Decaying Volcano Observation Deck

By Michael Gakuran | | Haikyo / Ruins | 38 Comments |

Alrighty. Here’s the second part of the huge volcano museum explore here in Japan. This time I’m focussing on the upper levels and the crumbling observation deck. Also included is a video compilation of the footage I took while visiting. Enjoy!

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You can find the first part of this post with creepy animals preserved in jars right here!

So, we actually went to the volcano museum twice on this trip. We happened to be passing by it on the morning of our second day after a good rest at a hotel and onigiri breakfast. The skies were a vivid blue and the volcano in the background almost looked like a painting. An attempt at HDR:

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Although the weather is uncontrollable, the difference in the skies really changed the atmosphere on the two days. Compare the spooky clouds while overlooking the surrounding scenery on the first day. Much more haikyo-esque if you ask me.

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Going inside saw some vivid orange glass doors brightening up the wreckage.

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Although some windows were still intact, providing a glimpse into the past and how it might have felt to be looking out of the viewing tower. Where’s the window cleaner?!

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A lonely Mamiya Press 65mm viewfinder to stick on some old camera happened to be lying around too. Here’s the resulting ‘artistic’ shot through its lens.

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And and old table where they presumably served chilled drinks to their sweaty guests. I love seeing old Japanese commercial posters like this:

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One of the many creepy staircases with cracked walls gracing this museum:

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And another cheerful remnant of the past. Keyrings are great haikyo material. They rust and rot, but seem to preserve that twinkling quality that makes you want to stop and gaze upon it.

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And finally, an ominous sign painted onto a dirty glass window… Blood? Or paint?

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Okay, below is the video footage I’ve been promising! I had a lot of fun sticking this together. I hope you enjoy it – I find it captured the feeling of wandering around the dark walls of this volcano museum very well.

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Highlights: Stunning mountain views, mysterious copper room still humming with electricity.

Music credit:

Ladny – Projekt Niewidzialne Swinie
Beta Eight – brokenkites
The Envious Dead – brokenkites
Jotun – brokenkites

What are your thoughts? How did you find the video – any things you particularly liked or disliked?

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Please bear in mind that going to visit ruins is dangerous and in many cases illegal. I take no responsibility for your actions and their consequences. Also, I will not answer requests for information on locations, their names or advice for entering the places I write about for the simple reason that it leads to many of them getting vandalised and sealed up completely. Thanks for understanding.

38 comments on “Decaying Volcano Observation Deck
  1. Your site, pictures and vids are great!!! I’m looking forward to checking out all your pictures.

    Thanks for sharing them!

  2. Deano @ JTM says:

    Hey just noted the mention of the keyrings above. I’m wondering – what’s the haikyo etiquette for taking (or not taking) objects from ruins?

  3. christina says:

    your website is really amazing :)

  4. nick says:

    I can’t help but wonder who pays the electricity bill there w

  5. nick says:

    I can’t help but wonder who pays the electricity bill there w

  6. Totololo says:

    Whaoooo !
    Very nice trip, a strong atmosphere in your pics … thanks for sharing !

  7. Totololo says:

    Whaoooo !
    Very nice trip, a strong atmosphere in your pics … thanks for sharing !

  8. MJG says:

    Great video Mike, was surprised by how much you had filmed. Good music, especially liked the long build up for first minute or so. Second batch of photos seems to have come out better than the first.

  9. MJG says:

    Great video Mike, was surprised by how much you had filmed. Good music, especially liked the long build up for first minute or so. Second batch of photos seems to have come out better than the first.

  10. Pu3 says:

    I think your video is amazing! I dont usually like slow video, but somehow the music addition gives a more curious effect as well as…goosebumps? Im glad nothing just popped out into the camera hehe :) How long have that place been abandoned?

  11. Pu3 says:

    I think your video is amazing! I dont usually like slow video, but somehow the music addition gives a more curious effect as well as…goosebumps? Im glad nothing just popped out into the camera hehe :) How long have that place been abandoned?

  12. Hiroko says:

    hey!Mike, how r u doin’? You must be enjoying the life in Japan.
    How did you find this place, anyway?Is this in Shizuoka? These pictures reminded me of Biohazard!!

