Lighthouses of Japan: Kagoshima Area

Located at the southwestern end of the Japanese archipelago, the island of Kyūshū is divided into seven prefectures. This page includes lighthouses of the mainland portion of Kagoshima Prefecture, the southernmost prefecture of Kyūshū and of the main islands of Japan. Note: Kagoshima Prefecture also includes the Ōsumi and Amami islands, the northernmost islands of the Nansei Shoto (Ryukyu Islands). Lighthouses of these islands are included on a separate page.

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 - Kagoshima
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.
Our Lighthouses of Kagoshima Prefecture
A comprehensive collection of photos of Kagoshima lighthouses.
Lighthouse-Japan.com - Kagoshima
Another comprehensive site, with many photos.
Kiso's Lighthouses
This site has many excellent photos of Japanese lighthouses.
Region Ten Lighthouses
Information and photos posted by the Tenth Coast Guard Region office, which is responsible for Kagoshima 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.

Nagasaki Hana Light
Satsuma Nagasaki Hana Light, September 2007
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Sergio Mazzarelli

Kimotsuki District (Ōsumi Peninsula) Lighthouses
Note: The Ōsumi Peninsula, the southernmost extension of the island of Kyūshū, separates the Pacific on the east from Kagoshima Bay on the west.
* Shibushi Kō
1930. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); continuous green light with a more intense flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post light centered on a 1-story concrete equipment room and mounted on a hexagonal concrete base. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has only a very fuzzy satellite view. Located at the end of the west breakwater of the traditional small boat harbor of Shibushi, at the northern end of Shibushi Bay. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2074; JP-6705; Admiralty M4842; NGA 10896.
Shibushi South Breakwater
Date unknown (recent). Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); green flash every 3 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower, flared at the top, attached to a small equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a satellite view. This is the "Shibushi Beacon" of the NGA List. Located at the end of the south breakwater of the modern industrial port of Shibushi. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2073; JP-6704.8; Admiralty M4842.6; NGA 10898.
* Uchinoura Kō
1935. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); green light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post light attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Our Lighthouses has additional photos, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. It appears that this light has been relocated recently from the east breakwater to the detached breakwater. Located at the end of the detached breakwater of Uchinoura. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2082; JP-6704; Admiralty M4840; NGA 10900.
Hi Saki
1970. Active; focal plane 63 m (207 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 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 wth photos, Our Lighthouses has additional photos, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse marks the northern entrance to the Ōsumi Strait, which separates Kyūshū from Tanega Shima and is an important connection between the Pacific and the East China Sea. Located on a prominent cape at the southern entrance to Shibushi Bay. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-107; JP-6703; Admiralty M4839; NGA 10904.
* Ōdomari (Ōtomari) Kō
1963. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); continuous red light with a more intense flash every 5 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post light centered on a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is red. Google has only a very fuzzy satellite view. Located at the end of the breakwater of Ōdomari, a small port on a bay about 5 km (3 mi) northeast of Cape Sata. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. JP-6702; Admiralty M4837; NGA 10908.
Sata Misaki (Cape Sata) (2)
1950 (station established 1871). Active; focal plane 68 m (223 ft); two white flashes every 16 s. 13 m (43 ft) octagonal pyramidal concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story concrete service building. Entire lighthouse painted white. A closeup photo appears at right, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with photos, Our Lighthouses has photos, and another good view is available, but Google has only a very distant satellite view. Sata Misaki is the southernmost point of Kyūshū and of the main Japanese islands. The lighthouse here was selected by the Eighth Coast Guard District as one of Japan's Famous Fifty Lighthouses. Guiding vessels through the Ōsumi Strait, the light station is perched atop a monolith just off the tip of the cape. There's an excellent view from an observation tower on the heights above the cape; Kiso's photo (4/5 the way down the page) is taken from the sea and shows both the lighthouse and the observation tower. The present lighthouse is a replica of the original lighthouse, which was designed by the British engineer Richard Henry Brunton. The historic light station was destroyed by a U.S. air raid on March 18, 1945. Accessible only by boat or helicopter. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-539; JP-6701; Admiralty M4836; NGA 10912.
Sata Misaki Light
Sata Misaki Light, March 2007
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by Hashi Photo
Tatsume Saki
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 85 m (279 ft); 8 m (26 ft) round concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. A distant view and a second distant view are available, and Google has a distant satellite view. NGA lists this light as Tachime Saki. Located on a sharp promontory on the east side of the entrance to Kagoshima Bay about 5 km (3 mi) southwest of Izashiki. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-2075; Admiralty M4835; NGA 10916.
* Izashiki Kō
1970. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); continuous red light with a more intense flash every 3 s. 9 m (30 ft) concrete post light attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is red. Google has only a very fuzzy satellite view. Located at the end of the breakwater of Izashiki, a small port on the entrance to Kagoshima Bay about 16 km (10 mi) north of Cape Sata. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. JP-6647; Admiralty M4834; NGA 10920.
* Nezime (Nejime) Kō
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); two green flashes every 6 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post light attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with a good photo, Our Lighthouses has photos, and Google has a very distant satellite view. Nezime is a small port at Minamiōsumi, on the east side of Kagoshima Bay just inside the entrance. Located at the end of the north breakwater of Nezime. Apparently accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-407; JP-6646; Admiralty M4820.6; NGA 11040.
Ōnezime (O-Nezime, O-Nejima) Kō (Kinkō)
1962. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); continuous green light with a more intense flash every 3 s. 7.5 m (25 ft) concrete post light centered on a square concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Our Lighthouses has photos, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the west breakwater at Kinkō, about 3.5 km (2.25 mi) north of the Nezime Kō light. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-460; JP-6645; Admiralty M4821.2; NGA 11036.

