu. As a result of it therefore being quiet, Ikeshima's scenery, cats, people, and the overall atmosphere, left a deep impression on me.
As others noted, it's a great place for people interested in Japanese post-WW2 history and exploring ruins in a non-kitschy way. There is a tour offered by a former Ikeshima miner who is still a resident; the tour is only in Japanese and you're able to explore parts of the island that are otherwise off-limits to visitors.
There are many, many cats on the island. Please, if you come here, have a heart and bring a bag of dry cat food with you. The cats were quite hungry - I know because I fed almost every cat I encountered.
I feel very fortunate to have been able to visit Ikeshima because who knows if the Japanese government will continue the already limited ferry service once the remaining residents pass away.
While I explored the island and encountered the residents, I wondered what they felt and thought living in a place that's somewhat in ruins and is a shell of what it used to be.
The place is beautiful in its own way and I wish there were oral history testimonies collected from the remaining residents and those who have left Ikeshima. It's a time capsule of sorts and was a wonderful experience. I'm thankful above all.
Amazing. #1 tourist spot in Japan. Better than Kyoto.
There pay parking lot is across the street and a little north of the ferry terminal. You don't need to park in that lot. Plenty of free street parking across the street from the pay parking lot. Park near the water. Just find a spot out of the way. Should be fine.
There is one small shop that sells snacks and stuff, near the ferry terminal, but don't count on it. Have food and water ready, before you go to the island.
You want to catch the 7am or 9am ferry.
The tickets are sold in the ferry terminal, but they don't announce when the ferry has arrived. You need to pay attention. You want to get the 2:17pm ferry back to seto port.
There is no food or anything on the island. If it's summer, there are a million wasps and HUGE spiders in the old buildings. Some buildings have people living in them, so don't be too crazy.
Don't miss the ferry back. They don't announce when it's arrived. Tickets are 450 yen each way.
What a place! Dystopian wonderland. Make sure to go around to the back part of the island with the old apartment blocks. There's also a ton of cats!
(Visited June 2026)
I arrived at the Seto Port Ferry Terminal (approximately 30 minutes/5 round trips per day) to participate in a coal mine tour that will end in March 2027.
Other ways to get to the island include (Konoura Port, 26 minutes/2 round trips per day) and (Sasebo Port, approximately 60 minutes/2 times per week).
There used to be a bicycle rental shop on the island, but it has closed, and the community bus that used to circulate around the island also closed this spring. Therefore, to get around the island independently, it's best to have a car, motorcycle, or bicycle. However, with a rental car, there's a possibility of scraping the narrow roads, and there are also road closures and restrictions. Considering the need to be considerate of the islanders while sightseeing, a bicycle, which doesn't make noise, seems to be the best option.
However, the above opinion is based on my experience on an optional island tour, so it's just my personal opinion.
There used to be a restaurant, but it has also closed (as of June 2014, the site was an empty lot). There is one lodging available, but it is basically room-only, so you will need to bring your own food. Some people seem to camp, but the only public bath on the island (near Ikeshima Port) closes early, so be aware of that.
Also, the most abundant creature on this island is not people, but cats. Apparently, people who left the island couldn't take their cats with them and left them behind, so they have naturally reproduced and are everywhere. Therefore, we were warned at the start of the tour to be careful of cat droppings!
Furthermore, there are still residents living on this island, so I think it is important to be very considerate when visiting.
I sincerely hope that this "Ikeshima Coal Mine Tour" can somehow continue in the future.
I went there in November 2025 on the 10:30 AM ferry (470 yen one way) from Konoura Port. I had planned to take my time exploring and return on the 4 PM Shin'ei Maru, but instead took the 1:17 PM ferry. I ate the bento lunch I brought with me on the return ferry, but unless you're a real enthusiast, I think you'll have too much time to waste if you stay until 4 PM. Upon arriving on the island, I immediately hopped on the local bus (100 yen) waiting at the port, took it to the furthest point (about 10 minutes), and then walked back to the port.
I heard that Gunkanjima is only accessible by tour, and that landing is dependent on the weather that day, and even if you do land, the walking distance is limited. So I chose Ikeshima, which can be visited independently, can be roamed freely, and is still inhabited.
The island, full of ruins and likely to become uninhabited in a few years, was quite moving. I would ask anyone planning to visit in the future to be respectful of the residents when touring the island. It was a very valuable experience.
There are no shops on the island, so you will need to bring your own food.
Ferry tickets, including the stub, will be collected when you board. I wanted to keep the stub as a souvenir, so I asked to keep it, but was met with a displeased look.
