Lighthouses of Japan: Miyazaki

Located at the southwestern end of the Japanese archipelago, Kyūshū is divided into seven prefectures. This page includes lighthouses of the Miyazaki Prefecture on the eastern coast of the island, facing the Pacific Ocean.

In Japanese, the word for a lighthouse is tōdai or toudai (灯台). The words saki and misaki are for capes and headlands, shima (also spelled sima or jima) is an island, wan is a bay, and kō is a harbor. Lighthouses in Japan are operated and maintained by the Japanese Coast Guard's Maritime Safety Agency. There is at least one Coast Guard Section Office in each prefecture, often two or more.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. JP numbers are the Japanese Coast Guard's light list numbers. Admiralty numbers are from volume M of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 112.

General Sources
Lighthouses in Japan - Miyazaki
A comprehensive site, although almost entirely in Japanese. There's also a page on Lighthouses by R. H. Brunton listing the earliest Western-style Japanese lighthouses.
Lighthouse of Japan - Miyazaki
Another comprehensive site, in Japanese.
Kiso's Lighthouses
This site has many excellent photos of Japanese lighthouses.
Japanese Lighthouses - Miyazaki
A large collection of photos of Miyazaki lighthouses.
Our Lighthouses of Miyazaki Prefecture
A comprehensive collection of photos of Miyazaki lighthouses.
Miyazaki Lighthouse Photo Gallery
Excellent photos of the major lighthouses posted by the Miyazaki Coast Guard Office.
Region Ten Lighthouses
Information and photos posted by the Tenth Coast Guard Region office, which is responsible for Miyazaki Prefecture.
Modern Lighthouse Design
Posted by the Japan Aids to Navigation Association (JANA), this page links to descriptions and photos of interesting modern lighthouses throughout Japan.
The Famous Fifty Lighthouses
Photos of the lighthouses voted most famous in Japan, posted by the Eighth Coast Guard Region. Two of the fifty stand in the area covered by this page (Mizunoko Shima and Toi Misaki).
 

Hososhima Light
Hososhima Light, Hyūga; Japanese Coast Guard photo

Nobeoka City Lighthouses
* Kitaura Kō
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 9.5 m (31 ft); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 7.5 m (25 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is red. Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located at the end of the south (main) breakwater of Kitaura harbor. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2135; JP-6777; Admiralty M4905; NGA 10664.
Shimanoura (Simanoura, Shimano Ura) Kō
1969. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a very distant satellite view. Located on a small island just off the end of a detached breakwater off the west side of Shimanoura Shima. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. JP-6776; Admiralty M4904.5; NGA 10660.
Shimanoura (Simanoura, Shimano Ura) Shima
1937. Active; focal plane 192 m (630 ft); two white flashes every 7 s. 8 m (26 ft) concrete post light mounted on a rectangular 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard has a page of photos including the one at right, the light is atop the ridge in a distant view of the harbor, and Google's very distant satellite view barely shows the light. Shimanoura Shima is a substantial island, about 3 km (1.8 mi) by 2 km (1.2 mi), off the entrance to Shimanoura Bay. The island is inhabited and accessible by passenger ferry. Located on the highest point of the island. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-562; JP-6774; Admiralty M4904; NGA 10648.
Shimage (Shimake, Simake) Bae
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 18 m (59 ft) round concrete tower with double gallery, mounted on a concrete base. Lighthouse painted black with one red horizontal band. A distant photo is available (near the bottom of the page), and Google has a very distant satellite view. Located on an isolated rock about 5 km (3 mi) east of the entrance to Nobeoka harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. JP-6771; Admiralty M4903; NGA 10680.
Nobeoka (Totoro) Shinko Breakwater North Head
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); two green flashes every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower, flared at the top, attached to a small equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a satellite view. Located at the north end of the detached outer breakwater of the Totoro harbor in southern Nobeoka. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-2143; JP-6764; Admiralty M4900; NGA 10688.
Shimanoura Shima Light
Shimanoura Shima Light, Hyūga; Japanese Coast Guard photo
Nobeoka (Totoro) Shinko Breakwater South Head
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) concrete post light attached to a rectangular 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is red. Google has a satellite view. Located at the south end of the detached outer breakwater of the Totoro harbor in southern Nobeoka. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-2144; JP-6765; Admiralty M4900.94; NGA 10692.

