Lighthouses of Southeastern Hokkaido

Hokkaido is the northernmost of the four main islands of Japan. It is very roughly triangular in shape, facing northeast on the Sea of Okhotsk, southeast on the Pacific Ocean, and west on the Sea of Japan. It is separated from Honshu to the south by the Tsugaru Strait and from Russian Sakhalin to the north by the La Pérouse or Soya Strait. The entire island forms a single prefecture, which is easily the largest prefecture of Japan. This page covers lighthouses of the southeast coast of Hokkaido. It includes lighthouses facing the Pacific coast and the Tsugaru Strait. In Japanese, the word for a lighthouse is toudai. The words saki and misaki are for capes and headlands, shima (also spelled sima or jima) is an island, wan is a bay, and ko is a harbor. Lighthouses in Japan are operated and maintained by the Japanese Coast Guard's Maritime Safety Agency. 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 - Hokkaido Photos and data for Hokkaido lighthouses. Misty's Japanese Lighthouse Tour - Hokkaido Photos and brief notes in English. Kiso's Lighthouses -Hokkaido This site has many excellent photos of Japanese lighthouses. The Hokkaido Lighthouse Photos and data for many of the lighthouses. The Famous Fifty Lighthouses Photos of the lighthouses voted most famous in Japan, posted by the Eighth Coast Guard Region. Five of the fifty stand in the area covered by this page (Hanasaki, Otiisi Misaki, Erimo Misaki, Tikiu Misaki, and Esan Misaki). Nemuro Coast Guard Station - Harbors Panoramic views of harbors in the Cape Nemuro area; lighthouse are often visible. The Nemuro station also has a lighthouse page with information on the principal lighthouses of the region. Kushiro Coast Guard Station - Coastal Lighthouse Photos Excellent photos posted by the Kushiro Coast Guard Station. Hakodate Section Lighthouses Photos and data from the Hakodate Coast Guard Station web site.

Erimo Misaki Light, January 2007 anonymous Creative Commons photo Tobutsu Misaki Light Japanese Coast Guard photo

Nemuro Peninsula Lighthouses

Habomai Nosiri Shima

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); flash every 5 s, white or red depending on direction. 10 m (33 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white. Located on a small island just off the southeast coast of the Nemuro Peninsula about 6.5 km (4 mi) southwest of Cape Nosappu. The island is a restricted bird sanctuary. There is a distant view from route 35 along the coast. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-857; Admiralty M6839; NGA 0460.

* Hanasaki

1890. Active; focal plane 31 m (102 ft); white or red light, depending on direction, 6 s on, 2 s off. 10 m (33 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from the seaward end of a 1-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted with a broad red horizontal band below the gallery. Fog horn (5 s on, 10 s off). Takeshi Oshawa has a fine closeup photo, another photo is available, and Misty's Tour has two photos. This lighthouse marks the entrance to the harbor of Hanasaki. Located on a promontory on the southeast coast of the Nemuro Peninsula about 1 km (0.6 mi) southeast of Hanasaki and 5 km (3 mi) south of Nemuro. The lighthouse is accessible by a walk of about 20 minutes from the town. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-085; JP-0150; Admiralty M6836; NGA 0472.

Hanasaki Detached Breakwater

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); green flash every 3 s. 10 m (33 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white. No photo available. Located at the southeast end of a detached breakwater protecting the harbor of Hanasaki. Accessible only by boat, but there should be good views from the waterfront and from the Hanasaki lighthouse. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-864; Admiralty M6837.5; NGA 0474.

Yururi (Yuturi) Shima

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 53 m (174 ft); white flash every 3 s. 13 m (43 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a small equipment room. Lighthouse painted with black and white horizontal bands. Yururi Shima is an island off the east side of the Nemuro Peninsula about 8 km (5 mi) south of Hanasaki. The island is a protected wildlife reserve. Located on the west side of the island, marking the passage between the island and the mainland of Hokkaido. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1025; Admiralty M6835; NGA 0480.

