Lighthouses of Japan: Fukushima

This page lists lighthouses of Fukushima prefecture on the east coast of Honshū, Japan's largest island. Facing east on the Pacific Ocean, the coast of Fukushima is relatively low by Japanese stanadards. Onahama, the harbor district of Iwaki City, is the major port.

This coast was devastated by the great Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami of 11 March 2011. The major lighthouses are high enough above the sea to escape the tsunami; all were damaged by the earthquake to some extent, but they have been returned to service. The harbor lights, however, were often overturned or destroyed by the tsunami, and repairs to harbor facilities will take much 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. That is the case in this region, with section offices at Miyagi and Fukushima.

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 - Fukushima
A comprehensive site, although almost entirely in Japanese.
Lighthouse of Japan - Fukushima
Another comprehensive site, in Japanese, with pages for each prefecture.
Lighthouses - Fukushima
A large collection of Japanese lighthouse photos.
Misty's Japanese Lighthouse Tour - Fukushima
Photos and notes for lighthouses in all parts of the country.
Lighthouses in Japan
Photos available from Wikimedia.
Lighthouse Photos - Fukushima
Photos posted by the Coast Guard Second Region office.

Shioya Saki Light
Shioya Saki Light, Iwaki
Japanese Coast Guard Second Region photo
Sōma District Lighthouses
Sōma Kō Northeast Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); two green flashes every 6 s. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower. No photo available, and clouds block Google's satellite view. The Sōma breakwaters were heavily damaged by the tsunami, but this light either survived or has been replaced. Located at the end of the detached northeast breakwater, marking the entrance to the harbor of Sōma. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1166; NGA 4478.
* Uno O Saki (Unoosaki)
1953. Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); white flash every 10 s. 13 m (43 ft) rectangular cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. A Coast Guard closeup photo is at right, Lighthouse of Japan has a page with good photos, Misty's Tour also has a photo, another closeup is available, and Google has a distant satellite view. This lighthouse was damaged by the 2011 earthquake, but was back in service later in the year. Located on a cape at the south end of the harbor of Sōma. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-717; JP-1787; Admiralty M6516; NGA 4496.

Futaba District Lighthouses
Toden Hukushima South Breakwater (?)
Date unknown. Probably inactive, perhaps destroyed; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 11 m (36 ft) round white concrete tower. A very distant view is available, and Google has a satellite view. This light guided vessels arriving at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant, site of multiple nuclear disasters following the March 2011 tsunami. Located at the end of the nuclear plant's south breakwater. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1365; Admiralty M6515.4; NGA 4500.
* Oragahama (2)
1997 (station established 1955). Active; focal plane 41 m (134 ft); white flash every 8 s. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. Lighthouse of Japan has a page with excellent photos, Misty's Tour also has a photo, another photo is available, Lighthouses of Japan also has a photo of the original lighthouse (at the bottom of the page), and Google has a satellite view. Located on a bluff projecting into the sea about 5 km (3 mi) northeast of Tomioka; this is within the nuclear disaster evacuation zone. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-492; JP-1789; Admiralty M6515; NGA 4504.
Toden Hiro South Breakwater
Date unknown. Probably inactive; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 13 m (43 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This light guides vessels arriving at the Hirano Power Plant, a conventional (non-nuclear) facility. Located at the end of the power plant's south breakwater. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1364; Admiralty M6514.95; NGA 4520.
Unoo Saki Light
Unoo Saki Light, Sōma
Japanese Coast Guard Second Region photo

