Lighthouses of Japan: Iwate

This page lists lighthouses of Iwate Prefecture, near the northeastern corner of Honshū, Japan's largest island. This coast, called the Rikuchū Coast (Rikuchū Kaigan), is mostly rugged and spectacular--and dangerous to navigation. For 180 km (115 mi) south of Kuji, a narrow strip of land along the coast has been preserved as the Rikuchū Kaigan National Park. Most of these lighthouses are located in the park.

This coast was devastated by the great earthquake and tsunami of 2011 March 11. Most of the lighthouses are high enough above the sea to escape the tsunami; most were damaged by the earthquake but have been returned to service. Harbor lights, however, were mostly overturned or destroyed by the tsunami, and repairs to harbor facilities will take more time.

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. On Honshū there is usually one Coast Guard Section Office in each prefecture; for Iwate the section office is at Kamaishi.

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 - Iwate
A comprehensive site, although almost entirely in Japanese
Lighthouse of Japan - Iwate
Another comprehensive site, also in Japanese.
Misty's Japanese Lighthouse Tour - Iwate
Photos and notes for lighthouses in all parts of the country.
Lighthouses in Japan
Photos available from Wikimedia.
Iwate Lighthouses
A large collection of photos posted in 2008.
Iwate Lighthouses
Information and photos for four major lighthouses posted by the Kamaishi Coast Guard Office.
Lighthouse Photos - Iwate
Photos posted by the Coast Guard Second Region office.
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 Iwate (Kuro Saki and Toda Saki).

Kuro Saki Light
Kuro Saki Light, Fudai, August 2010
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by kumasan114
Kunohe District Lighthouses
Taneichi Kō
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); continuous light, white, red or green depending on direction. 14 m (46 ft) white round concrete tower, probably with lantern and gallery. A photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. A YouTube video shows tsunami damage at Taneichi; the waves here were 5.5 m (18 ft) high, enough to do major damage, but the lighthouses survived. Located behind a waterfront building at Taneichi, a fishing port about 20 km (13 mi) southeast of Hachinohe. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-1132; JP-1628; Admiralty M6614; NGA 3952.
Taneichi Kō East Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post light rising from a square 1-story equipment room. Entire lighthouse is red. The YouTube video shows this light still standing after the tsunami. Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the main breakwater of Taneichi. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1133; Admiralty M6615; NGA 3948.
Yagi Kō East Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); continuous red light with a more intense flash every 3 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower with a flared top, attached to a small 1-story equipment room. Entire lighthouse is red. A July 2011 photo shows that this light survived the tsunami. Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the main breakwater of Taneichi. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1140; Admiralty M6613.3; NGA 3968.

Kuji City Lighthouses
Ushi Shima
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 71 m (233 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 11 m (36 ft) concrete post light rising from a square 1-story equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. A second tower just to the southeast carries a spotlight illuminating an offshore reef. A photo is available, but clouds block Google's satellite view. Located atop a steep-sided rock off a promontory about 5 km (3 mi) northeast of the Kuji waterfront. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-320; JP-1633; Admiralty M6608; NGA 3972.
Kuji Outer Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 8.5 m (28 ft) round concrete tower with a flared top, attached to a small 1-story equipment room. Entire lighthouse is red. No photo available, and clouds block Google's satellite view. Located at the end of the main breakwater of Kuji. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-1137; Admiralty M6610.3; NGA 3978.
* Kuji South Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); continuous green light with a more intense flash every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. A photo is available (third photo on the page), there's a 2004 closeup (last lighthouse on the page), and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located at the end of the south breakwater of Kuji harbor. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1138; Admiralty M6609; NGA 3980.

Northern Shimohei District Lighthouses
* Kuro Saki (Rikuchū Kuro Saki)
1947. Active; focal plane 143 m (469 ft); white flash every 5 s. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 1-story equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse painted white. A photo is at the top of this page, Lighthouse of Japan has a page with good photos, Misty's Tour has a photo, the Coast Guard has a wintry photo (second photo on the page), and Google has a satellite view of the station. Located on a high promontory about 25 km (15 mi) southeast of Kuji. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-275; JP-1638; Admiralty M6606; NGA 3992.
* Rikuchū Benten Saki
1966. Active; focal plane 98 m (322 ft); two white flashes every 7 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower with two galleries, mounted atop a square 1-story concrete equipment room. No lantern. Lighthouse painted with red and white horizontal bands. Lighthouse of Japan has a page with good photos, but clouds block Google's satellite view. This lighthouse appears to be a twin of the Torii Saki Light in Aomori Prefecture, which was built in 1966 also. It was reported out of service following the 2011 earthquake, but it was repaired within a few months. Located about 4 km (2.5 mi) south of the Kuro Saki lighthouse; the two lights warn ships away from a dangerous bulge in the coastline. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1099; JP-1639; Admiralty M6605.8; NGA 3996.
* Omoto
1963. Active; focal plane 75 m (246 ft); four white flashes every 15 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower rising from a 1-story equipment room. Lighthouse of Japan has a page with good photos, but clouds block Google's satellite view. Located atop a bluff south of Omoto, about 25 km (15 mi) north of Miyako. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-488; JP-1641; Admiralty M6605.2; NGA 4004.

