For the long gone residents of Nitchitsu mining town, the decidedly disturbing doctor’s office was definitely not the place to be, but for those well enough, there were predictably places of work,
although needless to say, any note taking is now unnecessary.
And similarly silent is the restaurant which, as well as being ramshackle,
has a restroom that is more than a bit risky.
The town’s sole supermarket is not surprisingly also in a shocking state of disarray,
but at least the lack of stock means it’s considerably quieter than most Japanese stores.
Which is a bit like bath time.
Meaning the community feel is largely lost forever, with the town emblem,
and a huge tatami room,
only hinting at what must have been much happier times.
But sadness can also be a bit sinister, or it certainly is when sauntering round the small school in semi-darkness, as the ‘naughty seat’ is now in no way to be taken lightly,
and for those that are sick, the radio conjures up little comfort.
Plus there’s no point in calling for help either,
as the corridors will continue to be conspicuously quiet.
(click images for higher-res haikyo)
In the third and final part, I look at what’s left of the lodgings, and for those of you that missed it, part 1 looks at the decidedly disturbing doctor’s office.
dan says
very nice pictures. I wonder how did you hear about this town and how come there’s no one living there now?
ait_meijin says
The picture with radio is just awesome. Those trees behind the window are simply beautiful. Yep, a sinister tranquillity. Thank you, Lee! I think that journey wasn’t so easy for you.
Urban Rats says
Great photos! 😀
That place remind me Siren games, especially the first
one…
Ken Y-N says
I had to look up what these full bottles in the middle with My ã¿ãžã‚Œ written on them were, and it seems to be a syrup for pouring over shaved ice. How come six of them survived unopened like that?
Lee says
The town was left years ago Dan. I presume the mine wasn’t profitable anymore, so the company simply shut it down. When exactly I don’t know, but I found a calender in the doctor’s office that was dated 1973.
As it’s situated in the middle of nowhere, and the company presumably owned all the apartments, facilities etc, once the decision was made, those living there presumably had no choice but to leave. There would have been nothing there for them otherwise. Sad, but true.
Oh, and I found out about the place from Mike in Japan who had been there before me and very kindly helped out with directions.
As for the journey not being easy for me ait_meijin, it was quite the opposite. A 3 hour drive to visit a place as fascinating as Nitchitsu is nothing. I would have quite happily driven double the distance. And then some.
Thanks for clearing up what the stuff in the bottles is Ken. Why so much of it should have been left though I don’t know. Apart from some cleaning products, that was the only stuff left on the shelves.
Maybe it was winter when they left…?
Dave says
Very nicely done. I wish I could create as nice of photos as the ones you managed to get. I am kind of scared to try something like this as well in the states……
Andy says
This haikyoing business looks like fun. Somebody should shoot a zombie film in Nitchitsu. I think Kerry Katona would be good for the lead…
freetriptojapan says
Looks like an awesome place to visit, when I get in Japan, I will go there 🙂 by the way you got great pictures!
Bunny says
Great stuff, Lee!
Ian Duncan says
Really fantastic pictures and very interesting stuff. The first part of the series was just as good too.
Jason says
Nice photos again Lee, I like your use of DoF for haikyo shots and/or low angle and shadow shots.
Any idea what that glass cylinder thing is? I took a shot of it from the front, if that helps anyone else identify it:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/jcollin3k/SJJ3bvz9FFI/AAAAAAAABnM/YwH4WaRVIBA/PC284598_2.JPG?imgmax=800
It looks like the dead moth is still in the bottom of it!
Lee says
Thanks Jason.
No idea what it is to be honest. And, the more I look at it, the more I think I don’t want to know either…
Michael says
It’s an infusion pump for IV therapy. I suppose the school may have sometimes served as a makeshift hospital given the propensity of mines to injure people.
Max Haller says
I heard about on DSTV. On the Galileao it was very interesting and I will visit one day this amazing place. Beautiful Pictures.