Otiisi Ko West Breakwater Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (36 ft); green flash every 3 s. 10 m (33 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white. There is a very distant view of this lighthouse in the Nemuro Coast Guard Station's panorama of the harbor. Located at the end of the west breakwater of Otiisi Ko, a harbor on the north side of the bay protected by Otiisi Misaki. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-936; Admiralty M6834.3; NGA 0486. * Otiisi (Ochiisi) Misaki (Cape Otiisi) 1890. Active; focal plane 48 m (157 ft); flash every 8 s, white or red depending on direction. 15 m (49 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from the seaward end of a 1-1/2 story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted with a broad red horizontal band below the gallery; the red band extends across part of the keeper's house. Fog horn (10 s on, 20 s off). The Coast Guard's photo is at right, a more distant view is available, and Misty's Tour has excellent photos. This is a historic lighthouse, marking a cape that is considered to be particularly dangerous because it experiences frequent fogs. A signal station installed here in 1909 played a vital role in trans-Pacific navigation for many years. Charles Lindbergh aimed for this signal station when he flew from Alaska to Japan, pioneering the Pacific great circle route to Japan and China, in 1931. Located on a cape projecting from the southern base of the Nemuro Peninsula about 16 km (10 mi) south of Nemuro and the same distance east of Atsutoko. Accessible by an unpaved road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-496; JP-0147; Admiralty M6834; NGA 0488.

Otiisi Misaki Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo

Southeast Coast and Kushiro Area Lighthouses

* Tobutsu Misaki (Cape Kiritappu)

1930. Active; focal plane 49 m (161 ft); flash every 5 s, white or red depending on direction. 12 m (39 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from the center of a 1-story concrete keeper's house. Tower painted red, but the lantern and keeper's house are painted white, so the lighthouse appears white with a red horizontal band. Fog horn (10 s on, 20 s off). The Kushiro Coast Guard Station has the photo at the top of this page and a photo of the ragged, rocky promontory on which it stands. Another view of the lighthouse is available. Located at the end of a rocky cape 6 km (3.5 mi) long, about 30 km (19 mi) east of Akkeshi. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-658; JP-0144; Admiralty M6830; NGA 0492.

Akkeshi

Date unknown (station established 1890). Active; focal plane 112 m (367 ft); white flash every 10 s. Listed by NGA as an 8 m (26 ft) round concrete cylindrical concrete tower with lantern, attached to a 1-story equipment room. Lighthouse painted white. The Coast Guard has a photo. Located at the south end of Daikoku Shima, an island in the center of the entrance to Akkeshi bay. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-013; JP-0141; Admiralty M6828; NGA 0500.

* Konbumori 1960. Active; focal plane 90 m (295 ft); flash every 5 s, white or red depending on direction. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with one black horizontal band. A Coast Guard photo is at right, Misty's Tour has a photo. Located on a promontory about 8 km (5 mi) east of Kushiro. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-286; JP-0139; Admiralty M6826; NGA 0508. * Kushiro Saki Date unknown (station established 1891). Active; focal plane 51 m (167 ft); white flash every 15 s. 17 m (56 ft) U-shaped cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with one red horizontal band. Next to the lighthouse is a taller building that appears to be a signal or harbor control station. Misty's Tour has excellent photos, and the Coast Guard has a night time photo. Kushiro is by far the largest and busiest port of eastern Hokkaido. Located at the western end of a peninsula sheltering the harbor of Kushiro. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-316; JP-0137; Admiralty M6814; NGA 0516. Kushiro (Sireto Syo) North Breakwater South Head Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); two green flashes every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. No photo available. Located at the south end of a detached breakwater protecting the eastern (older) harbor of Kushiro. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-975; Admiralty M6816; NGA 0536.

