Lighthouses of Japan: Eastern Honshū

This page lists lighthouses of Japan's Ibaraki and Chiba prefectures on the east coast of Honshū, within a short drive of the Tōkyō metropolitan area. Ibaraki prefecture faces east on the open Pacific Ocean. Chiba prefecture includes the Bōsō Peninsula, which projects southward separating Tōkyō and Sagami Bays from the Pacific. This region includes some densely populated urban areas, but it also includes a surprising length of wild and scenic coastline. In Japanese, the word for a lighthouse is tōdai (or 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 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, sometimes two. 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 A comprehensive site, although almost entirely in Japanese. It's easiest to use the pages for the individual prefectures: Ibaraki and Chiba. Misty's Japanese Lighthouse Tour Photos and a few notes for lighthouses in all parts of the country. There are pages for the individual prefectures: Ibaraki and Chiba. Kiso's Lighthouses This site has many excellent photos of Japanese lighthouses. Capes and Lighthouses Entirely in Japanese, this site has many fine photos of major lighthouses throughout Japan. Ibaraki Coast Guard Office - Gallery In the left panel, the first group of five subheadings links to photos of the major Ibaraki lighthouses. Chōshi Lighthouse Guide Data and small photos posted by the Chōshi Coast Guard Section, which covers the east coast of Chiba Prefecture. Chiba Coast Guard Office - Lighthouses Lighthouse list, in Japanese. The two links go to pages for the Nojima and Sunosaki lighthouses.

Taitō Saki Light, Ohara Japanese Coast Guard photo

Lighthouses of Ibaraki Prefecture

* Ōtsu Misaki 1960. Active; focal plane 56 m (184 ft); white flash every 8 s. 17 m (56 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 1-story keeper's house now used as a communications facility. Entire lighthouse is white. A closeup photo is at right, Capes and Lighthouses has photos, the Coast Guard has a photo page, and a Japanese web page has numerous photos. Located on a sharp promontory about 7 km (4.5 mi) northeast of Kita Ibaraki. Accessible by road; parking provided. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-471; JP-1827; Admiralty M6496.6; NGA 4660. * Kawaziri (Kawajiri) (2) Date unknown. Active; focal plane 48 m (157 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 17 m (56 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. Lighthouses of Japan has a photo at the top of the page; the photo at the bottom of the page is of another Kawaziri lighthouse in Yamaguchi Prefecture. The Coast Guard has a photo page, Capes and Lighthouses also has good photos. More information is needed. Located on a bluff about 8 km (5 mi) north of Hitachi. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-251; JP-1827; Admiralty M6496.3; NGA 4668. * Hitachi 1967. Active; focal plane 42 m (138 ft); three white flashes every 25 s. 25 m (82 ft) round concrete tower with a flared top, lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard has a photo page, Capes and Lighthouses has good photos, Misty's Tour also has a photo, and Google has a good satellite view. Located on a promontory on the south side of the city of Hitachi, north of the commercial harbor. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-127; JP-1833; Admiralty M6495.8; NGA 4688. Hitachi Southeast Breakwater Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); red flash every 6 s. 16 m (52 ft) red concrete tower with lantern and gallery. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of a detached breakwater on the east side of Hitachi harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1376; Admiralty M6496.03; NGA 4696. Hitachi West Breakwater Date unknown. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); two green flashes every 7 s. 16 m (52 ft) white concrete tower with lantern and gallery. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the breakwater on the southwest side of Hitachi harbor. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1375; Admiralty M6496; NGA 4692. * Iso Saki 1951. Active; focal plane 36 m (118 ft); white flash every 12 s. 14 m (46 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story keeper's house. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard has several photos, Capes and Lighthouses has good photos, Misty's Tour has a nighttime photo, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a promontory jutting into the Pacific about 15 km (9 mi) south of Hitachi, near Katsuta. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-182; JP-1839; Admiralty M6495.5; NGA 4704.

Ōtsu Misaki Light, 2006 Creative Commons photo by Hirotomo T.

* Kashima

1971. Active; focal plane 63 m (207 ft); white flash every 5 s. 32 m (105 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. A photo from the Coast Guard's photo page is below, another photo is available (second photo on the page), and Misty's Tour has a small photo. Located on high ground about 1.5 km (1mi) from the coast and about 5 km (3 mi) north of Kashima. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-236; JP-1848; Admiralty M6493.2; NGA 4740.

