Overgrown industrial ruins reclaimed by nature in post-apocalyptic scene.

Urbex in Japan: Haikyo

The 80’s in Japan. Japan boosts its economy vehemently: the loans are made easier, there is a lot of money available, liquidity, and the Japanese have wages 30 to 40% higher than European salaries. They buy and speculate by every means. New factories, apartment buildings, golf courses, amusement park are built … the champagne flows! The speculative bubble, for its part, increases dangerously and eventually explodes on December 29, 1989. Two years later, the value of the Nikkei slumped over 50% and since then it has never stopped falling. A new landscape – post-apocalyptic – takes birth: haikyo world. A playground for enthusiasts of all kinds.

Tokyo Genso

Many haikyo (“ruins” in Japanese) are born in recent years. Amusement parks and arcades neglected, abandoned construction sites, forgotten hotels, ghost towns, deserted hospitals and schools… these places are thousands in Japan.

I started in 2010, and those explores are my first adventures (and therefore, photos aren’t so good, but the excitement is at its maximum):

Then, in 2011, I really got more serious, and more professional about it:

And here is the best I have visited: Gunkanjima. An abandoned island-city, the most famous ruin in Japan! 

Last but not least, I published a book with a selection of my best stories and photos. If you enjoy Japanese ruins, you will love this book. It’s available on Amazon (Amazon US) or you can ask your bookstore to order it.

abandoned, asia, book, japan, japanese

Then for more, visit my category Urbex: Urbex on Offbeat Japan 🙂 I have also made another website dedicated to ruins, it’s simply called Haikyo, and it’s here: Haikyo.

Haikyo - Tokyogenso Green

The images have been created by Tokyogenso. I suggest you visit his gallery here.

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Who Am I

Jordy Meow
This is me!

I am Jordy Meow, a French photographer based in Tokyo. I explore offbeat places in Japan.

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Scarlet bridge stands bold, Embraced by nature's colors— Water whispers by. ---赤い橋、 自然の色に抱かれて、 水がささやく。 ---#offbeatjapan #japan #redbridge #seasonchange #naturelovers #tranquility #autumnineyes #hiddenbeauty
Yellow dots embrace, Blue sea whispers to calm hills— Art in nature's hug.  黄色の点、 青い海が囁く— 自然に抱かれた芸術。#YayoiKusama #Naoshima #SetoInlandSea #ContemporaryArt #ArtInNature #offbeatjapan #japan
Under starry sky, Western gates glow deep green-blue— Time's whispers linger.スターリーな夜空の下で、 西洋の門は深い緑青に輝く— 時のささやきが残る。#offbeatjapan #japan #eeriebeauty #abandonedplaces #nightphotography #forgottenhistory #urbanexploration #mysteriousjapan
Plowed field, mountains; Silent peaks watch over homes, Winter whispers close.---耕された野、山々; 静かなる峰が家々を見守る、 冬のささやき近し。---#naturejapan #ruraljapan #japanesealps #landscapephotography #serenjapan #offbeatjapan #japan
Pale petals whisper, In spring's gentle, rainy breath, Umbrella blooms fade.淡い花びら 春の穏やかな雨 傘と共に散る #sakura #cherryblossom #offbeatjapan #japan #springrain #tranquilbeauty #urbannature #ephemeralbeauty
Whispering petals, Mirror the fleeting twilight, Sakura dreams bloom. ---囁く花びら、 儚い黄昏映す、 咲く桜の夢。 ---#sakura #japanphoto #ethereal #cherryblossoms #tranquility #offbeatjapan #japan
Verdant path of green, Whispers blend with azure sky— Nature's still embrace. 緑の小道、 ささやきが空青と溶ける— 自然の抱擁。 #serenelakeside #ruraljapan #naturehaiku #landscapephotography #quietbeauty #offbeatjapan #japan
Emerald steps rise, under boundless blue whispers— nature's gentle climb. エメラルドの階段が、広がる青のささやきの下で— 自然のやさしい登り。 #NaturePath #JapaneseForest #EmeraldTrail #SpiritualRetreat #MtTakao #OffbeatJapan #Japan