Miyako City Lighthouses
* Ma Saki (Rikuchū Ma Saki)
1959. Active; focal plane 79 m (259 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower rising from a 1-story equipment room. A photo is at right, Lighthouse of Japan has a page with good photos, Misty's Tour also has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located atop a steep, scenic promontory about 4 km (2.5 mi) northeast of Taro and 13 km (8 mi) north of Miyako. Accessible by a short but steep hiking trail. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-504; JP-1642; Admiralty M6605; NGA 4008.
Rikuchū Ma Saki Light
Rikuchū Ma Saki Light, Miyako, October 2002
Panoramio photo copyright satoru_satoru; permission requested
#Miyako Wan Breakwater
Date unknown. Destroyed by the 2011 tsunami. No photo available. This light is missing from Google's current satellite view. A YouTube video shows the appalling destruction in Miyako caused by the great waves. In late 2011, the Admiralty reported that all of Miyako's harbor lights were destroyed and that buoys were in place. Located at the end of the main breakwater at Miyako. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-1111; Admiralty M6603; NGA 4020.
* Hei Saki
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 56 m (184 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post light mounted at one corner of a 2-story concrete equipment building. Entire lighthouse painted white. Lighthouse of Japan has a 2009 page with good photos, and Google has a satellite view. The attached structure seems to have been replaced sometime before the 2009 photo. Located on a promontory at the end of a long peninsula on the south side of the entrance to the harbor of Miyako. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-103; JP-1646; Admiralty M6602; NGA 4024.
* Todo Saki (Todogasaki, Todo Ga Saki)
1902. Active; focal plane 58 m (190 ft); white flash every 15 s. 33.5 m (110 ft) concrete tower with lantern and gallery. A 3rd order (?) clamshell style Fresnel lens is in use. Entire lighthouse is white. A photo is at right, Lighthouse of Japan has a page with good photos, Colum Duffy has a good closeup, another good photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. This handsome and historic lighthouse marks the easternmost cape of the island of Honshū. It was reported out of service following the earthquake and tsunami, but it was repaired within a few months. The lighthouse is in a rugged area, accessible by a hike of about 2-1/2 hours round trip. Hikers are rewarded by a spectacular view of the Pacific. Located about 25 km (15 mi) southeast of Miyako. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-660; JP-1647; Admiralty M6598; NGA 4028.

Yamada (Southern Shimohei District) Lighthouses
#Yamada Kō
Date unknown. Destroyed by the 2011 tsunami. 10 m (33 ft) round white concrete tower. No photo available. The Admiralty reported in late 2011 that the harbor lights of Yamada had been destroyed and replaced by light buoys. Located at the end of the main breakwater of Yamada. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-1143; Admiralty M6597.35; NGA 4044.
#Rikuchū Ōshima
Date unknown. Previously active; focal plane 28 m (92 ft); white flash every 3 s. 11 m (36 ft) concrete post light rising from a square 1-story equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. A photo is available, but Google's satellite view no longer shows the lighthouse. Located on the south end of an island at the entrance to Funakoshi. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1112; Admiralty M6595.1; NGA 4060.

Kamihei District Lighthouses
#Ōtsuchi Kō
1953. Destroyed. This was a 7.5 m (25 ft) concrete post light rising from a square 1-story equipment room. Entire lighthouse was red. The light was on an islet connected to shore by a pier; Google's satellite view shows that pier and light were destroyed by the tsunami. A closeup photo is available. ARLHS JPN-1122; JP-1663; Admiralty M6595; NGA 4084.
Todo Saki Light
Todo Saki (Todogasaki) Light, Miyako, August 2004
Wikimedia public domain photo by 関西地方
Ohako Saki
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 71 m (233 ft); four white flashes every 15 s. 9 m (30 ft) round white concrete tower. A photo is available, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located high a razor-sharp promontory about 16 km (10 mi) northeast of Kamaishi. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-475; JP-1662; Admiralty M6594; NGA 4096.