Tarumizu City Lighthouses
Note: Kagoshima Bay (Kagoshima-wan) is about 60 km (37.5 mi) long and 20 km (12.5 mi) wide, extending from south to north into the center of Kyūshū. Near its northern end, the active volcano Mount Sakurajima rises in the middle of the bay, nearly closing it off. Taramizu is on the east side of Kagoshima Bay, opposite Kagoshima City and in the shadow of the volcano.
* Tarumizu (Tarumisu) Kō
1964. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); continuous red light with a more intense flash every 6 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post light attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is red. Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located at the end of the south breakwater of the traditional small boat harbor of Taramizu, north of the ferry terminal. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2079; JP-6641; Admiralty M4824; NGA 10936.

Kagoshima City Lighthouses
Note: Kagoshima city, the capital of the prefecture, is on the west side of the bay, facing the volcano across a narrow strait. It is a major port and is the terminal for ferries connecting Kyūshū to many islands to the south and southwest. The city's numerous lighthouses do not seem to be very well known.
Kan Se
1912. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); white flash every 3 s. 17 m (56 ft) round, strongly tapered white concrete tower. No photo available, but Google has a distant satellite view. Located on a reef in the southeastern entrance to the strait separating Kagoshima from Sakurajima. Accessible only by boat, but there's probably a good view from ferries arriving in Kagoshima from the islands south of Kyūshū. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-2046; JP-6633; Admiralty M4825; NGA 10960.
Kagoshima North Breakwater (2)
1987. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); red flash every 3 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) concrete post light attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse painted red. In the photo at right, this light is the closest light to the camera; the two outer breakwater lights are seen in the distance. Another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. The NGA list describes this as a framework tower, a reference to the former light. Located at the end of the old north breakwater of Kagoshima (outer breakwaters have extended the harbor considerably). Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2041; JP-6640; Admiralty M4831; NGA 10980.
* Kagoshima South Breakwater
1969. Inactive since 1987. 11.5 m (38 ft) concrete post light rising from a square 1-story equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. This light is near the aquarium and ferry terminal; this is also near its original location. Google has a satellite view. Site open, tower closed. ex-Admiralty F4832.
Kagoshima Honko Kō North Outer Breakwater
1987. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); red flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post light attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is red. Timo Hakkarainen has a photo showing these lights, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the south end of the detached section of the outer breakwater of Kagoshima. Site and tower closed. JP-6635.37; Admiralty M4828.8; NGA 10973.
Kagoshima Honko Kō Middle Breakwater North Head
1987. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); green flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post light attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Timo Hakkarainen has a photo showing these lights, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the north end of the detached middle section of the outer breakwater of Kagoshima. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. JP-6635.35; Admiralty M4828.7; NGA 10972.

