Urban explorer Florian Seidel has visited Nara Dreamland more than half a dozen times for his blog Abandoned Kansai. The park, built in 1961, shut its doors in 2006. It's become one of the most popular destinations for Japan-based urban explorers.
Urban exploration in Japan —
Urban explorer Florian Seidel has visited Nara Dreamland more than half a dozen times for his blog Abandoned Kansai. The park, built in 1961, shut its doors in 2006. It's become one of the most popular destinations for Japan-based urban explorers.
Florian Seidel/Abandoned Kansai
Given the potential dangers of climbing around abandoned amusement park structures, such as this roller coaster, security guards are now stationed at Nara Dreamland. Seidel says the park, an obvious ripoff of Disneyland, couldn't compete with the arrival of Universal Studios Japan in 2001, which is why it closed five years later.
Nara Dreamland —
Given the potential dangers of climbing around abandoned amusement park structures, such as this roller coaster, security guards are now stationed at Nara Dreamland. Seidel says the park, an obvious ripoff of Disneyland, couldn't compete with the arrival of Universal Studios Japan in 2001, which is why it closed five years later.
Florian Seidel/Abandoned Kansai
At a total height of 100 meters, the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fabandonedkansai.com%2F2012%2F09%2F24%2Fworld-peace-giant-kannon%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">World Peace Giant Kannon</a>, or Awaji Kannon, is one of the tallest statues in the world. Located on Awaji Island, in Japan's Hyogo Prefecture, it closed in 2006 following the death of its owner. Though put to auction several times since, Seidel says there were no takers.
Awaji Kannon —
At a total height of 100 meters, the World Peace Giant Kannon, or Awaji Kannon, is one of the tallest statues in the world. Located on Awaji Island, in Japan's Hyogo Prefecture, it closed in 2006 following the death of its owner. Though put to auction several times since, Seidel says there were no takers.
Florian Seidel/Abandoned Kansai
The Hokkaido House of Hidden Treasures was a sex museum in a small town near Sapporo.
Abandoned sex museum —
The Hokkaido House of Hidden Treasures was a sex museum in a small town near Sapporo.
Florian Seidel/Abandoned Kansai
The abandoned Maya Tourist Hotel was built in 1929. In a blog post dedicated to his find, Seidel says the deteriorating venue, located halfway up Mt. Maya in Kobe, has been battling the forces of nature since being left to the elements some two decades ago.
Maya Tourist Hotel —
The abandoned Maya Tourist Hotel was built in 1929. In a blog post dedicated to his find, Seidel says the deteriorating venue, located halfway up Mt. Maya in Kobe, has been battling the forces of nature since being left to the elements some two decades ago.
Florian Seidel/Abandoned Kansai
The Shimizu Onsen Center was a public bath in the mountains of Japan's Shikoku island. In Japanese culture, frogs symbolize good fortune.
Shimizu Onsen Center —
The Shimizu Onsen Center was a public bath in the mountains of Japan's Shikoku island. In Japanese culture, frogs symbolize good fortune.
Florian Seidel/Abandoned Kansai
Macabre as they are, decaying animals are part of the urban exploration experience and often covered in blog posts by global followers of the trend. This unfortunate creature was snapped at the abandoned Shimizu Onsen Center.
Animal carcasses —
Macabre as they are, decaying animals are part of the urban exploration experience and often covered in blog posts by global followers of the trend. This unfortunate creature was snapped at the abandoned Shimizu Onsen Center.
Florian Seidel/Abandoned Kansai
A volcanic eruption in 1977 bent, twisted and partially collapsed the Sankei Hospital in Hokkaido, says Seidel, who visited the abandoned facility in 2013.
Sankei Hospital —
A volcanic eruption in 1977 bent, twisted and partially collapsed the Sankei Hospital in Hokkaido, says Seidel, who visited the abandoned facility in 2013.
Florian Seidel/Abandoned Kansai
On October 10, 2011, Kyoto police arrested 16 people at the abandoned Kasagi Hotel -- and left notes as a warning to anyone who might be tempted to do some exploring of their own. Though much of urban exploration is considered trespassing -- and sometimes dangerous -- devotees stress they "take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints."
Enter at your own risk —
On October 10, 2011, Kyoto police arrested 16 people at the abandoned Kasagi Hotel -- and left notes as a warning to anyone who might be tempted to do some exploring of their own. Though much of urban exploration is considered trespassing -- and sometimes dangerous -- devotees stress they "take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints."
Florian Seidel/Abandoned Kansai
The Furuichi Love Hotel in Hyogo Prefecture was once an hourly refuge for Japanese couples from all walks of life. Seidel has visited several abandoned Japanese love hotels, which are featured <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fabandonedkansai.com%2Fcategory%2Flove-hotel%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">on his site</a>.
Furuichi Love Hotel —
The Furuichi Love Hotel in Hyogo Prefecture was once an hourly refuge for Japanese couples from all walks of life. Seidel has visited several abandoned Japanese love hotels, which are featured on his site.
Florian Seidel/Abandoned Kansai
Seidel photographed this welder's mask at an abandoned mine somewhere in the mountains of Japan. As with most urbexers, Seidel doesn't give away exact locations of his finds, largely because he doesn't want to see them overrun.
Abandoned mine —
Seidel photographed this welder's mask at an abandoned mine somewhere in the mountains of Japan. As with most urbexers, Seidel doesn't give away exact locations of his finds, largely because he doesn't want to see them overrun.
Courtesy Florian Seidel