Kadogawa (Higashiusuki District) Lighthouses
Nabe Saki
1949. Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); four white flashes every 15 s. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post light mounted on a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Our Miyazaki Lighthouses has photos, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located at the cape on the north side of the entrance to Ozue Bay, about 8 km (5 mi) northeast of Hyūga. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-386; JP-6758; Admiralty M4897; NGA 10712.
Kadogawa (Kadokawa) East Breakwater (Ozue Wan Approach)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower, flared at the top, attached to a small equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is red. Google has a satellite view. Located at the west end of a detached breakwater sheltering the east entrance to Kadogawa harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JP-6758.5; Admiralty M4899.7; NGA 10720.
Oto Shima Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 12 m (39 ft); three red flashes every 12 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower, flared at the top, attached to a small equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is red. Google has a satellite view. Located at the west end of a breakwater extending from Oto Shima, an island sheltering Kadogawa harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4898.8; JP-6762.
* Kadogawa Kō South Breakwater
1960. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); green light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 7.5 m (25 ft) round concrete tower centered on a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Our Miyazaki Lighthouses has photos, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the south breakwater of Kadogawa. Accessible by walking the pier. JP-6761; Admiralty M4899; NGA 10724.

Hyūga City Lighthouses
Hososhima North Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower, flared at the top, attached to a small equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of a breakwater sheltering Hososhima harbor. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-2128; JP-6752.9; Admiralty M4898.7; NGA 10740.
* Hososhima (Hososima, Hosojima) (2)
1941. Active; focal plane 101 m (331 ft); flash every 5 s, alternately red and white. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower wth lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. A Coast Guard photo is at the top of this page and additional Coast photos are available, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with good photos, Our Miyazaki Lighthouses has photos, and Google has a satellite view. This light station commands a spectacular view of the open Pacific Ocean. Located at the tip of a promontory on the south side of Hososhima harbor, about 5 km (3 mi) east of Hyūga. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-140; JP-6748; Admiralty M4896; NGA 10736.
Mimitsu Kō (Tatsugami Bae)
1934. Active; focal plane 23 m (75 ft); white flash every 4 s. 17 m (56 ft) octagonal pyramidal concrete tower wth lantern and gallery, mounted on an octagonal 1-story concrete base. The base is gray, and the rest of the lighthouse is white. A photo is at right, the Coast Guard has a page of photos, Our Miyazaki Lighthouses has photos, and Google has a satellite view. The lantern roof gives this unusual lighthouse the appearance of having a hat. Located on a skerry off the end of the south breakwater of Mimitsu. Presumably accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2136; JP-6746; Admiralty M4894; NGA 10748.

