Explorers in Japan have stumbled upon some remarkable, forgotten resort towns. One notable site features a crumbling hotel perched precariously on river cliffs, a place that’s gone unmentioned for over three decades.
Luke Bradburn, 28, visited Japan in early 2024 with the aim of documenting the Fukushima Exclusion Zone, but instead, he found a “ghost town.”
“I was actually scouting out other sites when I discovered an entire area filled with this abandoned hotel,” he shared. “Walking in felt like stepping into a ghost town.”
Kinugawa Onsen was once bustling with tourists, famous for its natural hot springs. However, its glory faded during Japan’s economic downturn in the early 1990s, leading to the closure of many hotels as tourism dwindled.
Interestingly, due to Japan’s strict property laws, many of these buildings haven’t been demolished. As Bradburn points out, if an owner dies without heirs or simply disappears, the building can remain untouched for decades.
“It’s pretty unique in Japan,” he explained, noting that the low crime rate means abandoned places aren’t typically vandalized. “Sometimes, the owner must give permission for demolition, and if they pass away, it can take 30 years for anything to happen,” he added.
What he encountered was quite eerie; vast stretches of the hotel are in slow decay. A native of Greater Manchester, Bradburn dedicated around six hours to navigate the overgrown paths and unstable staircases, exploring about five of the 20 buildings.
He mentioned that he often moved between structures through connected corridors. “From the exterior, everything looks overgrown and rotting,” he said, “but some interiors were left remarkably well-preserved, as if untouched for decades.”
In the lobby of the hotel, Bradburn found remnants of another time. “One of the oddest sights was a massive taxidermy deer and falcon standing in the lobby. I had seen photos online, but seeing it in person was surreal,” he recalled.
He described some areas as like stepping into a time capsule. “We found an arcade machine still containing toys, an untouched drink, and a set dining table in a room,” he remarked.
He emphasized that navigating the area can be risky. “There were parts with no floors, hanging staircases, and areas we had to backtrack from due to collapse,” he warned, explaining, “Some sections felt quite unsafe, so we had to proceed with caution.”
Reflecting on the experience, Bradburn described it as both emotional and perplexing. “Each building felt like a time capsule,” he said, adding, “You get this sense that life came to a halt here, which is kind of creepy, sad, and oddly charming all at the same time.”
Today, while Kinugawa Onsen still draws some curious visitors, the remnants of the abandoned hotel offer a haunting glimpse into the rise and fall of Japan’s tourism industry. Bradburn, with his fascinating explorations, suggests that there may still be more secrets waiting to be uncovered.