Konbumori Light Japanese Coast Guard photo

* Tokachi (Tokati) Otu

1964. Active; focal plane 58 m (190 ft); three white flashes every 20 s. 14 m (46 ft) U-shaped cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted with black and white horizontal bands. Misty's Tour has a good photo, and the Coast Guard has a winter photo. Tokachi is in the center of Hokkaido's long, gently curved southeastern coast. Located on a bluff above the Pacific about 35 km (22 mi) southeast of Obihiro and 65 km (40 mi) southwest of Kushiro. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-662; JP-0126; Admiralty M6812; NGA 0552.

* Hiro'o

1959. Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); two white flashes every 15 s. 13 m (43 ft) square concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. The Coast Guard has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at Hiro'o, a small port about 35 km (22 mi) north of Cape Erimo. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-868; JP-0122; Admiralty M6807.5; NGA 0556.

Erimo Peninsula Lighthouses

Shoya Ko West Breakwater

1976. Active; focal plane 14 m (45 ft); green light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. No photo available. Located at the east end of a detached breakwater at the entrance to the harbor of Shoya, about 12 km (7.5 mi) north of Cape Erimo. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-984; Admiralty M6803; NGA 0572.

* Erimo Misaki

Date unknown (station established 1889). Active; focal plane 74 m (243 ft); white flash every 15 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story equipment shelter. A large clamshell Fresnel lens, probably 2° order, is in use. Lighthouse painted white. A photo is at the top of this page, a 2007 closeup photo is available, Misty's Tour has photos, and Google has a satellite view. According to a Japanese page on the lighthouse, the station is staffed although the light itself has been automated since 1964. The skeletal towers flanking the lighthouse have radars that measure wave heights. The light, one of the most powerful in Japan, has a range of 40 km (25 mi). Cape Erimo is the sharp southeastern corner of Hokkaido, projecting spectacularly into the Pacific. Located on a bluff at the point of the cape. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-060; JP-0120; Admiralty M6802; NGA 0576.

* Horoizumi (2)

Date unknown (station established 1891). Active; focal plane 68 m (223 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 13 m (43 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story equipment shelter. Lighthouse painted with red and white horizontal bands. Misty's Tour has a distant photo, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a hillside about 10 km (6 mi) northwest of Cape Erimo and 1 km (0.6 mi) southeast of Erimo Ko. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-139; JP-0119; Admiralty M6796; NGA 0580.

* Horoizumi (1)

1891. Inactive. Approx. 7 m (23 ft) square cylindrical stone tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. A 2008 photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the waterfront of Erimo Ko, about 10 km (6 mi) northwest of Cape Erimo. Site open, tower status unknown.

Erimo Ko 1989. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); two red flashes every 5 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the west end of a detached breakwater protecting the entrance to the port of Erimo. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-851; JP-0117.5; Admiralty M6797; NGA 0584. Samani Ko East Outer Breakwater 1974. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); red light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. No photo available. Located at the end of the long eastern breakwater protecting the harbor of Samani, about 40 km (25 mi) northwest of Cape Erimo. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-958; JP-0116; Admiralty M6791; NGA 0600. Samani Ko West Breakwater 1969. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); two green flashes every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. No photo available. Located at the end of the relatively short west breakwater protecting the harbor of Samani, about 40 km (25 mi) northwest of Cape Erimo. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-960; JP-0114; Admiralty M6792; NGA 0596. * Urakawa 1891. Active; focal plane 47 m (154 ft); white flash every 5 s. 12 m (36 ft) square old-style concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted with red and white horizontal bands. Misty's Tour has two photos, and Google has a satellite view. The modern lantern is not centered on the tower, but is mounted on the seaward corner. Located on a bluff above the seaport of Urukawa. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-722; JP-0113; Admiralty M6786; NGA 0604.

Urakawa Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo

Tomakomai Area Lighthouses
* Shizunai

1967. Active; focal plane 91 m (299 ft); white flash every 10 s. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story equipment shelter. Lighthouse painted white with one red horizontal band. Located on a bluff above the harbor of Shizunai, a port about halfway between Cape Erimo and the city of Tomakomai. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-592; JP-0105; Admiralty M6777; NGA 0632.