Kamaishi Area Lighthouses
* Madaga Saki
1971. Active; focal plane 60 m (197 ft); two white flashes every 8 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower rising from a circular 1-story equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a promontory on the north side of the bay of Kamaishi, about 6 km (3.5 mi) east of the city. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2635; JP-1667; Admiralty M6589.2.
#Kamaishi Kō
Date unknown. Destroyed by the 2011 tsunami. Ugen Yamaguchi has a very distant view, and Google has a satellite view. Kamaishi had the world's deepest breakwater, built for tsunami protection, but the 2011 tsunami overwhelmed the barrier. The satellite image shows the shattered breakwater. Formerly located at the end of the north breakwater of Kamaishi. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-324; Admiralty M6589.25; NGA 4108.
O Saki (Rikuchū O Saki)
1951. Active; focal plane 114 m (374 ft); white flash every 10 s. 15 m (49 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from one end of a 2-story concrete keeper's house. Entire lighthouse is white. Lighthouse of Japan has a page with several photos, the Coast Guard also has a photo (third lighthouse on the page), and Google has a satellite view. Located on the tip of a long narrow peninsula that shelters the south side of the bay of Kamaishi, about 15 km (9 mi) east southeast of the city. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-505; JP-1670; Admiralty M6589; NGA 4136.

Ōfunato City Lighthouses
Kōbe Saki
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 124 m (407 ft); white flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, rising from a 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Lighthouses in Japan has a distant view, and Google has only a distant satellite view. Located on the tip of a rugged peninsula about 8 km (5 mi) east of Ōfunato. There may be no land access to this site. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-270; JP-1680; Admiralty M6587; NGA 4152.
#Okirai (Okkirai) Kō East Breakwater
Date unknown. Destroyed by the 2011 tsunami. This was a 9 m (30 ft) concrete post light rising from a square 1-story equipment room, painted red. Google's satellite view shows that the tsunami destroyed the breakwaters as well as the lighthouse. A beautiful bay just east of Ōfunato, Okkirai was devasted by the earthquake and tsunami. ARLHS JPN-1117; Admiralty M6586.4; NGA 4160.
* Ryōri Saki
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 112 m (367 ft); white flash every 15 s. 16 m (52 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and double gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. Lighthouse of Japan has a page with good photos, the Coast Guard also has a photo (last lighthouse on the page), and Google has a satellite view. Located on the tip of a peninsula about 25 km (15 mi) southeast of Ōfunato. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-512; JP-1683; Admiralty M6586; NGA 4164.
* Kōri Saki (Koori Saki)
1922. Active; focal plane 48 m (157 ft); white flash every 4 s. Approx. 15 m (49 ft) tapered square concrete tower with gallery but no lantern, rising from a 2-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Lighthouse of Japan has a page with good photos, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse serves as a landfall light for ships approaching the narrow entrance to Ōfunato Wan (bay), one of the best sheltered harbors of the Rikuchū coast. Located on a bluff about 12 km (7.5 mi) south southeast of Ōfunato. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-275; JP-1685; Admiralty M6582; NGA 4172.
Ōfunato Kō Directional Light
2002. Active; focal plane 53 m (174 ft); continuous light, white, red or green depending on direction. 14 m (46 ft) pentagonal cylindrical white concrete tower with gallery. Google has a satellite view. Located on the north side of the entrance to Ōfunato Wan about 4 km (2.5 mi) south of Ōfunato. Site status unknown. JP-1689.2; Admiralty M6582.9.
Sango Shima (Sangojima) South
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); white flash every 3 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower. A distant view is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the southern tip of the teardrop-shaped Sango Shima, an island in the middle of Ōfunato Wan. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1129; JP-1691; Admiralty M6583.5; NGA 4188.
Sango Shima (Sangojima) North
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); white flash every 4 s. 8.5 m (26 ft) concrete post light rising from a square 1-story equipment room. NGA describes the light as being red, but it is white in a distant view and in Google's satellite view. Located at the northern tip of Sango Shima. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1128; JP-1692; Admiralty M6583.7; NGA 4192.
* Goishi Saki
1958. Active; focal plane 39 m (128 ft); three white flashes every 13 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with two galleries but no lantern, centered on an octagonal 1-story equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. A Coast Guard photo is at right, Lighthouse of Japan has a page with good photos, Misty's Tour also has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the tip of a peninsula about 13 km (8 mi) south of Ōfunato. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-072; JP-1693; Admiralty M6581; NGA 4208.
Goishi Saki Light
Goishi Saki Light, Ōfunato
Japanese Coast Guard Second Region photo

Rikuzentakata City Lighthouse
Tsubaki Shima
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 47 m (154 ft); white flash every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on an islet off a sharp promontory about 12 km (7.5 mi) southeast of Rikuzentakata. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1135; Admiralty M6571; NGA 4216.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Aomori | South: Miyagi

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Posted August 15, 2006. Checked and revised July 1, 2012. Lighthouses: 29. Site copyright 2012 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.