Lighthouses of Japan: Southwestern Hokkaidō

Hokkaidō is the northernmost of the four main islands of Japan. It is very roughly triangular in shape, facing north on the Sea of Okhotsk, southeast on the Pacific Ocean, and west on the Sea of Japan. It is separated from Honshū 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 southwestern coast of Hokkaidō, facing the Sea of Japan and including the subprefectures of Hiyama and Shiribeshi. For the most part, this is a scenic but sparsely populated coast. Most of the lighthouses are accessible but rarely visited.

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. In the Ainu language indigenous to this area, shir or shiri is an island. Lighthouses in Japan are operated and maintained by the Japanese Coast Guard's Maritime Safety Agency.

A note on the Sea of Japan/East Sea controversy: The Directory takes no side in any international dispute; it makes use of the terminology, names, and spellings as they currently exist in each area covered. The sea between Japan and Korea is called the Sea of Japan on the pages for Japan and the East Sea on the pages for Korea.

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.

Kamome Shima Light
Kamome Shima Light, Esashi, April 2007
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by Ozizo
General Sources
Lighthouses in Japan - Hokkaidō
Photos and data for Hokkaidō lighthouses.
Lighthouse of Japan - Hokkaidō
Another site with excellent photos and text in Japanese.
Misty's Japanese Lighthouse Tour - Hokkaidō
Photos and brief notes in English.
Kiso's Lighthouses -Hokkaidō
This site has many excellent photos of Japanese lighthouses.
The Hokkaidō Lighthouse
Photos and data for many of the lighthouses.
Lighthouses in Hokkaido Prefecture
Photos available from Wikimedia.
Hakodate Section Lighthouses
Photos and data from the Hakodate Coast Guard Station web site.

Hiyama Subprefecture Lighthouses

Hiyama District (Esashi Area) Lighthouses
* Hikatatomari (Higatatomari) Misaki
1971. Active; focal plane 43 m (141 ft); white light occulting twice every 7 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted with red and white horizontal bands. Lighthouse of Japan has a page with several fine photos, Misty's Tour has two photos, Kiso also has a photo (a little over halfway down the page), and Google has a satellite view. Located on a bluff at Chiisago, about 10 km (6 mi) north of Era. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-112; JP-0631; Admiralty M7032.4; NGA 1016.
* Hiyama Ishizaki
1957. Inactive since 2008. 10 m (33 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, painted white. Misty's Tour has closeup photos, Kiso has a good photo (halfway down the page) that also shows the tiny keeper's cottage, and Google has a satellite view. The light was deactivated late in 2008. Located on a bluff about 11 km (7 mi) south of Kaminokuni. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-130; ex-JP-0630; ex-Admiralty M7032; ex-NGA 1020.
* Suneko Misaki
1961. Inactive since 2008. 11 m (36 ft) hexagonal cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted with black and white horizontal bands. Misty's Tour has good photos, Kiso has a good closeup, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. The light was deactivated late in 2008. Suneko Misaki is a prominent cape on the west side of Kaminokuni. Located on the point of the cape. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-600; ex-JP-0628; ex-Admiralty M7030; ex-NGA 1028.
** Kamome Shima (Esashi)
1889. Active; focal plane 36 m (118 ft); three white flashes every 13 s. 10 m (33 ft) 2-stage square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and double gallery, painted white. This lighthouse has an old-style lantern with a very high-peaked roof. A photo is at the top of this page, Lighthouse of Japan has a page with several photos, Misty's tour has good photos, Kiso also has a photo (1/3 the way down the page), and Google has a satellite view. Kamome Shima (Gull Island) is an island, shaped something like a bird in flight, that partially shelters the harbor of Esashi. The island has been connected to the mainland by a large breakwater mole. Located at the highest point of the island. Site open, tower closed but it possible to climb to a the lower gallery by an external stairway. ARLHS JPN-221; JP-0627; Admiralty M7028; NGA 1032.
Hikatatomari Misaki Light
Hikatatomari Misaki Light, Chiisago, March 2012
Panoramio photo copyright ひらさん; permission requested
Esashi West Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); red light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted red. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the west breakwater of Esashi, which extends northward from Kamome Shima. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2629; Admiralty M7029; NGA 1036.
Esashi East Outer Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); green light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, probably with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white. No photo available, although Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located at the end of a detached breakwater protecting the entrance to the harbor of Esashi. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-852; Admiralty M7028.4; NGA 1044.