Atsuga Ko South Breakwater

1966. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); red flash every 3 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. The lighthouse is covered with red tiles, and the lantern roof is painted red. No photo available. Located at the end of the long south breakwater sheltering the harbor of Atsuga, about 15 km (10 mi) west of Shizunai and 45 km (28 mi) east of Tomakomai. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-846; JP-0103; Admiralty M6775; NGA 0644.

* Hidaka Monbetsu

1970. Active; focal plane 45 m (148 ft); white light, 4 s on, 4 s off. 13 m (43 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story equipment shelter. Lighthouse painted white. A closeup is available, and Misty's Tour also has a good photo. Note: there are several lighthouses at another Monbetsu on the north coast of Hokkaido. Located on a bluff a short distance east of the harbor of Hidaka Monbetsu, about 35 km (22 mi) east of Tomakomai. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-111; JP-0102; Admiralty M6774.6; NGA 0648.

Tomakomai East Breakwater

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. A large and busy port, Tomakomai is the Pacific-side seaport for Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido. Located at the end of the very long east breakwater sheltering the modern harbor of Tomakomai, on the east side of the city. Probably accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-865; JP-0097.8; Admiralty M6774.3; NGA 0658.

Tomakomai Ko East Breakwater Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); red light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the east breakwater at the entrance to the traditional harbor at downtown Tomakomai. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-666; JP-0093; Admiralty M6773.7; NGA 0672. Tomakomai Ko West Breakwater Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); two green flashes every 7 s. 13 m (43 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of a short mole on the west side of the entrance to the traditional harbor at downtown Tomakomai. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-867; JP-0092; Admiralty M6773; NGA 0664. * Tomakomai 1965. Active; focal plane 37 m (121 ft); white flash every 12 s. 32 m (105 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. NGA lists the colors as black and white, so the paint scheme may have been changed recently. A closeup photo is available (fifth photo on the page), and Google has a satellite view. The photo at right shows how the port of Tomakomai lies on the Yufutsu Plain at the foot of Mt. Tarumae. Located just off highway 36 in an industrial area in western Tomakomai, about 4 km (2.5 mi) west of the old Tomakomai Ko harbor. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-665; JP-0091; Admiralty M6772; NGA 0676.

Tomakomai Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo

Muroran Area Lighthouses
* Ayoro Hana

1976. Active; focal plane 42 m (138 ft); flash every 16 s, alternately red and white. 13 m (43 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a small service building. Lighthouse painted with red and white horizontal bands. Misty's Tour has several photos. Located on a bluff about 8 km (5 mi) northeast of Noboribetsu and 20 km (13 mi) northeast of Muroran. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-036; JP-0090; Admiralty M6770; NGA 0680.

Noboribetsu Ko

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); red flash every 3 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. No photo available. Located at the end of the east breakwater sheltering the harbor of Noboribetsu. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2633; JP-0089; Admiralty M6770.3; NGA 0684.

Tikiu (Chikiu) Misaki 1920. Active; focal plane 131 m (430 ft); two white flashes every 30 s. 15 m (49 ft) octagonal concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a small 1-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white. A photo is at right, Daita Saru has a good photo, Misty's Tour has several photos, and Google has a satellite view. Tikiu or Chikiu Misaki (Cape Earth) is a prominent cape that shelters the harbor of Muroran and the entrance to Uchiura Wan, a large circular bay. This picturesque spot is a popular one, but it appears that the lighthouse grounds are closed; nearly all photos (like the one at right) are taken from a scenic overlook higher on the cape. Located on the south side of the city of Muroran. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-645; JP-0088; Admiralty M6745; NGA 0688. Oinaoshi Gyoko Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); green flash every 3 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the west breakwater at Oinaoshi, on the southwest side of the Muroran peninsula about 4 km (2.5 mi) west of Tikiu Misaki. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2634; JP-0087.5; Admiralty M6745.5; NGA 0692. * Muroran Date unknown (station established 1891). Tower with lantern and gallery rising from a keeper's house. Entire building painted white. A distant photo is available, as well as a second distant photo (1/4 the way down the page), and Google has a satellite view. Located atop Daikoku Shima, a small island in the entrance to Muroran harbor. Transportation to the island is available. Site status unknown, but it should be possible to view the lighthouse from nearby.

