Lighthouses of Japan: Mie and Wakayama

This page lists lighthouses of the Japanese prefectures of Mie and Wakayama, which face south on the Pacific Ocean southwest of Nagoya and southeast of Osaka. The region includes the scenic Kii Peninsula (Kii-hanto), which projects southward into the Pacific and is the southernmost coast of Honshu.

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. On Honshu 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 F of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 112.

What's Hot:

Shiono Misaki Light
Shiono Misaki Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo

General Sources
Lighthouses in Japan
A comprehensive site, although almost entirely in Japanese. It's easiest to use the pages for each prefecture: Mie and Wakayama. There's also a page on Lighthouses by R. H. Brunton listing the earliest Western-style Japanese lighthouses.
Kiso's Lighthouses
This site has many excellent photos of Japanese lighthouses. Kiso's page for Honshu-Pacific Ocean has many of the photos referenced on this page. Unfortunately, this page is posted on Yahoo Japan, which does not allow us to link directly to the photos. To find a specific photo, look for the JP light list number in Kiso's Japanese descriptions.
Misty's Japanese Lighthouse Tour
Photos and a few notes for lighthouses in all parts of the country.
Fourth Region Lighthouse Information
Photos and information concerning five coastal lights near the entrance to Ise Bay, posted by the Fourth Coast Guard Region Office (this region includes Aichi and Mie Prefectures).
Lighthouses of Region 5
Posted by the Fifth Coast Guard Region, with photos from Wakayama Prefecture.

Lighthouses of Mie Prefecture

West Coast Ise Bay Lighthouses
Yokkaichi East Breakwater North Head
1981. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 16 m (52 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Prior to 1920, the original Yokkaichi Light, a 12 m (39 ft) square concrete tower, was somewhere near this location. Located at the north end of the detached breakwater protecting the harbor of Yokkaichi, an industrial port on the west side of Ise Bay about 30 km (20 mi) southwest of Nagoya. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1876; Admiralty F6097.6; NGA 6184.
Yokkaichi East Breakwater South Head
1965. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 13 m (43 ft) round metal tower with gallery, painted red. Located at the south end of the detached breakwater protecting the harbor of Yokkaich. No photo available, but Google has an indistinct satellite view. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1875; Admiralty F6099; NGA 6180.
Yokkaichi (South Breakwater)
1926. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); green light occulting three times every 13 s. 20 m (66 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Land has been filled south of the breakwater, so the lighthouse now stands on a right-angle cape formed by this fill. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Site status unknown. ARLHS JAP-1877; Admiralty F6098; NGA 6176.
Isozu Ko South Breakwater
1961. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical fiberglass tower with gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. No photo available. Located at the end of the south breakwater at Isozu Ko, an industrial harbor about 5 km (3 mi) south of Yokkaichi. Site and tower closed. Admiralty F6096; NGA 6192.
* Nie Saki (Tsu) (2)
Date unknown (station established 1885). Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white light, 4 s on, 4 s off. 8 m (26 ft) square pyramidal concrete tower with gallery; the lantern has been removed. No photo available. This lighthouse is located on the waterfront on the north side of Tsu. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1868; Admiralty F6083; NGA 6216.
Tsu Ko South Breakwater
1988. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); red flash every 3 s. 9 m (30 ft) tapered square masonry tower, painted red. This unusual lighthouse is designed to resemble a Japanese paper-covered lamp stand. A photo is available. Located at the end of the south breakwater of Tsu Ko, on the southern side of Tsu. Site and tower closed; the breakwater is short and there should be a good view from shore. ARLHS JAP-1866; Admiralty F6085; NGA 6222.
Iguratsu (Iguratu, Tuko Iguratsu)
1969. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); green light occulting twice every 6 s. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. No photo available. Located at the end of the breakwater sheltering Tsu harbor, about 35 km (22 mi) south of Yokkaichi. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1869; Admiralty F6082; NGA 6224.
* Kozaki (Kou Saki)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 91 m (299 ft); white light, 4 s on, 4 s off. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery, attached to the seaward end of a square 1-story concrete equipment building. Entire lighthouse painted white. A closeup photo is also available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a promontory at the northwestern side of the entrance to the Toba harbor complex in lower Ise Bay. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-278; JP-2744; Admiralty F6064; NGA 6268.
* Toba Ko Range Front
Date unknown (station established 1912). Active; focal plane 43 m (141 ft); continuous red light. 24 m (79 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, painted white. Located on a hillside above the northwest corner of Toba harbor. Site status unknown, but the tower is easy to see from nearby. ARLHS JAP-654; JP-2756; Admiralty F6050; NGA 6276.
* Toba Ko Range Rear
1912. Active; focal plane 59 m (194 ft); red light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 8 m (26 ft) 2-stage octagonal cylindrical tower, upper portion metal and lower portion concrete, attached to the seaward side of a square 1-story concrete equipment building. Entire lighthouse painted white. Another photo is available. The range guides ships into the harbor of Toba, which is just inside the west entrance to Ise Bay. Located on heights above Toba. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-653; JP-2757; Admiralty F6050.1; NGA 6280.
Shimaga Saki (Shima Ga Saki)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 29 m (95 ft); two white flashes every 7 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) cylindrical concrete tower with a cross-shaped cross section, rising from a 1-story concrete equipment building. Entire lighthouse painted white. A good closeup is available. Located on a promontory at the southwestern corner of Ise Bay, marking the entrance to the narrow channel between Suga Shima and the mainland. Site status unknown. ARLHS JAP-1852; JP-2753; Admiralty F6063; NGA 6292.

