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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Waterfall whispers, Sunbeams dance with lush green life— Harmony's embrace.  滝のささやき、 日光は緑と踊る— 調和の抱擁。  #waterfall #forestmagic #japaneselandscape #naturephotography #serenity #offbeatjapan #japan
Pearl bridge in the wind, White and blue in harmony, Sky whispers softly. 風に白橋、 調和する青、 空は静か。 #AkashiKaikyoBridge #PearlBridge #offbeatjapan #Japan #EngineeringMarvel #ScenicJapan #UrbanNature #BridgeViews
Azure seas below, Cliffs embrace in vibrant hues, Nature's tapestry.青い海 鮮やかな崖たち 自然の織物#offbeatjapan #japan #okinawa #naturephotography #islandparadise #coastlineviews #japantravel
Whispering night glows, Canal mirrors earth and sky, Dreams float on waters. 囁く夜輝く、 運河が地と空を映す、 夢が水上に浮かぶ。 #OtaruMagic #Nightscape #HokkaidoViews #OtaruCanal #ReflectiveWaters #OffbeatJapan #Japan
Golden light whispers, Stones scattered like ancient dreams, Nature's quiet tales. ---黄金の光、 古代の夢のように石散る、 自然の静かな物語。---#karstlandscape #Akiyoshidai #yamaguchi #hiddenjapan #serenebeauty #offbeatjapan #japan
Concrete arch whispers, Shattered glass mirrors echoes— Ghosts of grandeur fade. ---コンクリートのアーチの囁き、 砕けたガラスは反響を映す— 壮麗の亡霊は消えゆく。 ---#haikyo #urbanexploration #decayingbeauty #ghostsofarchitecture #offbeatjapan #abandonedjapan #japan
Cedar shadows dance, Sun-kissed moss whispers softly— A sacred journey. 杉の影踊る 陽の光が苔囁く 聖なる道 #offbeatjapan #japan #hiddenpath #forestmagic #sacredjourney #cedartrees #nature whispers
Pink lanterns aglow, Sakura whispers to night, Reflections of dreams. ---ピンクランタン 夜に囁く桜 夢の映り ---#sakura #hanami #cherryblossoms #nightview #japantravel #offbeatjapan #japan