    • Mike says:

      Hey Hiroko! Nice to hear from you again :) Yup – definitely like Biohazard, just with less zombies :p This place is listed in the haikyo books – we just looked it up!

  13. Hiroko says:

    hey!Mike, how r u doin’? You must be enjoying the life in Japan.
    How did you find this place, anyway?Is this in Shizuoka? These pictures reminded me of Biohazard!!

    • Mike says:

      Hey Hiroko! Nice to hear from you again :) Yup – definitely like Biohazard, just with less zombies :p This place is listed in the haikyo books – we just looked it up!

  14. Hi there – v interesting find. Where in Japan is this location? Interested in checking out myself next time there… thanks, lawrence

    • btw just noticed you don’t print locations (i actually think that’s wise). anyway, no need to print my comment but i’m still interestd – did a lot of abandoned photography in singapore when i lived there (you can see thru my website). am genuinely interested to checkout that location so if feel like sharing, an email would be great. many thanks

    • Mike says:

      Thanks Lawrence! I checked out your site too – appears you are an E-P1 user! I love some of your compositions – I could really learn a few things for you as that’s what I’m finding hardest to do in my photography. As for the location, there are plenty of books written about haikyo in Japanese. This is one of the more famous ones, so you’ll have no trouble finding it if you look :)

  15. Hi there – v interesting find. Where in Japan is this location? Interested in checking out myself next time there… thanks, lawrence

    • btw just noticed you don’t print locations (i actually think that’s wise). anyway, no need to print my comment but i’m still interestd – did a lot of abandoned photography in singapore when i lived there (you can see thru my website). am genuinely interested to checkout that location so if feel like sharing, an email would be great. many thanks

    • Mike says:

      Thanks Lawrence! I checked out your site too – appears you are an E-P1 user! I love some of your compositions – I could really learn a few things for you as that’s what I’m finding hardest to do in my photography. As for the location, there are plenty of books written about haikyo in Japanese. This is one of the more famous ones, so you’ll have no trouble finding it if you look :)

  16. sorrel says:

    Good work on the video in the end, ducky. Great opening track, and I liked the blur transitions, I’d never thought of using those. What software did you use to edit it together?

    • Mike says:

      Thanks rooty. Yea, the music kicks ass! As for the editing, everything was done in imovie on my Mac. Thinking twice about that love of old technology now aren’t you ;)

  17. sorrel says:

    Good work on the video in the end, ducky. Great opening track, and I liked the blur transitions, I’d never thought of using those. What software did you use to edit it together?

    • Mike says:

      Thanks rooty. Yea, the music kicks ass! As for the editing, everything was done in imovie on my Mac. Thinking twice about that love of old technology now aren’t you ;)

  18. Lee says:

    Good job again Mike. I like the last two pics and the video is a really good addition. The drive up there at the beginning is a nice touch too.

    • Mike says:

      Yea – it was great filming parts of the journey too and made even more fun by the fact we were doing it as a team. We’ll have to get our adventuring slacks on again soon!

  19. Lee says:

    Good job again Mike. I like the last two pics and the video is a really good addition. The drive up there at the beginning is a nice touch too.

    • Mike says:

      Yea – it was great filming parts of the journey too and made even more fun by the fact we were doing it as a team. We’ll have to get our adventuring slacks on again soon!

  20. Rob says:

    So when you say you went there on a ‘trip’, were these guided tours, or did you just show up on your own time?

    It still kinda creeps me out, post-apocalyptic even. You’d think that people would have taken everything and anything from the inside of the building by now.

    Were there any locked doors, even?

    • Mike says:

      No, no, definitely not a guided tour! We just searched for known locations and took the time to go and visit.

      There was one locked door to a mysterious room on the top floor. You can see it in one of the pictures from the outside – the orange coloured humming room. Some sort of experiment going on there mehtinks.

  21. Rob says:

    So when you say you went there on a ‘trip’, were these guided tours, or did you just show up on your own time?

    It still kinda creeps me out, post-apocalyptic even. You’d think that people would have taken everything and anything from the inside of the building by now.

    Were there any locked doors, even?

    • Mike says:

      No, no, definitely not a guided tour! We just searched for known locations and took the time to go and visit.

      There was one locked door to a mysterious room on the top floor. You can see it in one of the pictures from the outside – the orange coloured humming room. Some sort of experiment going on there mehtinks.

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