Kagoshima Harbor and Mt. Sakurajima, October 2006
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Yoshiaki Yamaguchi
* Kagoshima North Breakwater (1)
1934. Inactive since 1987. 11.5 m (38 ft) square skeletal tower centered on a square 1-story equipment room. Entire lighthouse painted red. Replaced in 1987. Since 1994 this light has been displayed on the broad south wharf of Kagoshima. Google has a satellite view. Site open, tower closed. ex-Admiralty F4830.
Kagoshima Honko Kō Middle Breakwater South Head
1987. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post light attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is red. Google has a satellite view. Located at the south end of the detached middle section of the outer breakwater of Kagoshima. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. JP-6635.28; Admiralty M4828.6; NGA 10971.
Kagoshima Honko Kō South Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); two green flashes every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower, flared at the top, attached to a 1-story equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the south section of the outer breakwater of Kagoshima. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M4828.5; JP-6635.2.
* Kagoshima New Harbor (Shinko Kō) North Breakwater
1973. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); red flash every 4 s. 13 m (43 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. A photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. The new harbor is immediately to the south of the main harbor. Located at the end of the short north breakwater. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2039; JP-6635; Admiralty M4828.2; NGA 10968.
* Kagoshima New Harbor (Shinko Kō) South Breakwater
1973. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 13 m (43 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Frédéric Faux's photo is at right, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the south breakwater. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2040; JP-6634; Admiralty M4828; NGA 10964.
* Kamoike Breakwater
1976. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); green flash every 3 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) concrete post light attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. A panoramic photo of the harbor is available, and Google has a satellite view. This light guides ferries sailing to and from Tarumizu on the other side of Kagoshima Bay. Located at the end of the breakwater sheltering the ferry terminal about 6.5 km (4 mi) south of the downtown Kagoshima waterfront. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2045; JP-6632; Admiralty M4827.4; NGA 10956.
* Minami Kō (South Harbor) South Breakwater
1965. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); continuous green light with two more intense flashes every 8 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) concrete post light attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a satellite view. Located on the breakwater of Kagoshima's south harbor. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2063; JP-6631; Admiralty M4827; NGA 10952.
* Mokuzai South Breakwater
1972. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); continuous green light with a more intense flash every 4 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) concrete post light attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a satellite view. Located on the south breakwater of Kagoshima's Mokuzai harbor. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2062; JP-6630; Admiralty M4826.4; NGA 10948.
Kagoshima New Harbor South Breakwater
Kagoshima New Harbor South Breakwater Light, April 2008
contributed photo copyright Frédéric Faux; used by permission
Taniyama North Breakwater
1980. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); red light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 17 m (56 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted red. Noland Webb has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Taniyama is a relatively new harbor on the south side of Kagoshima city, about 9 km (5.5 mi) south of the original harbor. Located at the end of the north breakwater of Taniyama. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2077; Admiralty M4826; NGA 10940.
Taniyama Outer Breakwater South End
1975. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); red flash every 3 s. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. Glenn Livett and Isla Malte have a 2008 photo, and Google has a satellite view. The detached outer breakwater is about 2 km (1.25 mi) long and runs parallel to the waterfront. Located at the south end of the breakwater. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2076; Admiralty M4825.5; NGA 10944.
Taniyama South Breakwater
1987. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); green flash every 3 s. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Google has a fuzzy satellite view. About 1.5 km (1 mi) long, the south breakwater projects diagonally into Kagoshima Bay. Located at the end of the breakwater. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2078; Admiralty M4825.4; NGA 10946.