Ise Bay Islands Lighthouses
* Kami Shima (2)
1968 (station established 1910). Active; focal plane 114 m (374 ft); three white flashes every 30 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, centered on a 1-story square concrete equipment building. 4° Fresnel lens in use. Entire lighthouse painted white. Kiso has a closeup, and the Coast Guard also has a page for the light. The present light replaced a cast iron tower. Kami Shima is an island in the center of the entrance to Ise Bay, so this lighthouse functions as the landfall light for the bay. Located at the highest point of the island. Ferry transportation to the island is available from Toba, and according to the Coast Guard it is 30 minute (steeply uphill!) walk to the light station. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-215; JP-2504; Admiralty F6021; NGA 5824.
* Suga Shima (2)
1873 (Richard Henry Brunton). Active; focal plane 55 m (180 ft); white flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) round old-style brick tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. The original 1-story brick keeper's house has been dismantled and rebuilt at Meiji Mura (Meiji Village), a privately-owned historic theme park in Inuyama, about 20 km (13 mi) north of Nagoya. A page of photos and another photo is available; Kiso also has a closeup. This venerable light was the first brick Western-style lighthouse built in Japan. It replaced a wooden Edo-era lighthouse, according to the Coast Guard's page for the station. Suga Shima is an island, 4 km (2.5 mi) long, obstructing the western entrance to Ise Bay. The island is accessible by ferry from Toba. Located at the northeastern tip of the island, said to be a 20 minute walk from the ferry. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-596; JP-2750; Admiralty F6048; NGA 6328.