Okushiri District Lighthouses
Note: Okushiri is a 20 km (12 mi) long island lying about 15 km (9 mi) off the coast. Accessible by air, the island has a permanent population of about 3700. On 12 July 1993, Okushiri was devastated by a powerful earthquake and tsunami.
* Aonae Misaki (2)
1993-94 (station established 1955). Active; focal plane 27 m (89 ft); white flash every 10 s. 16 m (52 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. A photo is at right, the Lighthouse of Japan page has excellent photos, and Google has a satellite view. Aonae Misaki is the southern tip of Okushiri Shima. The original lighthouse was destroyed by the tsunami of 1993, which toppled the tower back into the adjoining building. The new lighthouse is located on a hill above the point of the cape. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-023; JP-0611; Admiralty M7022; NGA 1080.
* Aonae Kō
1974. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); two red flashes every 8 s. 11 m (36 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. Google has a satellite view. The harbor at Aonae has been expanded considerably in recent years. Located at the end of the original main breakwater, now an inner breakwater. Accessible by walking the pier. ARLHS JPN-845; JP-0612; Admiralty M7023; NGA 1084.
Okushiri Kō
Date unknown (station established 1966). Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green flash every 3 s. 11 m (36 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. This light has probably been relocated from the end of the original east breakwater. Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of a detached breakwater protecting the entrance to Okushiri harbor, on the east side of the island. Accessible only by boat, but there must be good views from ferries arriving from the mainland. Site and tower closed. JP-0614; Admiralty M7021; NGA 1088.
* Inaho Misaki (2)
About 1970 (station established 1891). Active; focal plane 41 m (135 ft); white flash every 15 s. 17 m (56 ft) round lantern and watch room built on one corner of a rectangular 4-story keeper's house. The building is painted with black and white horizontal bands. The Lighthouse of Japan site has a page with photos, and Google has a good satellite view. Located at the northeast point of Okushiri Shima, marking the passage between the island and the mainland. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-165; JP-0608; Admiralty M7020; NGA 1096.
Kamuiwaki Kō
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); green flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical hourglass-shaped concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of a detached breakwater protecting the entrance to Kamuiwaki harbor, on the west side of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-892; JP-0610; Admiralty M7023.3; NGA 1092.
Aonae Misaki Light
Aonae Misaki Light, Okushiri, August 2008
Panoramio Creative Commons photo by JH8XVH

Kudō District Lighthouses
* Ponmoshiri Misaki
1963. Active; focal plane 43 m (141 ft); two white flashes every 8 s. 11 m (36 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted with black and white horizontal bands; lantern is white. Lighthouse of Japan has a page with good photos, Misty's Tour has a closeup, another photo is available (last photo on the page), and Google has a satellite view. Located on a promontory about 8 km (5 mi) west of Kumaishi. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-500; JP-0617; Admiralty M7023.8; NGA 1072.
* Kouta Misaki
1957. Active; focal plane 31 m (102 ft); white light occulting three times every 13 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower attached to a small 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Lighthouse of Japan has a page with photos, Misty's Tour has a photo and another photo is available (next to last photo on the page), but Google's distant satellite view doesn't show the light. Located on a promontory about 5 km (3 mi) west of Taisei. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-294; JP-0615; Admiralty M7019; NGA 1100.
* Mitare Misaki (Mitare No Saki, Midareno Saki)
1958. Active; focal plane 32 m (105 ft); white flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower attached to a small 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. The Lighthouse of Japan site has a page with good photos, the Coast Guard has a small photo, Misty's Tour has a distant view, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a promontory about 10 km (6 mi) southwest of Kitahiyama. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-362; JP-0607; Admiralty M7018.5; NGA 1108.