Ibusaki City (Southeastern Satsuma Peninsula) Lighthouses
Note: The Satsuma Peninsula (Satsuma-hantō) is shaped like an inverted hammerhead, with a broad, south-facing coast.
Chiringa Shima (Chirin Jima)
1957. Active; focal plane 101 m (331 ft); white flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post light with gallery, rising from a semicircular 1-story concrete equipment building. Entire lighthouse is white concrete. Our Lighthouses has good photos, and Google has a distant satellite view. Chiringa Shima is a round island, about 1 km (0.6 mi) in diameter, in Kagoshima Bay. In fine summer weather, one can cross to the island on an 800 m (1/2 mi) long sandbar; the lighthouse is then accessible by a hiking trail. Located on the northeastern side of the island. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2035; JP-6616; Admiralty M4821; NGA 11032.
Uno Se (Yamagawa Kō)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11.5 m (38 ft); red flash every 3 s. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower, painted red; in addition to the light the tower carries a red triangular topmark on a short post. Our Lighthouses as good photos, but the light is barely visible in Google's satellite view. Yamagawa is a port on the west side of the entrance to Kagoshima Bay, at the tip of the hammerhead of the Satsuma Peninsula. Located on a shoal in the entrance to Yamagawa's traditional harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-751; JP-6613; Admiralty M4820; NGA 11024.
Bandokoro Hana
1963. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green flash every 3 s. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post light centered on a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Our Lighthouses has photos, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with a good photo, and Google has a distant satellite view. Bandokoro Hana is a promontory sheltering Yamagawa's traditional harbor. A new harbor has been constructed on the tip of the promontory, sheltered by a breakwater with a right-angle bend. Located at the north end of the breakwater. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2034; JP-6614; Admiralty M4820.2; NGA 11028.
* Satsuma (Satuma) Nagasaki Hana (Nagasakibana)
1957. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. The base of the lighthouse has been developed as a public observation deck, with a circular roof to provide shelter and a broad stairway leading down to the beach. Sergio Mazzarelli's photo is at the top of the page, Our Lighthouses has photos, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with photos, Kiso has a good photo (1/5 the way down the page), Hideki Seto has a fine closeup, and Google has a distant satellite view. Note that there is another Nagasaki Hana lighthouse in Kagoshima prefecture (see below). Located on a very sharp promontory at the southeastern tip of the Satsuma Peninsula, marking the west side of the entrance to Kagoshima Bay. Site open, parking provided; tower closed. ARLHS JPN-544; JP-6610; Admiralty M4819.5; NGA 11044.

Makurazaki City (Southern Satsuma Peninsula) Lighthouses
* Maese Hana
1957. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); white flash every 4 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) concrete post light rising from a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Our Lighthouses has photos, but Google has only a very fuzzy satellite view of the area. Located on a promontory near Eiokawa. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2059; JP-6609; Admiralty M4819; NGA 11048.
* Makurazaki (Makurasaki) South Breakwater
1996. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower with a flared top, attached to a small equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse painted red. The Coast Guard has a distant view, and Google has distant satellite view. Located at the end of the main (south) breakwater of Makurazaki, a port near the southwestern end of the Satsuma Peninsula. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2060; J-6606.5; Admiralty M4815.3; NGA 11056.

Minamisatsuma City (Southwestern Satsuma Peninsula) Lighthouses
Bōno Misaki
1922. Active; focal plane 84 m (276 ft); three white flashes every 30 s. 12 m (39 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story concrete keeper's cottage. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard has several photos including the one at right, Lighthouse-Our Lighthouses has a page with excellent photos, Japan.com has a page with fine closeup photos, Kiso also has a photo (2/3 the way down the page), and Google has a distant satellite view. This lighthouse marks the extreme southwestern tip of the Satsuma Peninsula. Located about 7 km (4.5 mi) west of Makurazaki, at the end of a rugged promontory. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-047; JP-6605; Admiralty M4812; NGA 11064.
Minega Saki
1971. Active; focal plane 125 m (410 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 8.5 m (28 ft) round concrete tower attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with photos, and Our Lighthouses also has good photos, but the light is not seen in Google's satellite view of the cape. Located about 3 km (1.8 mi) north of Bōno Misaki. Site status unknown (may be accessible by road). ARLHS JPN-355; JP-6602; Admiralty M5080; NGA 11068.
Uji Islands (Uji Ie Shima)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 103 m (338 ft); white flash every 3 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) round concrete tower with gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. A photo is available, but the island is only a blur in Google's satellite view. The Uji Islands are a small group located about 80 km (50 mi) southwest of Noma Misaki and a similar distance south of the Gotō Islands. Located on the highest point of Ie Shima, the easternmost of the islands. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-2037; JP-6601; Admiralty M4805; NGA 12984.
Satsuma (Satuma) Noma Misaki
1959. Active; focal plane 149 m (489 ft); white flash every 5 s. 10.5 m (34 ft) concrete post light centered on a round 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with closeup photos, Our Lighthouses has good photos, and Google has a distant satellite view. This light marks the westernmost extension of the Satsuma Peninsula. Located on the heights of a long, hook-shaped promontory about 20 km (13 mi) northwest of Bōno Misaki. Site status unknown. JP-6579; Admiralty M5083; NGA 11072.
Bono Misaki Light
Bōno Misaki Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo
* Kataura Kō
1932. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); white flash every 3 s. 9 m (30 ft) square white concrete tower. Our Lighthouses has photos, but the tower is not seen in Google's fuzzy satellite view. The light was formerly located at the end of the west breakwater at Kataura, but that breakwater has been extended more than 800 m (1/2 mi) into the bay. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2049; JP-6578; Admiralty M5084; NGA 11080.