Suga Shima Light
Japanese Coast Guard photo

Shima Peninsula Lighthouses
*
Izika (Ijika)
1962. Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); two white flashes every 7 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) slender octagonal concrete tower rising from a 1-story concrete equipment room. Stacey Salamon has a closeup photo, another photo is available, and Kiso has a good closeup. Located in a hotel parking lot at Izika, a seaside town about 10 km (6 mi) southeast of Toba. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-195; JP-2764; Admiralty F6046; NGA 6336.
* Yoroi Saki
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 27 m (89 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 9.5 m (31 ft) slender octagonal concrete tower rising from a 1-story concrete equipment room. Closeup photos are available, and Kiso also has a closeup. This lighthouse appears to be a copy of the Izika lighthouse. Located on a sharp promontory sheltering the fishing port of Kusaki. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-760; JP-2766; Admiralty F6045; NGA 6344.
*** Anori Saki (3)
1948 (modern station established 1873). Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); white flash every 15 s. 13 m (43 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a small equipment room. Entire lighthouse painted white. Atsushi Yokoyama has a 2007 photo, Kiso has a closeup, and additional photos are available. Lights were shown here as early as 1681, according to the Coast Guard page for the station. The 1873 lighthouse, a wooden structure, was relocated to the Museum of Maritime Science in Tokyo. A lighthouse musuem, near the tower, has historical exhibits including a 1/3 model of the1873 light. Located on a sharp, east-facing promontory on the south side of the entrance to Matoya Bay about 12 km (7.5 mi) south of the Ise Bay entrance. Site open, museum open daily except Tuesdays, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-021; JP-2769; Admiralty F6042; NGA 6356.
* Daio Saki (Daiozaki)
1927. Active; focal plane 46 m (151 ft); flash every 15 s, alternately red and white; in addition a continuous red light is shown over rocks to the southwest. 23 m (75 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 2-story concrete keeper's house. Entire lighthouse is white. Additional photos are available, plus a good closeup, and Kiso has a photo. This lighthouse was built after the Japanese Navy cruiser Otawa wrecked on nearby reefs. Located on a sharp, east-pointing promontory at the southwest entrance to Enshu Bay, about 30 km (20 mi) south of Toba. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-053; JP-2781; Admiralty F6036; NGA 6384.
* Mugi Saki
1975. Active; focal plane 28 m (92 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Kiso has a distant view from the mainland. Located on a south-pointing promontory about 6 km (3.5 mi) southwest of Daio Saki. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-376; JP-2785; Admiralty F6034.2; NGA 6396.
Iwai Misaki
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 37 m (121 ft); continuous white light. 18 m (59 ft) round white concrete tower. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located in heavy forest above the southwesternmost tip of the hook-shaped Goza peninsula, which shelters Ago Bay. Site status unknown. Admiralty F6033.46; NGA 6416.
Goza Saki
1971. Active; focal plane 98 m (322 ft); white flash every 10 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard's photo is at right, and Kiso has a closeup. Located on the heights at the end of the Goza peninsula; Google has a satellite view. Site status unknown. ARLHS JAP-074; JP-2794; Admiralty F6032.7; NGA 6420.
Taso Saki
1951. Active; focal plane 97 m (318 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 12 m (39 ft) slender round concrete tower, rising from a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Located on a high promontory separating Ago Bay from Gokasho Bay; Google has a satellite view. Site status unknown. ARLHS JAP-628; JP-2806; Admiralty F6032; NGA 6448.
Mie Shima (Miesima)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 67 m (220 ft); white flash every 5 s. 7 m (23 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower rising from a 1-story concrete equipment building. Entire lighthouse is white. No photo available. Located atop Mie Shima, a steep, rocky island about 6 km (3.5 mi) southeast of Yoshizu. Accessible only by boat and nearly inaccessible. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-348; JP-2818; Admiralty F6027.4; NGA 6492.
* Yoshizu (Yosizu)
1952. Active; focal plane 62 m (203 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 10 m (33 ft) hexagonal white concrete tower with gallery. There is a twilight photo of the light in action. Located on a wooded promontory on the west side of the harbor entrance at Yoshizu. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-763; JP-2822; Admiralty F6027; NGA 6512.
Goza Saki Light
Goza Saki Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo
* Hoza Ko (Houza Ura)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 41 m (135 ft); continuous light, white, red or green depending on direction. 7 m (23 ft) square cylindrical white concrete tower with a square concrete lantern room. The lights are shown through a square opening in the lantern room. No photo available. Located atop a wooded peninsula, marking the entrance to Hoza harbor about 4 km (2.5 mi) south of Yoshizu. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1814; Admiralty F6026.4; NGA 6516.
* Kowaura (Kowa)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); white light, 4 s on, 4 s off. 8.5 m (28 ft) round hourglass-shaped white concrete tower. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a steep point of land on the east side of the entrance to Kowaura harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1825; Admiralty F6026.3; NGA 6520.

