Shiraishi Wellness Center

Located on Shikoku Island, in the Tokushima Prefecture, lies a wellness center that has been derelict since 2007. We have already been driving for hours in the rain; the area is deserted, but the panorama remains magnificent. Our objective for the day sits right by the roadside in the heart of the mountains. Access is incredibly easy, but we have to leave the car right in front of the gate—not exactly ideal for discretion, but come what may. Opened in 1975, the place is reasonably well-preserved, and even though you can tell it has already been quite heavily stripped, there is still plenty to work with. Back in its heyday, you could find a hotel, a restaurant, a spa, a sauna, a gym, and a swimming pool with water slides here. An inevitable bankruptcy caused by a dwindling clientele ultimately doomed the complex.

An exhibitionist at heart and a touch nostalgic, I wander inside in a Speedo to take a few photos while admiring the view of the Pacific Ocean. Due to the dilapidated state of the building, it was raining just as much inside as it was outside during our exploration—which actually came in handy for our shots. I was disappointed to find that the sports equipment was completely gone; not a single exercise bike or treadmill in sight. It would have been the perfect opportunity to burn off a few calories after spending our evenings hitting up MOS Burger, the Japanese fast-food chain. Oh well, I’ll just have to own my belly (or not).