Ichikikushikino City Lighthouses
* Kushikino (Kusikino) Kō
1951. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); continuous white light. 12 m (39 ft) concrete post light centered on a round 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. An Jeong-Hoon's photo is at right, Kiso has a good closeup photo, a 2007 closeup is available, and Google has a satellite view. In 2010 the general purpose light was deactivated, but the tower now carries a spotlight iluminating a rock some 700 m (0.44 mi) to the south. Lighthouse-Japan.com has a 2008 photo showing both lights in action. Located at the root of the south breakwater of Kushikino; apparently accessible by a short walk from the fishing port. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-315; JP-6577.01; Admiralty M5087.1; NGA 11124.
Kushikino (Kusikino) North Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); continuous green light with a more intense flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a satellite view. Located at the south end of the detached north breakwater of Kushikino. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2057; JP-6573.5; Admiralty M5088; NGA 11120.
Satsuma (Satuma) Okino Shima
1970. Active; focal plane 87 m (285 ft); white flash every 4 s. 9.5 m (28 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, rising from a 1-story concrete keeper's cottage. Entire lighthouse is white. No closeup photo available, but Our Lighthouses has a distant view and Google has a satellite view. Located atop an isolated high island about 8 km (5 mi) west of Kushikino. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-546; JP-6573; Admiralty M5091; NGA 11128.

Satsumasendai City Lighthouses
Note: Known locally as Sendai, the city is officially called Satsumasendai to distinguish it from the better-known city Sendai in northeastern Honshū.
Satsumasendai (Sendai Kō) South Breakwater
1996. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 12 m (39 ft) round concrete tower, flared at the top. Entire lighthouse is red. Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of a 2.5 km (1.5 mi) long breakwater on the north side of the mouth of the Sendai River. Accessible in good weather by walking the pier, but it's an hour's walk roundtrip. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2070; JP-6570.21; Admiralty M5094; NGA 11136.
Kushikino Light
Kushikino Kō Light, April 2007
Panoramio photo copyright An Jeong-Hoon; permission requested
Satsumasendai (Sendai Kō) Outer Breakwater
1996 (?). Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); two green flashes every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower, flared at the top. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a satellite view. Located at the west end of the detached outer breakwater of Satsumasendai. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2071; JP-6570.2; Admiralty M5094.3; NGA 11138.
Satsumasendai (Sendai Kō) West Breakwater South Head
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (43 ft); green flash every 3 s. 10.5 m (34 ft) concrete post light attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a satellite view. Located at the west end of the older detached breakwater of Satsumasendai. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JP-6570; Admiralty M5094.4; NGA 11140.

