If you watched Skyfall, you'll probably remember the derelict complex of buildings that served as the hideout of the villainous Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem). Although the scenes were shot in Pinewood Studios and enhanced by CGI, the location was an almost direct recreation of the abandoned Hashima Island, near Nagasaki in Japan.
Hashima has been dubbed 'Battleship Island' because it resembles a battleship when approached from certain angles. The island housed a coal mining facility until 1974, with buildings built from concrete to protect from typhoon damage. The most famous is a formation of nine-storey apartment buildings surrounding a central square. The island was abandoned as a result of the collapse of the coal industry in Japan.
The buildings have since fallen into a state of disrepair, creating ghostly modern ruins in the process. While tourists can access sections of the island, Google were permitted to have their 'trekkers' or backpack mappers explore some of the restricted areas as well. You can check out the results below:
(Image: Google Maps)