Mimitsu Kō Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo

Miyazaki City Lighthouses
* Tonda
1955. Active; focal plane 64 m (210 ft); white flash every 15 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower wth lantern and gallery, attached to a concrete 1-story equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard has photos including the one at right, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with photos, Our Miyazaki Lighthouses has photos, Kiso has an excellent photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a hill on the north side of the entrance to Tonda. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-672; JP-6742; Admiralty M4890; NGA 10760.
Miyazaki North Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower, flared at the top, attached to a small equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is red. Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the north breakwater of Miyazaki harbor. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-2139; JP-6741.6; Admiralty M4889.2; NGA 10762.
Ao Shima
1969. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); white flash every 4 s. 12 m (39 ft) round tapered concrete tower with double gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. This striking little lighthouse is often photographed; Alex Muntean has a good closeup, the Coast Guard has photos, Our Miyazaki Lighthouses has photos, Kiso also has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Ao Shima is a resort island just off the coast about 12 km (7.5 mi) south of Miyazaki city. The island is connected to the mainland by bridge. Located on a rock ledge just off the eastern tip of the island; easily visible from shore. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-151; JP-6739; Admiralty M4887; NGA 10768.
* Aoshima Kō East Breakwater
1964. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); continuous green light with two more intense flashes every 10 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post light attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Our Miyazaki Lighthouses has an excellent closeup, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the main breakwater of a harbor just south of Ao Shima. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. JP-6738; Admiralty M4888; NGA 10772.
Tosaki Hana
1951. Active; focal plane 91 m (299 ft); white flash every 8 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) semicircular cylindical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 1-story concrete equipment building. Entire lighthouse is white. Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with photos, Our Miyazaki Lighthouses also has photos, Kiso has a fine closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a prominent cape about 4 km (2.5 mi) southeast of Ao Shima. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-681; JP-6737; Admiralty M4886; NGA 10776.
Tonda Light
Tonda Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo
Uchiumi Kō Offing Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) concrete post light attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is red. Google has a satellite view. Located on a breakwater extending from a long peninsula sheltering Uchiumi harbor. Site open, tower closed. JP-6736; Admiralty M4882; NGA 10784.
* Uchiumi Kō Breakwater
1926. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); two green flashes every 6 s. 7.5 m (25 ft) square concrete tower attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Our Miyazaki Lighthouses has photos, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the main breakwater of Uchiumi, a small port about 4 km (2.5 mi) south of Tosaki Hana. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. JP-6735; Admiralty M4883; NGA 10780.
Kintyaku Shima (Kinchaku Jima, Kouchiumi)
1964. Active; focal plane 50 m (164 ft); three flashes every 13 s, white or red depending on direction. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post light attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with photos, Our Miyazaki Lighthouses has photos, and Google has a satellite view. Located on an island just off the coast at Kouchiumi, about 18 km (11 mi) south of Miyazaki city. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-260; JP-6732; Admiralty M4880; NGA 10796.

Nichinan City Lighthouses
Note: A large part of the rugged and scenic Nichinan coast, including most of the lighthouses, is protected as the Nichinan Kaigan (Nichinan Coast) Quasi-National Park.
* Udo Saki
1967. Active; focal plane 45 m (148 ft); white light occulting twice every 6 s. 12 m (39 ft) white square Shinto-style tower (see the Coast Guard's photo at right). Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with several photos, the Coast Guard has photos, JANA also has a page for the lighthouse, Our Miyazaki Lighthouses has photos, and Google has a satellite view. This wonderful lighthouse was built in a traditional Japanese architectural style because it stands in a popular scenic area of the Nichinan Kaigan Quasi-National Park close to the famous Udo Jingū Shrine, which Japanese newlyweds visit on their honeymoons to pray for long life and happiness in their marriages. Located on a prominent cape about 10 km (6 mi) north of Aburatsu. Site open, tower status unknown. ARLHS JPN-707; JP-6730; Admiralty M4876; NGA 10804.
Hadaka Bae
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); white flash every 4 s. 14 m (46 ft) round white concrete tower. Kiso has a photo, and Our Miyazaki Lighthouses has a distant view, but Google has only a fuzzy satellite view of the reef. Located on a dangerous skerry off the entrance to Aburatsu, the seaport of Nichinan city. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. JP-6725; Admiralty M4870; NGA 10808.
Udo Saki Lighthouse
Udo Saki Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo
* Aburatsu East Kō Breakwater
1935. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); red flash every 4 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is red. Our Miyazaki Lighthouses has good photos, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Located at the end of the east inner breakwater of Aburatsu. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2119; JP-6727; Admiralty M4872; NGA 10828.
Odotsu Kō Detached Breakwater
1953. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); red flash every 3 s. 9 m (30 ft) concrete post light rising from a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is red. Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Located at the end of a detached breakwater outside Odotsu, a harbor on the south side of Aburatsu. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JP-6719; Admiralty M4866.8; NGA 10844.
* Odotsu Kō West Groin
1953. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 9 m (30 ft) concrete post light rising from a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Our Miyazaki Lighthouses has photos, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Located at the end of the west breakwater at Odotsu, a harbor on the south side of Aburatsu. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2145; JP-6720; Admiralty M4867; NGA 10848.
* Kura Saki
1884. Active; focal plane 93 m (305 ft); two white flashes every 20 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 1-story concrete keeper's house. Entire lighthouse painted white. A small secondary concrete tower (1973) carries a spotlight that shines its beam on a nearby skerry. A Coast Guard photo is at right, the Coast Guard has a page (in Japanese) with two more photos and the history of the light station as well as an additional page of photos, Our Miyazaki Lighthouse has excellent photos, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with several good photos, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. This is apparently the oldest concrete lighthouse in Japan. According to the Coast Guard, concrete was substituted for stone because of difficulties in transporting suitable stone to the site. The concrete is not reinforced, but it has stood the test of time well. The lighthouse is located at the southern tip of a heavily forested island about 5 km (3 mi) south of the Aburatsu harbor entrance. The island is part of the quasi-national park, and it appears that the light station is accessible by hiking a service road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-304; JP-6711; Admiralty M4864; NGA 10868.