Iwaki City Lighthouses
* Hisanohama Kō North Breakwater
1974. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); red light, 4 s on, 4 s off. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is red. Google has a satellite view. This light was listed as temporarily extinguished after the earthquake, but later restored, and there was no mention of the others by the Admiralty. An October 2011 photo of the harbor shows little damage, and all three lights in place. Located on the north breakwater of Hisanohama. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1348; JP-1794; Admiralty M6514.6; NGA 4524.
* Hisanohama Kō South Breakwater
1974. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); continuous green light with a more intense flash every 5 s. 11 m (36 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard has a sunrise photo, Google has a satellite view. Located on the south breakwater of Hisanohama. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1350; JP-1796; Admiralty M6514.9; NGA 4528.
Hisanohama Kō East Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 7 m (23 ft) round conical concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is red. This light is in the background of the Coast Guard's sunrise photo, and Google has a satellite view. Strangely, NGA lists this as the west breakwater, an obvious error. Located on the south end of the detached outer breakwater of Hisanohama. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1351; JP-1795; Admiralty M6514.8; NGA 4532.
Toyama Kō Detached Breakwater
1988. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); three green flashes every 12 s. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower with a flared top, attached to a small equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a distant satellite view. Located at the end of a breakwater sheltering the north harbor of Toyama, about 1.6 km (1 mi) north of the Shioya Saki lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-1368; JP-1800.7; Admiralty M6513; NGA 4550.
**** Shioya Saki (2)
1940 (station established 1899). Active; focal plane 73 m (240 ft); white flash every 15 s. 27 m (89 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. A large Fresnel lens is in use. Entire lighthouse is white. A Coast Guard photo is at the top of this page, Lighthouses of Japan has additional photos, Lighthouse in Japan has a page with excellent photos, a 2009 photo is available, Masashiro Hayata has a closeup of the lantern, the Coast Guard has a page with photos of the original and present lighthouses (near the bottom of the page), and Google has a distant satellite view. This is a staffed light and communications station with a visitor center and lighthouse museum. The original lighthouse, built of brick, was destroyed by an earthquake in 1938. The second lighthouse was heavily damaged by an American air raid only five days before the end of World War II. It was repaired and returned to service in 1947. However, the light station may be endangered by erosion of the cliff on which it stands. Located atop a spectacular promontory about 10 km (6 mi) southeast of Iwaki. Site open, tower open daily to guided tours. ARLHS JPN-574; JP-1801; Admiralty M6512; NGA 4552.
Toyama Kō Shioya Saki Outer Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); two green flashes every 6 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard has a distant view, and Google has a distant satellite view. Located at the east end of a detached outer breakwater protecting the harbor in the lee of Shioya Saki. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-1369; JP-1801.5; Admiralty M6511; NGA 4556.
* Ena Kō West Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); green flash every 5 s. 13 m (43 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. A fine 2009 photo is available, and Google has a distant satellite view. An unusually tall example of this style of pierhead light. Located at the east end of the inner breakwater protecting Ena harbor, about 8 km (5 mi) east of Onahama. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M6508; NGA 4560.
#Nakanosaku Kō Old East Breakwater
Date unknown (station established 1935). Destroyed or removed. 7.5 m (25 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse was red. A 2008 photo of the two old breakwater lights is available, but east breakwater light is missing in Google's satellite view; apparently it was destroyed by the tsunami and has not been replaced. Located on the east breakwater of the old inner harbor of Nakanosaku. ARLHS JPN-399; ex-JP-1808; ex-Admiralty M6507.4; ex-NGA 4580.
Nakanosaku Kō Old West Breakwater (2?)
2011 (station established 1959). Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); green flash every 3 s. 9 m (30 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse was white. A 2008 photo of the two old breakwater lights is available, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view; apparently the light was destroyed by the tsunami but has been replaced as part of the reconstruction of the harbor. Located on the west breakwater of the old inner harbor of Nakanosaku. ARLHS JPN-1354; JP-1809; Admiralty M6507; NGA 4584.
Nakanosaku Kō East (Detached) Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); two red flashes every 10 s. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is red. Google has a distant satellite view. Located on a detached breakwater on the east side of the modern entrance to Nakanosaku harbor. Accessible only by boat. ARLHS JPN-1355; JP-1812; Admiralty M6505.6; NGA 4588.