* Kashima Kō Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, continuous with a brighter light 2 s on, 2 s off. 16 m (52 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with a larger lantern room, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Misty's Tour has a good photo. White light is shown northeast over the entrance channel. Located on the waterfront of Kashima harbor. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-238; JP-1848.5; Admiralty M6492.4; NGA 4741. * Kashima Kō Range Front Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); continuous green light. 22 m (72 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower. No lantern. This range guides ships into a large new artificial harbor excavated from low-lying land on the south side of Kashima. Located on the south side of the entrance to the harbor. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1378; JP-1851; Admiralty M6491.4; NGA 4750. * Kashima Kō Range Rear Date unknown. Active; focal plane 31 m (102 ft); continuous green light. 27 m (89 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower. No lantern. This range guides ships into a large new artificial harbor excavated from low-lying land on the south side of Kashima. Located on the south side of the entrance to the harbor, 200 m (650 ft) south of the front light. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1379; JP-1852; Admiralty M6491.41; NGA 4750.1.

Kashima Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo

Lighthouses of Chiba Prefecture

Pacific Coast Lighthouses
Ichino Shima (Chōshi Kō)

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 16 m (53 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a circular base. A stairway spirals around the base to provide access to the lighthouse. Entire lighthouse is white. This lighthouse is shown in the third photo of the Coast Guard's guide page, the first light listed for Chōshi Kō. Located on a rock adjacent to the end of a detached breakwater on the south side of the entrance to the Tone River and Chōshi harbor; Google has a satellite view. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1313; Admiralty M6482; NGA 4752.

Chōshi Kō East Breakwater

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 (49 ft); green flash every 3 s. 12 m (39 ft) round flared concrete tower attached to a small concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. This light is the fifth light pictured in the light-blue Chōshi Kō section of the Coast Guard's guide page. Located at the north end of a detached breakwater a short distance east of the Ichino Shima lighthouse; Google has a satellite view. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1343; Admiralty M6482.4; NGA 4764.

Chōshi Kō North Breakwater

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 (49 ft); two green flashes every 6 s. 12 m (39 ft) round flared concrete tower with gallery, attached to a small concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. This light is the fourth light pictured in the light-blue Chōshi Kō section of the Coast Guard's guide page. Located at the north end of a detached breakwater a short distance north of the Ichino Shima lighthouse; Google has a satellite view. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Admiralty M6482.2; NGA 4768.

**** Inubō Saki 1874. Active; focal plane 52 m (171 ft); white flash every 15 s. 32 m (105 ft) round brick tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story keeper's house. Entire lighthouse painted white. Fog siren (blast every 35 s). This is a staffed station with a 2-story communications center and other buildings; the original 1° Fresnel lens is on display in one of the buildings, used as a museum and visitor center. A photo is at right, another excellent photo of the lighthouse is available, Capes and Lighthouses has numerous photos, Klaus Huelse has a historic postcard image, and Google has a satellite view. This handsome and historic lighthouse is one of the oldest in Japan, and it is the country's tallest brick lighthouse. It stands on a promontory at the end of a peninsula that projects about 25 km (15 mi) into the Pacific, creating an important hazard to navigation. Located on a promontory about 5 km (3 mi) southeast of Chōshi. Site open, tower open daily for climbing. ARLHS JPN-171; JP-1869; Admiralty M6478; NGA 4780. Nagasaki Hana Date unknown. Active; focal plane 23 m (75 ft); continuous white light. 20 m (66 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower. A 2008 closeup and additional views are available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the extreme south point of the Inubō Saki promontory; the lighthouse is surrounded by water when the tide is high. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-390; JP-1870; Admiralty M6478.4; NGA 4784. * Iioka 1956. Active; focal plane 74 m (243 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 9.5 m (31 ft) round concrete tower attached to a small 1-story equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. A 2009 closeup is available, Capes and Lighthouses has good photos, Lighthouses of Japan also has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Parking is available at the lighthouse, and according to Misty's Tour there is a coffeeshop in the adjoining building. Located on a south-pointing promontory about 8 km (5 mi) southwest of Chōshi. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-156; JP-1874; Admiralty M6477; NGA 4796. * Taitō Saki 1952. Active; focal plane 72 m (236 ft); white flash every 10 s. 16 m (52 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 1-story keeper's house. A photo is at the top of this page, Misty's Tour also has a photo, a 2009 photo is available, and Capes and Lighthouses has additional photos. The Taitō Saki Lighthouse Club helps maintain the lighthouse grounds and has a website (in Japanese) for the lighthouse. Located on a promontory 6 km (3.5 mi) northeast of Ohara. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-609; JP-1875; Admiralty M6472; NGA 4800. Kazuea Toyohama Kō Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 9 m (30 ft) round conical concrete tower with two galleries. Entire lighthouse is white. This is the next to last light in the light tan Ohara section about halfway down the Coast Guard's guide page. Located at the end of the breakwater of Kazuea Toyohama, on the northeast side of Katsuura. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1321; Admiralty M6470.2; NGA 4828.

