An urban explorer named Luke Bradburn recently stumbled upon Kinugawa Onsen, an eerily preserved resort town in Japan, during an expedition in early 2024. Originally intending to document the Fukushima exclusion zone, he found himself exploring a vast area of neglected hotels and facilities that have stood abandoned for over three decades. His discovery offers a glimpse into a once-thriving tourist destination that has fallen into a state of ruin, creating a haunting atmosphere reminiscent of a ghost town. Bradburn described the experience as walking into a deserted community, where towering hotels lined the riverside cliff, frozen in time.
Kinugawa Onsen was once celebrated for its natural hot springs, drawing visitors until the early 1990s when Japan faced an economic downturn that severely impacted tourism. As hotel occupancy declined, many businesses shut their doors and were left to decay amidst rising vacancies. In Japan, strict property laws complicate the fate of these abandoned buildings. Many still stand unscathed, caught in a legal limbo after their owners either passed away without heirs or vanished, making demolition an arduous process reliant on owner consent. Bradburn shared insights into these unique circumstances, explaining that Japan’s low crime rate contributes to the preservation of such structures, allowing them to remain untouched.
The town’s current state offers a striking contrast between the overgrown exteriors and the surprisingly intact interiors of the hotels. Bradburn reported spending six hours navigating the precarious environment, maneuvering through broken staircases and overgrown paths to explore a few of the 20 structures. As he moved between buildings via interconnecting corridors, he marveled at the surreal quality of the experience. Despite the outward decay, many rooms held pristine relics of the past, untouched and seemingly frozen in time, evoking a sense of nostalgia.
Inside the abandoned hotels, Bradburn encountered a trove of forgotten remnants. Traditional Japanese onsen baths, untouched rooms, and even beverages left on tables painted a vivid picture of life in Kinugawa Onsen during its prime. He recalled one bewildering moment of standing in a hotel lobby, facing a massive taxidermy deer and falcon—an odd yet fascinating sight that underscored the strangeness of the atmosphere. Such moments made him feel as though he had stumbled upon time capsules filled with arcade machines, tables set for guests, and rooms untouched for decades, adding layers of intrigue to the landscape he was exploring.
Navigating the decaying structures, however, was not without its hazards. Bradburn noted the significant dangers—missing floors, precarious staircases, and collapsed areas requiring careful navigation. Each site brought challenges that heightened the emotional experience of the exploration. Despite the risks, Bradburn’s sense of curiosity and wonder drove him to delve deeper into the town’s mystery. He described it as an emotional journey through a place that felt caught between the past and present, offering glimpses into what life once was before its sudden cessation.
Overall, exploring Kinugawa Onsen proved to be an unforgettable experience for Bradburn, blending elements of nostalgia, sorrow, and fascination. He conveyed a deep sense of connection to the space, recognizing the starkness of the abandoned hotels as a testament to Japan’s tourism boom and subsequent decline. While some curious visitors may still wander through the ghost town, the looming presence of the derelict hotels stands as a quiet reminder of a bygone era. Bradburn’s immersion in this hidden world creates an opportunity for further exploration into places often overlooked, unveiling the stories waiting to be told within the ruins of Kinugawa Onsen.