* Nakanosaku Kō West Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); green light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a distant satellite view. Located on the short breakwater on the west side of the modern entrance to Nakanosaku harbor. Accessible by walking the pier. ARLHS JPN-1356; JP-1813; Admiralty M6505.4; NGA 4592.
Ryugasaki Hana
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 3 s. 16 m (52 ft) lantern and gallery mounted atop a large steel tripod. Lighthouse painted white. A 2009 photo is at right, Misty's Tour has a photo, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located in the surf just off the modern entrance to Nakanosaku harbor. Accessible only by boat, but easy to view from shore. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1363; JP-1814; Admiralty M6505; NGA 4604.
* Bandokoro
Date unknown (station established 1928). Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 11 m (36 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Lighthouse of Japan has a page with good photos, Misty's Tour also has a photo, a closeup is available, the Coast Guard has a twilight photo, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse was damaged by the earthquake, but it was back in service later in 2011. Located on a promontory on the east side of Onahama harbor, about 10 km (6 mi) south of Iwaki. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-041; JP-1815; Admiralty M6504; NGA 4608.
Ryugasaki Hana Light
Ryugasaki Hana Light, Iwaki, September 2009
Panoramio photo copyright urapyon; used by permission
Onahama Kō East Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); continuous red light with a more intense flash every 5 s. 11 m (36 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is red. A very distant view is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the east breakwater at Onahama. Site status unknown (may be accessible by walking the pier from Matsushita Park). ARLHS JPN-1358; Admiralty M6500.4; NGA 4612.
Onahama Kō
Date unknown. Inactive. Approx. 13 m (43 ft) round concrete tower; lantern removed. A photo and a closeup are available, and the tower is een on the right of a Coast Guard photo of the harbor. The tsunami swamped the breakwater but left the tower standing, as seen in a Google satellite view. This lighthouse must have marked the eastern entrance to Onahama harbor; with subsequent redevelopment there is no longer a clear passage through this area. Located at the east end of a detached breakwater at Onahama. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed.
Onahama Kō West Breakwater East Head
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green flash every 3 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard has a photo, the light appears just to the left of the old light in the Coast Guard photo of the harbor, and Google has a distant satellite view. This light is the replacement for the old light (previous entry). Located on a spur near the east end of a detached breakwater at Onahama. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JP-1816; Admiralty M6501; NGA 4616.
#Onahama Misaki Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); two green flashes every 6 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. This light appears just on the left in the Coast Guard photo of the harbor, but it does not appear in Google's satellite view. This light stood opposite the east breakwater light (see above). Apparently it was lost to the tsunami and has not been replaced. Located on a detached breakwater at Onahama. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1360; Admiralty M6500.6; NGA 4620.
#Onahama West Breakwater South Head
Date unknown. Demolished in 2009. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. A photo is available (3/4 of the way down the page), and Google has a satellite view. This light was no longer needed after a new outer breakwater was built (next entry). A much smaller light was installed in 2010. Located at the end of the older breakwater of Onahama, a major port in southern Iwaki. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1362; Admiralty M6500.2; ex-NGA 4628.
Onahama South Breakwater West Head
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); two red flashes every 7 s. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. A Coast Guard photo is at right, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the new outer breakwater of Onahama. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1361; Admiralty M6499.8; NGA 4632.
Hassaki Outer Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); red flash every 3 s. 13 m (43 ft) round cylindrical red concrete tower. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the detached outer breakwater of the Hassaki petroleum port, at the southwest end of the Onahama waterfront. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1347; Admiralty M6503.5; NGA 4648.
Hassaki South Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); three green flashes every 13 s. 13 m (43 ft) concrete post light attached to a 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the south breakwater of the Hassaki port. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1346; Admiralty M6503.8; NGA 4644.
Onohama South Breakwater Light
Onahama South Breakwater West Head Light
Japanese Coast Guard Fukushima Office photo

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Miyagi | South: Ibaraki and Chiba

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Posted August 15, 2006. Checked and revised July 23, 2011. Lighthouses: 26. Site copyright 2011 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.