Hachijo Royal Hotel was once one of the biggest hotels in Japan, drawing people to its remote island for beach vacations and relaxation. Today it lies in ruins. The abandoned hotel has not seen guests in over a decade, becoming overrun with moss and mildew.

Polish photographer Natalia Sobanska traveled to the French baroque-style hotel to capture the dilapidated building. Her photos are a glimpse into the hotel rooms that once welcomed guests from all over Japan but now has fallen to pieces.

Keep scrolling to take a look at what has become of the Hachijo Royal Hotel.


Since it was difficult for locals to get a passport in the ’60s, they traveled locally. Stunning Hachijojima Island, just a short ferry ride from the mainland, seemed like the perfect spot for a luxury resort.

Foto: Hachijo Royal Hotel was one of few places the Japanese could travel to.sourceCourtesy of Natalia Sobanska

Source: The Mirror


The Hachijo Royal Hotel was built in 1963 and quickly flourished, becoming one of the largest in Japan.

Foto: The hotel is on Hachijojima Island.sourceCourtesy of Natalia Sobanska

Source: Ridgeline Images


Once overseas travel became more commonplace around the turn of the century, the remote island wasn't seen as a desirable vacation destination any longer.

Foto: The Japanese began to travel to South East Asia instead of their home islands.sourceCourtesy of Natalia Sobanska

Source: Ridgeline Images


The hotel officially closed in 2006, leaving behind everything to crumble in the heat.

Foto: An abandoned car remains in the driveway.sourceCourtesy of Natalia Sobanska

A lot of the décor still remains in the exact location it was left over a decade ago.

Foto: The decor remains the same.sourceCourtesy of Natalia Sobanska

Likewise, some parts of the hotel are almost fully intact, alluding to its once lively past.

Foto: The phone booth where guests would make phone calls.sourceCourtesy of Natalia Sobanska

The pool table still stands in the game room.

Foto: Guests were able to play pool on the ground floor.sourceCourtesy of Natalia Sobanska

The grand piano that used to entertain thousands of guests now remains untouched in the rotting hotel.

Foto: Guests were once entertained by a grand piano.sourceCourtesy of Natalia Sobanska

The swimming pool is now filled with murky water.

Foto: The pool was a main attraction at the hotel.sourceCourtesy of Natalia Sobanska

While Sobanska has traveled all over the world to photograph abandoned places, she says the Hachijo Royal Hotel stands out for its unique style.

Foto: The upholstered furniture remains intact.sourceCourtesy of Natalia Sobanska

For example, ornate statues that pay homage to the Greeks are common throughout the hotel.

Foto: Elaborate statues are every where.sourceCourtesy of Natalia Sobanska

She spent seven hours in the ruins photographing the "classic Japan style destroyed by nature."

Foto: The chairs remain untouched.sourceCourtesy of Natalia Sobanska

Not surprisingly, Sobanska says the resort is eerily quiet.

Foto: Large open spaces are now empty.sourceCourtesy of Natalia Sobanska

But "not creepy or scary as people think."

Foto: The walls are crumbling to the floor.sourceCourtesy of Natalia Sobanska

The rooms themselves did not age as well as the common spaces.

Foto: The beds and walls are now destroyed.sourceCourtesy of Natalia Sobanska

The crumbled ceilings now lay scattered over the decaying floor.

Foto: Ten years have changed the rooms dramatically.sourceCourtesy of Natalia Sobanska

A mixture of hot air and saltwater has helped make these ruins a jungle.

Foto: Plants are now growing inside the building.sourceCourtesy of Natalia Sobanska

"In abandoned places, I am captivated by how nature takes back what it owns," Sobanska said.

Foto: Greenery can be seen throughout the building.sourceCourtesy of Natalia Sobanska

She continued, "It sounds absurd, but when you see it with your own eyes, it's just a natural beauty."

Foto: The television sets remain.sourceCourtesy of Natalia Sobanska

Just a peek at the view out the windows helps you understand the natural beauty and how people were drawn to this scenic escape.

Foto: The views of the island are breathtaking.sourceCourtesy of Natalia Sobanska

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