Shiribeshi Subprefecture Lighthouses

Shimamaki District Lighthouses
* Motsuta (Motta) Misaki
1937. Active; focal plane 282 m (925 ft); two white flashes every 24 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern, gallery, and a traditional "dunce-cap" roof, attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Lighthouse painted white with a broad black horizontal band. 2nd order (?) clamshell Fresnel lens in use. A photo is at right, Lighthouse of Japan's page has fine photos, and Misty's Tour has excellent photos, including a closeup of the lens. Google has a satellite view of the station. The unusual height of this powerful lighthouse gives a range of more than 65 km (40 mi). The lighthouse was restored in 2001, and the tall dunce-cap roof was apparently added at the time. At the same time, the forest road to the light station was opened to the public. Lighthouses of Japan has a photo showing the original lantern dome. The station commands a spectacular view of the Sea of Japan; the island of Okushiri can be seen in fair weather. Located on a high, mountainous promontory about 16 km (10 mi) north of Setana. Accessible by a steep, winding road with grades as steep as 15.5%; 4WD strongly recommended. The road is closed in the winter. Site open when the road is open, tower closed but visitors can climb the external stairway to reach the gallery. ARLHS JPN-916; JP-0603; Admiralty M7014; NGA 1124.
* Kimaki Misaki
1964. Active; focal plane 41 m (135 ft); white light occulting twice every 6 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) concrete post light attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Tower painted with red and white horizontal bands. Misty's Tour has several good photos, Lighthouse of Japan has a page with closeup photos, another photo is available (near the bottom of the page), and Google has a satellite view. Located on a promontory about 20 km (13 mi) southwest of Shimamaki. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-257; JP-0602; Admiralty M7013.4; NGA 1128.
* Honme Misaki
1962. Active; focal plane 48 m (157 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 11 m (36 ft) hexagonal cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a small equipment room. Lighthouse painted with black and white horizontal bands. Lighthouse of Japan's page has excellent photos, Misty's Tour has two good photos, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a steep, rocky headland about 3 km (2 mi) west of Shimamaki. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-137; JP-0601; Admiralty M7013; NGA 1132.

Motsuta Misaki Light
Motsuta (Motta) Misaki Light, Shimamaki, September 2010
Panoramio Creative Commons photo by JH8XVH


Suttsu District Lighthouses
* Benkei Misaki
Date unknown (station established 1890). Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); white flash every 8 s. 13 m (43 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a small 1-story concrete keeper's house. Lighthouse painted with red and white horizontal bands. The Lighthouse of Japan page has good photos, the Coast Guard has a portfolio of small photos, Misty's Tour has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. This well known lighthouse stands in a park; nearby is a statue of the legendary 12th century warrior Saitō Musashibō Benkei, for whom the cape is named. Located on a sharp promontory about 5 km (3 mi) northwest of Suttsu. Readily accessible by road, and parking is provided. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-043; JP-0600; Admiralty M7012; NGA 1136.
Daimaru Iso
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); white flash every 3 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. The Coast Guard's photo at right shows how this lighthouse stands on a rock in heavy surf just off Suttsu. Google has an indistinct satellite view. Site and tower closed, although there is apparently a good view from shore. ARLHS JPN-2628; Admiralty M7011; NGA 1140.

Iwanai District Lighthouse
* Iwanai Kō
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); red light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, covered with red tiles. Himanaka Ipoco has a photo and a closeup, and Google has a satellite view. Iwanai is a traditional fishing port sheltered by the Shakotan Peninsula. Located at the end of the original west breakwater of Iwanai. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-882; Admiralty M7006; NGA 1152.
Daimaru Iso Light
Daimaru Iso Light, Suttsu
Japanese Coast Guard photo

Furuu District (Shakotan Peninsula South Side) Lighthouses
Note: The Shakotan Peninsula is a mountainous, very scenic peninsula projecting about 30 km (19 mi) into the Sea of Japan. Much of the peninsula is set aside as a national park. The coast is known for its many picturesque stone pillars standing in the sea.
* Shiribeshi Tomari Kō
1966. Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); two white flashes every 8 s. 10 m (33 ft) post light with a large semicircular lantern structure. Lighthouse painted white with one red horizontal band. Lighthouse of Japan has good photos, Misty's Tour has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Very similar to the 1965 Haraguchi Oiwa Light. Located on a bluff south of the harbor of Tomari, on the south side of the Shakotan peninsula. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-580; JP-0593; Admiralty M7005.7; NGA 1160.
Kamoenai Kō
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); green light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. A photo of the harbor, with a distant view of the lighthouse, is available, but clouds block Google's satellite view. Located on the end of a large breakwater pier at Kamoenai, on the south side of the Shakotan peninsula. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-888; JP-0592; Admiralty M7005.5; NGA 1164.