Southern Mie Coast Lighthouses
*
Nishiki
1946. Active; focal plane 44 m (144 ft); white light, 4 s on, 4 s off. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery, attached to a small equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Additional photos are available. Located on a headland above the entrance to Nishiki harbor, about 5 km (3 mi) east of Nagashima. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-418; JP-2829; Admiralty F6025; NGA 6524.
Nagashima (O Lsi)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 9 m (30 ft) round hourglass-shaped white concrete tower with gallery. Located on a rock on the east side of the entrance to Nagashima Wan. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1845; JP-2833; Admiralty F6023.8; NGA 6544.
Nagashima Oshima
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 98 m (322 ft); three white flashes every 18 s. 9 m (30 ft) round white concrete tower with double gallery, rising from a small square concrete equipment room. No photo available. Located atop a small island about 4 km (2.5 mi) south of the Nagashima light. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-388; JP-2832; Admiralty F6022; NGA 6548.
* Shimakatsu (Simakatu)
1963. Active; focal plane 53 m (174 ft); white flash every 5 s. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower, rising from a 1-story square concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard has a map showing the location of this light station. Located on the promontory on the north side of a ragged peninsula that shelters the east side of Owase Wan, about 8 km (5 mi) northeast of Owase. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-559; JP-2839; Admiralty F6022.2; NGA 6568.
Onaso Hana
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 60 m (197 ft); three white flashes every 12 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, rising from a 1-story square concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. No photo available. Located atop a very sharp promontory on the north side of the entrance to Owase Wan and the harbor of Owase. Site status unknown, but it appears to be very difficult to reach. ARLHS JAP-1846; Admiralty F6012; NGA 6580.
Togashira Shima (Owase)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 129 m (423 ft); white flash every 4 s. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower, rising from a 1-story square concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. No photo available. Located on a very steep slope on a small island at the south side of the entrance to Owase Wan and the harbor of Owase. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower probably closed. ARLHS JAP-1862; JP-2842; Admiralty F6011; NGA 6620.
* Kuki Ko (Kutsu Saki)
1965. Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 9 m (30 ft) round white concrete tower, rising from a 1-story square building. The building is the normal size for a lighthouse equipment room, but apparently it is a small Shinto shrine. This information and another photo are found on the Misty's Lighthouse Tour site. Located on a wooded promontory on the south side of the Kuki harbor entrance, about 8 km (5 mi) southeast of Owase. Accessible by a hike of about 30 minutes. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-299; JP-2856; Admiralty F6010.4; NGA 6624.
** Miki Saki
1928. Active; focal plane 149 m (489 ft); three white flashes every 30 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a small 1-story keeper's house. Entire lighthouse is white. This historic light is the best known and most visited lighthouse of the southern Mie coast. Additional photos are available. Located at the end of a long, rugged peninsula about 15 km (9 mi) southeast of Owase. Accessible by paved road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-352; JP-2859; Admiralty F6010; NGA 6668.
* Kosugi Hana
1959. Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); white flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower, rising from a 1-story square concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Another photo gives a clearer view of the structure. Located at the end of a long peninsula projecting into Kosugi Wan about 5 km (3 mi) east of Kosugi. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-290; JP-2860; Admiralty F6009.5; NGA 6652.
* Nigi Shima (Nikijima)
1953. Active; focal plane 45 m (148 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery, rising from a 1-story square concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Nigi Shima is called an island, but in fact it is connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus. Located at the southwestern point of the "island," off highway 311 about 15 km (9 mi) northeast of Kumano. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-409; JP-2865; Admiralty F6009; NGA 6632.

Miki Saki Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo
* Ino Hana
1958. Active; focal plane 84 m (276 ft); two white flashes every 7 s. 11 m (36 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower, rising from a 1-story octagonal concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white.This lighthouse marks the approach to the harbor of Kumano. Located at the tip of a peninsula about 6 km (4 mi) east of Kumano. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-170; JP-2868; Admiralty F6008.5; NGA 6640.
Udono Ko North Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); green flash every 3 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. No photo available. Located at the end of the main breakwater sheltering the harbor of Udono. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1871; Admiralty F6007.5; NGA 6678.

