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May 13 2009 19 Comments

A humble haikyo

Abandoned buildings (or haikyo) in Japan come in all shapes and sizes, although while some boast such prizes as pickled brains or colossal hotel complexes, others are rather more dull in their decay. Like this company retreat or conference centre not far from Yamanashi Prefecture’s Lake Yamanaka for example, a building that still offers breathtaking views from the bedrooms, but little in the way of how the boarders once busied themselves.

Japanese haikyo/ruin

Apart that is from the odd telephone that now never rings.

Japanese haikyo/ruin

Or indeed meetings that will never materialise.

Japanese haikyo/ruin

However, that said, all haikyo are happily in the habit of managing to muster at least one mystery, and here it came in the shape of several cocoon-like seating set-ups, complete with a sort of speaker and microphone system.

Japanese haikyo/ruin

A Device that if nothing else allows one to imaginatively ponder the possibilities of brainwashing, or at the very least some slightly dodgy doings of some description.

Otherwise, unfortunately, it was more sad than suspicious — the place at times almost giving off a sense of being abandoned only recently, with games still waiting to be played,

Japanese haikyo/ruin

and the office feeling like it could still be in use.

Japanese haikyo/ruin

Almost on a daily basis.

Japanese haikyo/ruin

Until that is, one takes a look at the television.

Japanese haikyo/ruin

And other technology.

Japanese haikyo/ruin

Confirming that no-one has been here for quite some time, and while still looking ready and willing, reservations or requests will never again be relayed through reception.

Japanese haikyo/ruin

Categorized: Haikyo

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Honor says

    5/13/2009 at 4:11 pm

    You know I am fascinated by haikyo and this is a great example of what you can find. I would love to do this some time. I hope you don’t mind me asking – how did you find out about this place? Did you just go to a location and look for an abandoned building or did you know where you were going before you set off?

    Excellent pictures and commentary. I totally agree it does look like someone could still be there – apart from the technology. A kind of Doctor Who moment!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      5/13/2009 at 4:22 pm

      Thanks Honor!

      A lot of the haikyo featured on this site I have found out about through the internet and a haikyo book I bought, but this was one of those rare finds that we stumbled upon by chance. Admittedly our plan was to find one, as we’d spent the morning exploring this love hotel, but we were still incredibly lucky to come across it.

      Not something I usually do to be honest, but Lake Yamanaka is pretty run down, so there was at least some chance of finding something. And we were sort of in the area.

      Still very lucky though.

      Reply
  2. Sandra says

    5/13/2009 at 4:20 pm

    Amazing pictures! I poked around an abandoned hospital in Miyazaki once that still had neat stacks of bedsheets, piles of papers on desks, and IV drips on poles all in place. Spooky.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      5/13/2009 at 4:25 pm

      Cheers Sandra.

      That hospital sounds fantastic. Quite a find. Did you take any pictures in there?

      Reply
      • Sandra says

        5/14/2009 at 8:08 am

        It was! No pictures, unfortunately. Only flashlights.

        Reply
  3. cre-cre says

    5/13/2009 at 4:22 pm

    I wonder why they leave things behind, like chairs and other stuff. I’m sure some of them can be reused.. right!?!
    Lovely pictures by the way.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      5/13/2009 at 4:28 pm

      That’s the case with most haikyo cre-cre. Occasionally the likes of air conditioners will have been taken away, but much of the furniture is just left. Why I don’t know, but I’m glad they do.

      Reply
  4. Paul says

    5/13/2009 at 9:38 pm

    Fantastic pics, Lee. That second one with the telephone is particularly excellent.

    Reply
  5. Jonathan says

    5/13/2009 at 10:12 pm

    Another great post Lee, pictures are crystal clear!

    Reply
  6. Mike says

    5/13/2009 at 11:51 pm

    Another great post Lee! Weird cocoon chair indeed!

    Reply
  7. ait_meijin says

    5/14/2009 at 2:03 am

    Thanks Lee! It’s always a pleasure to read about some haikyo while having a cuppa tea :3 There’s one question that bothers me for quite a while. How do you manage to catch that unique light (i.e. 3rd picture)? Do you choose the right time of the day for your trip or smth?

    Reply
  8. Lee says

    5/14/2009 at 7:49 am

    Thanks a lot guys. Nice to know it’s not just me who gets something out of this kind of thing.

    As for the light ait_meijin, timing wise it’s whatever time of day we arrive, so more luck than anything, although I do try and get as much shadow as possible into my shots. For me at least, shadow and a good bit of darkness are an integral part of the whole haikyo thing.

    Reply
  9. Yoli says

    5/14/2009 at 9:47 am

    What a find! A what a great eye you have.

    Reply
  10. p m doherty says

    5/15/2009 at 3:35 am

    I’d pay a lot of money for that chair.
    I’m also surprised unscrupulous “vintage furniture” stores haven’t rounded up the goodies from a lot of these places.

    Reply
  11. relakyru says

    5/15/2009 at 1:06 pm

    These shots remind me of when a friend and I stumbled accross a weird abandoned kind of fortress built into the side of a mountain in the Pyrenees. I have no idea what the place was used for but had a very sinister feel. I have never since found out anything more about it, not through lack of trying. It was sealed off to the public and in a very remote area but had many sub levels that descended further and further – all hacked out of solid mountain rock!

    I really enjoy your photos, is there a page where I can view all your galleries? I have seen a few and they all contain a number of great images. I think it’s great that when they abandon these places they simply walk off leaving the remnants of daily activities in place.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      5/16/2009 at 11:20 am

      No gallery as such relakyru I’m afraid, but all the haikyo posts can be found in one category, which is here

      Reply
  12. supreme nothing says

    5/17/2009 at 6:20 am

    I love these pics! My favorite is the first one, with Fujisan peeking through the openings. Fantastic!

    Reply
  13. Jason says

    5/19/2009 at 1:58 am

    I agree with the above commenter, I like the obstructed Fuji view photo. Amazing a property with such a view cannot be developed into something money making.

    Reply
  14. The Envoy says

    6/7/2009 at 11:33 am

    I love your haikyo photos. Abandoned buildings always gives me a surge of nostalgia, and to some extent, peace.

    Reply

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