Tikiu (Chikiu) Misaki Light anonymous Wikipedia public domain image

Muroran Ko Breakwater Southwest Head

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 11 m (36 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This light marks a southwestern entrance to Muroran, south of Daikoku Shima. Located at the end of a breakwater on the south side of the entrance to Muroran harbor. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-917; JP-0060; Admiralty M6746.6; NGA 0696.

Muroran Ko South Outer Breakwater

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); red light occulting once every 8 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. No photo available, although Google has a dim satellite view. Located at the end of a detached breakwater on the south side of the main channel entering Muroran harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-920; JP-0059; Admiralty M6746.4; NGA 0704.

Muroran Ko South Auxiliary Breakwater

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); continuous red light with a more intense flash every 5 s. Approx. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of a short breakwater on the south side of the channel entering Muroran harbor, north of Daikoku Shima; after passing the outer breakwaters ships must make an S-turn around this lighthouse to line up with the channel under the cross-harbor bridge. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-379; JP-0059.5; Admiralty M6747; NGA 0712.

Muroran Ko South Breakwater

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); red flash every 4 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. This lighthouse stands at the end of an older breakwater, now just east (upstream) of the cross-harbor Hakucho Bridge. The light can be seen under the bridge in a photo of the harbor, and Google has a satellite view. Completed in 1998, the suspension bridge is regarded as a major engineering accomplishment. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-919; JP-0064.5; Admiralty M6750; NGA 0720.

Muroran Ko North Outer Breakwater Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); green light occulting once every 8 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of a detached breakwater on the north side of the channel entering Muroran harbor; this breakwater is perpendicular to the shore and provides the basic protection for the harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-918; JP-0063; Admiralty M6746; NGA 0708. Suna Saki 1952. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); white flash every 4 s. 12 m (39 ft) 2-stage round concrete tower with two galleries, painted white with a narrow red horizontal band at the top of each stage. A photo is at right, and Misty's Tour has a photo taken at sunset. This light appears to have been doubled in height by addition of the second stage. Located on Suna Saki ("Sand Cape"), which marks the south side of the entrance to Uchiura Wan (opposite Tikiu Misaki), about 2 km (1.2 mi) northeast of Sawara. Accessible by a dirt road about 2 km (1.2 mi) long; 4WD recommended. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-599; JP-0046; Admiralty M6738; NGA 0828.

Suna Saki Light, October 2006 anonymous Creative Commons photo

Tsugaru Strait and Hakodate Harbor Lighthouses

** Esan Misaki 1890. Active; focal plane 44 m (144 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 19 m (62 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. A Coast Guard photo is at right, Misty's Tour also has a photo, and another photo is available. This lighthouse marks the eastern entrance to the Tsugaru Strait, which separates Hokkaido from Honshu. The lighthouse was damaged by strafing fire from U.S. planes on 15 July 1945, during the last days of World War II. In 1995 the area around the lighthouse was developed as a tourist attraction with a Lighthouse Family Museum and trails to nearby volcanic hot springs. Located on a sharp promontory about 40 km (25 mi) east of Hakodate. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-061; JP-0039; Admiralty M6729; NGA 0856. Hiura Misaki 1951. Active; focal plane 23 m (75 ft); white or red light, depending on direction, occulting twice every 12 s. 10 m (33 ft) round conical tower attached to a small equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse painted white. Misty's Tour has a photo. Located on a rocky promontory just east of Toi and 13 km (8 mi) southwest of Esan Misaki. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-128; JP-0035; Admiralty M6725; NGA 0864. * Shiokubi (Siokubi) Misaki Date unknown (station established 1893). Active; focal plane 50 m (164 ft); two white flashes every 20 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story keeper's house. Entire lighthouse painted white. Misty's Tour also has photos, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse marks the narrowest point of the Tsugaru Strait; from here it is 18 km (11 mi) to Oma Saki, the extreme northern tip of Honshu. The station escaped serious damage in the U.S. strafing run of 15 July 1945. Located on a bluff above the coastal highway about 25 km (15 mi) east of Hakodate. Site status unknown, but the lighthouse clearly can be viewed from nearby. ARLHS JPN-572; JP-0032; Admiralty M6724; NGA 0876. Hakodate Outer Breakwater Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); red flash every 3 s. 15 m (49 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the northwest end of a short outer breakwater, outside the west breakwater of Hakodate. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Admiralty M6707.5; NGA 0898.

