Earlier this year, right after my Eat Japan trip finished, I headed off to Hachijo island (far off the coast of Tokyo) for some solo adventure time.
The original intent was to do some hiking, taste some local treats, and maybe get in a bit of scuba diving (much too cold for the last one). However, I was sidetracked on day two after I discovered the existence of The Royal Hotel while searching for interesting things to see and do on the island.
The Royal Hotel (later known as the Pricia Resort Hachijo, then as the Hachijo Oriental Resort) was once the largest hotel in all of Japan. Built in 1963, it was the gem of the island known as the “Hawaii of Japan”. It remained as a functioning hotel until 2006, when it was suddenly closed down without any formal explanation.
I scoured the Internet for information. Sites such as this (also this, and this) all fueled my desire to go and check it out for myself.
Seeing as the hotel was about a ten minute walk from my hostel, I figured it’d be a shame to not at least see it from the outside and snap a few photos. In the end, I was lucky enough to spend an entire half-day exploring the premises in full.
I didn’t see a single soul the entire time I was there–and honestly, it was super creepy at times. A very unusual, unique experience to be sure.
So, without further ado, please enjoy some of the shots I took on my outing that day (all shot with my Samsung Galaxy S7 phone).

Upon gaining access to the inside, I was met by the main lobby of the hotel. Keeping as quiet as possible in case any security or squatters hear me, I tip-toed around the premises.

Around the back of the lobby I entered the office area, where this employee break/meeting room was situated.

The employee office area, complete with old computers and desks that look like they were left as-is in a hurry. The bedding seems more recent, like someone was squatting in the area as of late.

The main staircase from the lobby to the second floor of the hotel (looking down at the lobby, check-in desks, and main entryway).

The first few rooms I checked out were in remarkably good shape, especially considering they had been abandoned 11 years prior.

Some of the rooms, such as this western-style guest room, looked like they had been used over the years by various squatters.

I quickly found out that not all of the rooms were in such great shape though. Apparently the roof of one section of the hotel had given in, allowing the elements to ravage the rooms below.

Still wary of the presence of squatters or security, I carefully crept from room to room. This room was hit pretty bad, with the roof collapsed all over the place.

Seemed that about half of the rooms were western-style, while the other half were Japanese-style, with tatami mats and futons.

Room amenities, such as this wooden tray with yukatas (Japanese robes) and obi (belt sash) for guests, are still immaculately preserved.

Climbing on up, from the ground floor to the second floor, then the third floor, I realized each floor was approximately half western-style rooms, and half Japanese-style rooms (with futons and tatami mats). Half of the rooms were in areas in the middle of the hotel where the roof had given away and were in various states of disrepair, while other rooms look like they had been made that morning.

This room, right across the hall from the prior photo, looked completely new and untouched in the prior decade.

A view of the interior courtyard from the window of a third floor room. You can see the area where I gained access to the interior of the building, carpeted in bright-green astroturf.

The most striking rooms where the ones that hadn’t totally collapsed, but water and sunlight (and apparently some seeds) had found their way in, creating a very post-apocalyptic juxtaposition of man versus nature.

Crossing over to the opposite wing of the hotel, I take a chance to grab a great shot of the eastern coast, with Hachijo-Fuji mountain in the background (which I climbed the day prior).

This room had pieces of ceiling and drywall all over, but had escaped turning into a greenhouse like the neighboring rooms.

Heading all the way up to the top (fourth) floor, I came across an expansive event room. There was a stage at the front of the room, and the backroom was filled with audio/visual gear such as karaoke machines, laserdiscs, speakers, and mixing boards.

In the same way the guest rooms were segregated into western- and Japanese-style varieties, so it was with the event rooms. Next door was the Japanese-style room, floor covered in dozens of tatami mats.

To the side of the event rooms was a professional kitchen, capable of dishing out meals for the large groups that used the hotel as their event space (weddings, corporate functions etc.). Besides a few aesthetic blemishes, everything looked to be in such good condition that I could imagine it being put into use later the same day.

In much the same condition as the first-floor employee break room, the event floor break room was also thoroughly out-of-order (albeit with a bit more greenery involved).

Heading low on phone battery, I headed back down to the first floor to check out the last areas I had yet to explore. At this point I was sure that I was alone in the hotel, which made things a bit easier. This is the first floor bar (and possibly sushi) area. Notice the sake bottles and glasses, along with sushi servingware on the shelves.

One floor down from the entry lobby is a recreation area with what looks like a restaurant and kitchen, pool tables, daycare area, and lounge.

The hotel also featured large gender-segregated bath houses, known in Japanese as onsen, on the ground floor.
Note: Although The Royal Hotel is effectively abandoned, it is indeed still owned by some entity. Being private property, it is illegal to enter even the grounds of the hotel, so keep that in mind should you be in the area. Also, it appears that they are taking steps to slowly clean the place up (for whatever reason), so who knows how long the hotel will remain in its present state.
Really loved seeing the pictures capturing what you saw that day. Just remarkable!
Wow!
this place is cool. Should be reopen – a job for you 🙂
See you soon in Bangkok
See you soon man!
Great pics!! Looks like such an interesting place to explore. Definitely on my must do list for Japan, Thanks
My pleasure! Just a short, $100 plane trip from Tokyo. 🙂
great pictures scott really like them…..like the inside out rooms….amazing
Insane pictures
Loved the captures you got with your Samsung Galaxy S7.
Very good quality.
It should definitely reopen.
Wow, loving these pics – u should become a professional photographer with those skills 🙂 shame your Samsung Galaxy S7 ran low on battery, coz I could really have done with some more of these amazing shoots… it really helped with my school project… THANKYOU