Inubō Saki Light, January 2009 anonymous Creative Commons photo

Kawatsu Kō

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); continuous white light with a more intense flash every 5 s. 9 m (30 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. This is the last light in the light tan Ohara section about halfway down the Coast Guard's guide page. Located at the end of the breakwater of Kawatsu harbor, about 400 m (1/4 mi) southwest of the Kazuea Toyohama light. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1320; Admiralty M6470.3; NGA 4832.

* Katsuura (Katuura)

1917. Active; focal plane 71 m (233 ft); two white flashes every 20 s. 21 m (69 ft) octagonal concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. Two 1-story keeper's houses. A 2008 photo is available, Capes and Lighthouses has photos, Misty's Tour also has a photo, and a fine distant view is available. Located on a scenic promontory sheltering the east side of the harbor of Katsuura. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-245; JP-1884; Admiralty M6470; NGA 4836.

Kamogawa

1954. Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); three white flashes every 13 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery but no lantern. Entire lighthouse is white. Capes and Lighthouses has photos, and Misty's Tour also has a photo. Located on Ara Shima, a rocky island protecting the harbor of Kamogawa. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-220; JP-1897; Admiralty M6466; NGA 4880.

Hamanabuto Kō

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); continuous white light with a more intense flash every 5 s. 8 m (27 ft) square hourglass-shaped concrete tower with gallery but no lantern. Entire lighthouse is white. This is the seventh from the last light on the Coast Guard's guide page. Located on the breakwater at Hamanabuto, about 2 km (1.2 mi) south of Kamogawa. Site and tower closed. Admiralty M6465.4; NGA 4892.

Hamanabuto Kō South Breakwater

Date unknown. Active; focal plane unknown; continuous white light. Approx. 9 m (30 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower with gallery but no lantern. Entire lighthouse is white. This is the sixth from the last light on the Coast Guard's guide page. Located on the south breakwater at Hamanabuto, about 2 km (1.2 mi) south of Kamogawa. Site and tower closed. Not listed by NGA.

* Chikura (Tikura) Kō

1993. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); continuous light, white, red or green depending on direction. 12 m (39 ft) hexagonal cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery and a large "watch room." Entire lighthouse is white. Misty's Tour has a closeup, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the waterfront at Chikura, a small port about 8 km (5 mi) northeast of Najima Saki, the southern tip of the Bōsō peninsula. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-646; JP-1903; Admiralty M6462; NGA 4904.

* Awa Shirakama Kō

1962. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); continuous white or red light, depending on direction, with a more intense flash every 5 s. 9 m (30 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. Located on a rocky point at Awa Shirakama, about 5 km (3 mi) east of Nojima Saki, the southern tip of the Bōsō peninsula; Google has a satellite view. Site and tower closed, but the lighthouse can be viewed from nearby. ARLHS JPN-034; JP-1907; Admiralty M6458; NGA 4980.