Kura Saki Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo

Kushima City Lighthouses
* Miyanoura Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (58 ft); green flash every 4 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post light rising from a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Located at the end of the south breakwater at Miyanoura, a small port about 5 km (3 mi) north of Toi Misaki. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2138; JP-6710.2; Admiralty M4861; NGA 10874.
*** Toi Misaki
1929 (substantially rebuilt after World War II). Active; focal plane 255 m (837 ft); white flash every 15 s. 15 m (49 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower rising from a 2-story concrete keeper's house. The powerful 1.3 million candela rotating aerobeacon in the lantern (1951) has a range listed as 68.5 km (43 mi). Entire lighthouse painted white. The Coast Guard has several photos, plus another good photo and a page for the lighthouse, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with several excellent photos, Our Miyazaki Lighthouses has good photos, Kiso has a rainy-day photo, a 2008 photo is available, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Toi Misaki (Cape Toi) is the southeastern tip of Kyūshū, making this lighthouse the principal landfall light for ships arriving from the Philippine Sea to the south. The light has a listed range of 37 nautical miles (68.5 km or 42.5 mi). The lighthouse was heavily damaged by American air raids in July 1945; it was returned to service after reconstruction in 1951. Located on the heights above the cape. Accessible by road. Site open; visitors can climb exterior stairs to the roof of the keeper's house, next to the tower, but the tower itself is closed. ARLHS JPN-661; JP-6710; Admiralty M4860; NGA 10876.
* Toi Misaki South (Harajiro)
1966. Active; focal plane 95 m (312 ft); continuous white light. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white.The Miyazaki Coast Guard Office has photos including the one at right, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with photos, Our Miyazaki Lighthouses has excellent photos, and Google has a very fuzzy satellite view. The light is a passing light guiding vessels that round the cape. Located on a cliff at the extreme point of the cape, about 1.7 km (1.1 mi) south of the Toi Misaki lighthouse. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-830; JP-6709; Admiralty M4860.2; NGA 10880.
Toi Misaki Light
Toi Misaki Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo
Bintare Shima (Bindare Jima)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); white flash every 4 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) round concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a distant satellite view. Located on a small island off Fukushima harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-2123; JP-6708; Admiralty M4858; NGA 10892.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Ōita | South: Kagoshima

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Posted June 25, 2007. Checked and revised January 24, 2012. Lighthouses: 31. Site copyright 2012 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.