Comments on: Apartments behind the barricade- abandoned

By: Adam

Adam — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:32:49 +0000

I will have to have a think but off the top of my head I can think of at least one that I passed and even got a picture of but never had the chance to visit. (An abandoned cable car but not the same one was featured recently on Tokyo Times) It was in the north of Saitama off the top of my head but I’m sure my wife would remember better than I.

I will see if I can’t dig out the picture and a link to it’s location on Googlemaps for you.

By: MJG

MJG — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:48:40 +0000

Hi Adam- thanks a lot for your comment, I’m glad you enjoy the site. As for me and going into ruined buildings- it’s been kind of a life-long thing, with going in as the ultimate goal, though I was only ever an opportunist, going in when and if I stumbled across one. It’s only recently that I started to actively pursue the hobby and hunt down the places to enter.

When you come back, if I’m still around, I’ll be happy to hook you up with maps to any of the haikyo I know. Can you provide any tips to the locations you remember? I’m always on the look-out for some new spots to explore.

Cheers.

By: Adam

Adam — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:53:50 +0000

Hey there Michael,

I have followed your Haikyo adventures keenly since finding your site earlier this year from a link on Japanprobe. I must say I have enjoyed them a lot. Both the wonderful pictures and your excellent observations and commentary. I lived in Japan for a few years but while I saw lots of buildings such as the ones you post here, taking a look inside never really occurred to me. I think when I go back to Japan in the future I will have to take a look around some of the ones I remember from last time.

Keep up the great work and I look forward to reading more of your adventures!

- Adam

By: MJG

MJG — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 14:50:57 +0000

Hi Kelly, no worries, you raise similar concerns I’ve had myself over the hobby of haikyoing. As for not getting raided, well- most of the junk in these places is just that, junk, and pretty worthless. The tatami in these apartments was all old tatami, and since everyone who could want new tatami already has old tatami to be replaced- there’s no need.

Some of the places, like Sports World or the Russian Village have stuff like TV’s, but the effort to take a truck up, carry them out, drive them to the city, then pawn them- you’d make some money, but really not that much- because what is a dated CRT TV worth 2nd hand, really? Not that much.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:35:22 +0000

Hi Michael. Thanks for responding. What i find amazing is that Japanese people don’t seem to keen to go raiding around for other’s leftover junk. In other countries they would be in there looting everything possible, especially with tatami mats sitting around on the floors! Do you think it’s some kind of unspoken rule amonst Japanese people that you just don’t go taking other’s things? Or are Japanese people not interested in second-hand stuff preferring new…

By: MJG

MJG — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 13:40:35 +0000

Kelly- You make a fair point, the fence is there for a reason, though I don’t think it’s exactly private property any more. Most likely the company went bankrupt, and either local banks or local government picked up the tab. I think the fence is less to protect what’s inside than it is to protect people from going in and hurting themselves.

All that aside though, yeah, this whole trespassing thing is a problem.

Tornadoes- Thanks bud, the declining population is a fair bet, certainly for the haikyo out in the country areas. City center space is super-valuable and turns over fast, but country-side stuff just has less value, especially if there’s a high cost to demolish/rebuild. BTW- Su Young says thanks .

By: Tornadoes28

Tornadoes28 — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 07:31:40 +0000

Great pics again. The magazine reporter story is a good one. I still feel the main reason these Haikyo places exist is due to Japan’s declining population.

And, Su Young is pretty cute.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 02:57:18 +0000

Did it ever occur to you the reason why there is a fence around it is because it’s private property? I can’t believe you just scaled the fence and went over, even when you were caught.

Despite being what you call a “haikyo”, it’s still someone’s private property.

By: MJG

MJG — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 01:51:30 +0000

Can- We went inside one room- already opened, but it was really very bland, just some rooms with faintly discolored wall-paper, not an interesting photo at all. Like you say- not such an old haikyo, so not too much decay/overgrowth.

Jason- I know right- re-opening, I suppose that’s possible, but would be a heck of a lot of re-fitting, probably would be cheaper to tear it down and start from scratch. Nothing was left behind that I saw, other than the bicycles in the sheds.

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 14:18:21 +0000

Yeah, this place hardly looks like a haikyo. Maybe it could be opened up agin some day if someone mows the lawn?

Were there any personal items left in the apartments like we saw in Gunma or the Russian Village?

SY is really bold and brave, respect!