Shakotan District Lighthouses
* Kamui Misaki
1960 (station established 1888). Active; focal plane 81 m (266 ft); white flash every 15 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 1-story equipment building. Lighthouse painted with black and white horizontal bands. A photo is at right, Lighthouse of Japan has a portfolio of photos, Misty's Tour has photos and a drawing of the original lighthouse, a 2010 closeup is available, Kiso has another photo (next to last photo on the page), and Google has a distant satellite view of the station. Caution: there is another Kamui Misaki on the north coast of Hokkaidō. This cape is at the tip of a blunt, mountainous peninsula and marks the southern side of the entrance to Ishikari Wan and the important port of Otaru. The point of the cape is a knife-like volcanic ridge similar to the famous Pointe du Raz in Brittany. The scenery is spectacular, and the cape is a popular tourist destination. Note: there is another Kamui Misaki lighthouse in Northern Hokkaidō. Located on the tip of the cape, about 25 km (15 mi) north of Kamoenai and a similar distance west of Shakotan. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-222; JP-0590; Admiralty M7004; NGA 1172.
* Shakotan (Syakotan De) Misaki
1965. Active; focal plane 141 m (463 ft); white flash every 5 s. 13 m (43 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a small equipment room. Lighthouse painted white with one red horizontal band. Lighthouse of Japan has a page with excellent photos, Misty's Tour has a fine closeup, there's a 2008 closeup, another photo is available (3/4 the way down the page), and Google has a satellite view. This light marks the extreme northern tip of the Shakotan peninsula. Located about 15 km (9 mi) northwest of Syakotan. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-606; JP-0588; Admiralty M7003; NGA 1180.
Funama Kō
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); continuous red light with a more intense flash every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. A very distant view is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the main (east) breakwater of Funama, a small port on the central north coast of the Shakotan Peninsula and seat of the district government. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-853; Admiralty M7002; NGA 1184.
Kamui Misaki Light
Kamui Misaki Light, Shakotan, May 2008
Panoramio Creative Commons photo by senryuto

Furubira District Lighthouse
Furubira Kō
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); continuous red light with two more intense flashes every 10 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. An early morning photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the main (east) breakwater of Furubira, a fishing port about 5 km (3 mi) east of Funama. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-854; Admiralty M7001; NGA 1188.

Otaru City Lighthouses
Note: Otaru, a city of about 140,000 people, is the principal port of Hokkaidō's west coast and the traditional Sea of Japan port for Sapporo, the capital and largest city of Hokkaidō.
* Hiyori Yama
Date unknown (station established 1883). Active; focal plane 50 m (164 ft); two white flashes every 20 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 1-story keeper's house. Entire stucture, including the keeper's house, painted with red and white horizontal bands. The Lighthouse of Japan page has excellent photos, Wan-rong Jih has a fine photo, and Kiso also has a good closeup (last photo on the page), but Google's satellite view is too dark to show the lighthouse. This lighthouse stands at the end of a sharp promontory that shelters the harbor of Otaru. Located about 8 km (5 mi) north of the Otaru waterfront. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-131; JP-0580; Admiralty M6996; NGA 1212.
* Shukutsu (Syukutsu) Kō (Hiyori Yama Breakwater)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); red flash every 3 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. A photo and a closer photo are available, and Google has a very dark satellite view. Located at the end of the main (east) breakwater of Shukutsu, a small port in the lee of Hiyori Yama. Accessible by walking the pier, which is popular for fishing. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-870; Admiralty M6995; NGA 1216.
* Otaru North Auxiliary Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. Todd Stradford has a November 2008 photo, and Google has a very dark satellite view. Located at the end of an eastward, detached extension of the north breakwater of Otaru. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-947; Admiralty M6988; NGA 1224.
Otaru South Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); two green flashes every 6 s. 14 m (46 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. The lantern is topped by a conical "dunce-cap" roof. A good photo is available, and Google has a very dark satellite view. This lighthouse has an old-fashioned conical design and is probably the oldest Otaru lighthouse. We need information on its history. Located at the end of the south breakwater of Otaru. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-949; Admiralty M6989; NGA 1228.
Hiyori Yama Light
Hiyori Yama Light, September 2008
Flickr Creative Commons photo by pictureTYO
Ishikari Wan (Ishikari Bay) New Port Outer Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 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. Authorized in 1970 and inaugurated in 1982, the Ishikari Bay New Port is located on the plain of the Ishikari River and provides a modern port facility for Sapporo; it was built because there was no practical way to expand port facilities at Otaru. Located at the north end of the long outer breakwater sheltering the artificial harbor of the new port. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-948; Admiralty M6981.2; NGA 1231.2.
* Ishikari Gawa (Ishikari River)
Date unknown (station established 1892). Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); white flash every 20 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. The Lighthouse of Japan page has good photos, Misty's Tour has a fine closeup, a 2008 night time photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. This light was meant to mark the south side of the entrance to the Ishikari River, about 20 km (13 mi) due north of Sapporo. However, the mouth of the river has migrated about 1.5 km (1 mi) northeast of the lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-181; JP-0575; Admiralty M6980; NGA 1232.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: East: Northwestern Hokkaidō | South: Southern Hokkaidō

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Posted July 10, 2006. Checked and revised June 4, 2012. Lighthouses: 32. Site copyright 2012 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.