**** Nojima (Nozima) Saki (3) 1925 (station established 1866). Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); flash every 15 s, white or red depending on direction. 29 m (95 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. 3rd order clamshell Fresnel lens in use. 2-story Coast Guard station, communications buildings, and other structures. A photo is at right, Kazuya Minami has a closeup photo, Capes and Lighthouses has photos, the Coast Guard has a page for the lighthouse, and Google has a good satellite view. This is one of Japan's oldest and most famous light stations. The original lighthouse, built by the Shogun's government under pressure from the Western powers, was a small wood tower. It was replaced in 1870 by an octagonal brick tower built by French engineers. That lighthouse was destroyed by the great Kanto earthquake of September 1, 1923. The present (1925) tower was heavily damaged by U.S. air raids in 1945, but was repaired within a year. There is a museum in one of the station buildings, and a 1st order Fresnel lens formerly used in the lighthouse is on display. The Coast Guard has a webcam showing the view from the lighthouse. Located at the southern tip of the Bōsō Peninsula, marking the entrance to Sagami and Tōkyō Bays. Site open, museum open daily, tower open for climbing (fee). ARLHS JPN-437; JP-1910; Admiralty M6456; NGA 4992.

Nojima Saki Light, January 2007 anonymous Japanese Wikipedia GNU Free Documentation photo

Sagami Bay Lighthouses
Mera Hana

1955. Active; focal plane 54 m (177 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 8.5 m (28 ft) round concrete tower, rising for a 1-story equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Capes and Lighthouses has photos, and Misty's Tour also has a photo. Located on a west-pointing promontory about 7 km (4.5 mi) west of the Najima Saki lighthouse. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-344; JP-2001; Admiralty M6454; NGA 4996.

* Suno Saki

1919. Active; focal plane 44 m (144 ft); flash every 15 s, alternately white and red. 15 m (49 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story equipment building. Entire lighthouse painted white. Capes and Lighthouses has a page with several photos, Misty's Tour also has a photo, and the Coast Guard has a page for the lighthouse. Suno Saki is a sharp, west-pointing promontory that marks the southwestern entrance to Tōkyō Bay. The lighthouse commands a spectacular view of the bay, with Mount Fuji visible on the far side. Located at the tip of the promontory, about 10 km (6 mi) west of Tateyama. Accessible by road, with parking provided; it's a 5 minute walk to the lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-601; JP-2003; Admiralty M6452; NGA 5004.

* Tateyama (Okino Shima)

1971. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); white flash every 4 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower with gallery, painted white. Capes and Lighthouses has several closeup photos. Okino Shima is a small island, now joined to the mainland by a causeway, marking the entrance to the harbor of Tateyama, the port sheltered by Suno Saki. Located at the western tip of the island. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1334; JP-2004; Admiralty M6449; NGA 5008.

Katuyama Uki Shima

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 62 m (203 ft); white flash every 5 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. Uki Shima is an island in the mouth of Tōkyō Bay about 1.3 km (0.8 mi) off the harbor of Katuyama. Located on the highest point of the island. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-247; JP-2011; Admiralty M6446; NGA 5032.

Katuyama Kō North Breakwater

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 9 m (30 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower with gallery, painted white. Located at the end of the north breakwater of Katuyama; Google has a satellite view. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-246; JP-2012; Admiralty M6445.5; NGA 5036.

Tōkyō Bay Lighthouses
Daini Kaiho

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); flash every 5 s, white or red depending on direction. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Fog horn (two blasts every 25 s). Entire lighthouse is white. Kazunori Seki has a photo, Junko Hirata's photo shows the fog horn tower to the left of the lighthouse, and Google has a satellite view. Daini Kaiho ("Second Fort") is one of three forts built in the early 1800s on artificial islands to bar the entrance to Tōkyō Bay. The fort is located near the main channel about 8 km (5 mi) northeast of Yokosuka and 4 km (2.5 mi) west of a promontory on the eastern (Chiba Prefecture) coast of the bay. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-052; JP-2016; Admiralty M6368; NGA 5092.

Chiba

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 28 m (92 ft); two white flashes every 30 s. 18 m (59 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 1-story crew quarters building and mounted on a square platform supported by four massive concrete piers. Entire lighthouse is white. Located in Tōkyō Bay about 4 km (2.5 mi) off the Chiba waterfront. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-827; JP-2222; Admiralty M6433; NGA 5308.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

• DisneySea, in the Disney theme park complex in Urayasu, Chiba prefecture, has a well-known faux lighthouse in its American Waterfront area.

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Posted September 25, 2006. Checked and revised June 21, 2009. Lighthouses: 33. Site copyright 2009 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.