Koshikijima Islands Lighthouses
Note: The Koshikijima Islands are located in the East China Sea roughly 35 km (22 mi) west of the coast of Kyūshū. The islands extend southwestward for about 40 km (25 mi). The largest islands are Kami-Koshikijima, at the northern end of the group, and Shimo-Koshikijima in the south. The islands are administered as part of Satsumasendai City.
Naka Se
1955. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 17.5 m (58 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double galleries and a conical base, centered on a round concrete pier. Lighthouse painted black with one red horizontal band. No photo available. Located on an isolated rock about halfway between the mainland and Sato Saki. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Admiralty M5093; NGA 11148.
Nawase Hana
1975. Active; focal plane 175 m (574 ft); white flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. No photo available; Google has a very distant satellite view of the station. Located atop at steep promontory at the northernmost point of the islands. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-405; JP-6580; Admiralty M4997; NGA 11160.
Ite Saki
1972. Active; focal plane 83 m (272 ft); white flash every 3 s. 11.5 m (38 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, centered on a 1-story concrete keeper's house. Entire lighthouse is white. No closeup photo available; Google has a very distant satellite view. Located atop at steep promontory at the northeasternmost point of Kami-Koshikijima. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-786; JP-6581; Admiralty M5092; NGA 11156.
Sato Saki (Satomura)
1977. Active; focal plane 54 m (177 ft); white light, 3 s on, 2 s off. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Kiso has a great closeup photo, and Google has a distant satellite view. Located on a promontory on Kami-Koshimijima about 3 km (2 mi) south of Ite Saki. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-541; JP-6582; Admiralty M4996.4; NGA 11152.
Tsubura Saki (Tubura Saki)
1965. Active; focal plane 91 m (299 ft); four white flashes every 15 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, rising from a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a distant satellite view. Located at the northernmost point of Shimo-Koshikijima. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-686; JP-6586; Admiralty M4994.6; NGA 11088.
* Torinosu Yama
1971. Active; focal plane 72 m (236 ft); white flash every 4 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) round concrete tower attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Kiso has a good photo, and Google has a distant satellite view. Located on a promontory about 2 km (1.2 mi) southeast of the Tsubura Saki lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-675; JP-6587; Admiralty M4994.7; NGA 11084.
* Tsurikake (Turikake) Saki (2)
1951 (station established 1896). Active; focal plane 146 m (479 ft); white flash every 15 s. 17 m (56 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attched to s small concrete equipment shelter. 3rd order clamshell Fresnel lens in use. A photo is above, the Coast Guard has a page for the lighthouse, Kiso has a view from the sea (1/3 the way down the page), and Google has a distant satellite view. The original stone lighthouse was destroyed by a U.S. air raid during World War II. Located at the southern tip of Shimo-Koshikijima, marking the southern end of the island group. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-695; JP-6591; Admiralty M4992; NGA 11096.

Tsurikake Saki Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo

Akune City Lighthouses
* Akune Kō
1962. Active; focal plane 43 m (141 ft); two white flashes every 10 s; a continuous white light illuminates an obstruction some 300 m (325 yd) away. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with photos, Our Lighthouses has good photos, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a headland near the south entrance to Akune harbor. The light appears to be accessible by a short walk from the harbor. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-015; JP-6565; Admiralty M5095; NGA 11164.
Akune Kō Breakwater
1990. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); red flash every 4 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) round concrete tower, flared at the top. Entire lighthouse is red. Google has a satellite view. NGA calls this the east breakwater, but it is really the south breakwater. Located at the end of a 900 m (0.56 mi) long breakwater on the south side of Akune harbor. Accessible in good weather by walking the pier, but it's a long walk. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2032; JP-6563.5; Admiralty M5097; NGA 11169.
Kohirase Kō (Kohira Se)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); three white flashes every 13 s; a continuous white light illuminates the nearby Hira Se reef. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower attached to a 2-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Our Lighthouses has good photos, and Google has a satellite view. NGA calls this light Kobira Se, a misspelling. This light guides ships in the narrow channel between the mainland and Naga Shima. Located atop a steep bluff about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) west of Wakimoto. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-015; JP-6559; Admiralty M5100; NGA 11172.

Izumi District Lighthouses
* Nagasaki Hana (3)
1977 (station established 1897). Active; focal plane 27 m (89 ft); white flash every 10 s. 15 m (49 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, centered on a 1-story octagonal concrete keeper's house. Entire lighthouse is white. A photo is at right, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with good photos, Our Lighthouses also has good photos, the Coast Guard has a page for the light, Kiso has a good closeup photo (1/4 the way down the page), and Google has a satellite view. Located on a promontory on Naga Shima marking the east side of the entrance to Yatsushiro Bay. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2066; JP-6562; Admiralty M5102; NGA 11184.
Mate Shima
1968. Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); white flash every 4 s. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower, probably attached to a concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a satellite view. Located at the northern tip of Mate Shima, an island in the southwestern corner of Yatsushiro Bay. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-2061; JP-6500; Admiralty M5129; NGA 11392.
Yatsushiro Nagasaki Hana Light
Yatsushiro Nagasaki Hana Light
Japanese Coast Guard photo

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Kumamoto Area | Northeast: Miyazaki | South: Ōsumi and Amami Islands

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Posted July 23, 2007. Checked and revised February 1, 2012. Lighthouses: 54. Site copyright 2012 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.