Esan Misaki Light Japanese Coast Guard photo

Hakodate West Breakwater

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. A photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. This light and the next one flank the main entrance to the port of Hakodate, where ferries arrive throughout the day from Aomori on Honshu. Located at the north end of a detached breakwater. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-862; Admiralty M6706; NGA 0900.

Hakodate North Breakwater

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); two green flashes every 6 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, probably with lantern and gallery, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This light and the previous one flank the main entrance to the port of Hakodate, where ferries arrive throughout the day from Aomori on Honshu. Located at the south end of a detached breakwater. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-860; Admiralty M6707; NGA 0904.

Hakodate North Auxiliary Breakwater

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); red flash every 3 s. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, probably with lantern and gallery, painted red. Dekishi Love has a 2007 photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of a detached breakwater off the north end of the north breakwater of Hakodate harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-859; Admiralty M6707.4; NGA 0908.

Hakodate Training Wall Number 3

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); continuous green light with a brighter flash every 5 s. 12 m (39 ft) square (?) cylindrical concrete tower, probably with lantern and gallery, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the south end of a breakwater on the northwest side of Hakodate harbor. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-861; Admiralty M6708; NGA 0912.

* Kattoshi Misaki

1885. Active; focal plane 46 m (151 ft); white light, 6 s on, 4 s off. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a small 1-story keeper's house. Entire lighthouse painted white. A fog bell used from 1892 to 1938 is mounted outside the lighthouse. Kiso has a closeup photo (click on the second photo on the page), and Google has a satellite view. Located on a bluff on the west side of the entrance to Hakodate Bay from the Tsugaru Strait, about 20 km (13 mi) southwest of the city by the coastal highway. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-243; JP-0012; Admiralty M6702; NGA 0928.

Yagoshi Misaki 1957. Active; focal plane 96 m (315 ft); white flash every 10 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a small 1-story keeper's house. Entire lighthouse painted white. Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a high promontory on the northwest side of the Tsugaru Strait about 8 km (5 mi) south of Shuriuchi. May be accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-745; JP-0005; Admiralty M6698; NGA 0944. Shirakami (Sirakami) Misaki 1888. Active; focal plane 37 m (121 ft); flash every 30 s, alternately red and white. 17 m (56 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted with red and white horizontal bands. This lighthouse has an old-style lantern with a traditional high-peaked roof, a feature now rare in Japan. A Coast Guard photo is at right, Misty's Tour has several photos, and Google has a satellite view. Cape Shirakami, at the end of the Matsumae peninsula, is the southernmost tip of Hokkaido and the western entrance to Tsugaru Strait. Unfortunately, there is no parking provided, and the lighthouse is not easily seen from the coastal highway (which plunges through two tunnels below the light). Located off the coastal highway at the point of the cape. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-576; JP-0001; Admiralty M6692; NGA 0960.

Shirakami Misaki Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo

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Notable faux lighthouses:

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Posted July 10, 2006. Checked and revised March 28, 2009. Lighthouses: 50. Site copyright 2009 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.