# Ikeshima

> A small island off the Sotome coast of Nagasaki that mined coal from 1959 until 2001. Most of the apartment blocks are empty now, about a hundred people remain, and former miners guide visitors through a real tunnel by trolley.

- Prefecture: Nagasaki
- Type: Island
- Address: Nagasaki, Japan
- Official site: https://www.city.nagasaki.lg.jp/shimin/121000/121200/p027560.html

Ikeshima covers 0.9 square kilometers about 7 km off the Nishisonogi Peninsula, and for four decades it was a coal mine. Output began in 1959, about 7,700 people lived here around 1970, and when the mine closed in 2001 it was the last one in Kyushu. Most of the concrete flats on the hill have stood empty since; in 2021 the island had 111 residents. Unlike Gunkanjima, you can walk the streets on your own. The apartment blocks, the old mine buildings and the harbor are all in view, though fenced or crumbling buildings are not for entering, and wild boars, which first appeared around 2011, now roam the island. The draw for many is the underground tour. Former miners take groups into a real tunnel on a mine trolley, explain how the seams were worked and let you try the cutting machines. It is booked through the Nagasaki Saruku booking site, with morning and afternoon slots, and 2026 press reports say it is due to end in March 2027, so check before planning a trip around it. Bring food and water: the island's food shop closed in 2023, and the boats stop in heavy seas, which also cancels the tour.

## FAQ

### How do I book the Ikeshima mine tour?

Through the Nagasaki Saruku booking site, choosing the morning or afternoon session; the tour meets on the island. If the boat is cancelled by rough seas, the tour does not run. Press reports in 2026 say the tour is due to end in March 2027.

### Is there anywhere to eat on Ikeshima?

Do not count on it. The island's food shop closed in 2023, so bring lunch and drinks from the mainland, especially if you plan to stay through the afternoon tour.

### Can I walk around Ikeshima without a guide?

Yes. Unlike Gunkanjima, the streets are open and people still live there. Stay out of fenced or crumbling buildings, keep noise down near homes, and keep your distance from the wild boars.

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Source: Ikeshima — Japan Voyage