Kinugawa Onsen: Japan's 30-Year Abandoned Hotel Town

Urban explorer Luke Bradburn has documented the haunting remains of Kinugawa Onsen, a former Japanese resort town known for its hot springs, now abandoned for over 30 years since Japan's early 1990s economic downturn. Bradburn explored about five or six of the roughly 20 derelict hotels, finding pristine interiors with untouched rooms, arcade machines, taxidermy animals, and drinks still on tables amid overgrown exteriors. The collapse of tourism led to the town's decay, and strict Japanese property laws, which complicate demolition if owners have died or disappeared, have left many buildings standing. Japan's low crime rate has prevented looting or vandalism, preserving the hotels as eerie time capsules. The deserted streets are also lined with abandoned cars, underscoring the scale and abruptness of the abandonment. Bradburn described the experience as both fascinating and sad, providing a window into a once-bustling era halted by economic and legal obstacles.