Lighthouses of Wakayama Prefecture

Southeast Kii Peninsula (Pacific Ocean) Lighthouses
*
Ugui (Ugui Koma Saki)
1925. Active; focal plane 53 m (174 ft); white flash every 5 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, rising from a small square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. The harbor facilities of Ugui are built on an isthmus, at least partially artificial, that connects a hilly, wooded island to the mainland about 10 km (6 mi) south of Shingu. Located at the southern tip of the island. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-711; JP-2874; Admiralty F6007; NGA 6688.
Obera Shima
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); white flash every 3 s.15 m (49 ft) round white tower. No photo available; possibly similar to the Katsuo Shima lighthouse (next entry). Located on a small island about 1.3 km (0.8 mi) south of the Ugui lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty F6006.8; NGA 6696.
Katsuo Shima (Katuojima)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); two white flashes every 7 s. 15 m (49 ft) round white tower with double gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard has a closeup photo. Located on a skerry about 5 km (3 mi) south of the Ugui lighthouse, off Taizi harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JAP-1952; Admiralty F6003; NGA 6708.
* Kantori Saki
Date unknown (station established 1899). Active; focal plane 41 m (135 ft); white flash every 8 s. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. Kiso has a good photo. Located on a promontory projecting eastward into the Pacific about 5 km (3 mi) east of Taizi. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-229; JP-2884; Admiralty F6002; NGA 6716.
* Urakami Ko
1984. Active; focal plane 56 m (184 ft); white or red light depending on direction, 3 s on, 3 s off. 8.5 m (28 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower. This light is listed erroneously as Kashimoto Ko by NGA and as Kusimoto Ko by ARLHS. Located on the heights above the harbor of Urakami, about 3 km (2 mi) southeast of Taizi. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1959; JP-2885.5; Admiralty F6001.5; NGA 6720.
* Kashino Saki (Kasino Saki)
1870 (substantially rebuilt in 1954). Active; focal plane 47 m (154 ft); two white flashes every 20 s. 15 m (49 ft) round cylindrical concrete and stone tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. Kiso also has a good photo. This lighthouse appears to have the original stone foundation and the original cast iron first order lantern, but a modern concrete section was inserted between the two. Access to the lantern is now by an external spiral stairway. A semicircular 1-story keeper's house surrounds the original base. Despite these alterations, this is a historic light station, one of the oldest Western-style lighthouses in Japan. The lighthouse stands at the eastern tip of Kii Oshima, an island about 6 km (3.5 mi) long lying to the east northeast of Shiono Misaki (Cape Shiono); it is the landfall light for the cape for westbound ships. The island is connected to the mainland by a bridge. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-239; JP-2889; Admiralty F5998; NGA 6756.
Myoga Shima
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white flash every 3 s. 14 m (46 ft) slender round cylindrical white concrete tower with an expanded upper section below the light. Located on a small island crossed by the bridge from the mainland to Kii Oshima. Site status unknown, but there is probably a view from the bridge. ARLHS JAP-810; JP-2895; Admiralty F5995.6; NGA 6772.
Kashino Saki
Kashino Saki Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo
Uno Shima (U Shima)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); white flash every 3 s. 14 m (46 ft) slender round cylindrical white concrete tower. Located on a skerry off the eastern point of the Cape Shiono peninsula. Accessible only by boat, but there is a distant view from the mainland. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-835; JP-2901; Admiralty F5995; NGA 6768.
**** Shiono (Siono) Misaki (2)
1878 (station established 1873) (Richard Henry Brunton). Active; focal plane 49 m (161 ft); white flash every 15 s. 23 m (75 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. A Coast Guard photo is at the top of this page, Kiso has a photo, and a nice closeup photo and a good 2007 photo are available. This beautiful and historic lighthouse marks the southernmost point of the island of Honshu. A modern 1-story building houses a lighthouse museum displaying the original first-order Fresnel lens and other artifacts of area lighthouses. Located at the extreme southern tip of the Kii Peninsula, about 5 km (3 mi) south of Kushimoto. Site open, tower open daily. ARLHS JAP-573; JP-2902; Admiralty F5994; NGA 6776.

Southwest Kii Peninsula (Pacific Ocean) Lighthouses
*
Esu Saki
1961. Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 11 m (36 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower with gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. Kiso has a closeup photo. Located on the tip of a sharp promontory about 4 km (2.5 mi) southeast of Susami. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-062; JP-2907; Admiralty F5989; NGA 6804.
Susami
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 58 m (190 ft); white flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round white concrete tower. No photo available. Located at the end of a long promontory that partly shelters the harbor of Susami, about 2 km (1.2 mi) south of the town. Site status unknown. ARLHS JAP-603; JP-2909; Admiralty F5988; NGA 6808.
* Susami Ko
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); continuous light, white, red or green depending on direction. 7 m (23 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery; the light is shown through a square window in the front of the lantern room. Entire lighthouse is white. Located on a bluff behind the waterfront in Susami. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1973; JP-2910; Admiralty F5988.4; NGA 6812.
* Itie Saki
1921. Active; focal plane 95 m (312 ft); two white flashes every 30 s. 11 m (36 ft) octagonal concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story concrete keeper's house. Entire lighthouse is white. Kiso has a photo, and Wakayama University also has a photo. Located on a prominent cape about 20 km (12.5 mi) south of Tanabe. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-185; JP-2912; Admiralty F5986; NGA 6820.
* Bansho Hana
1955. Active; focal plane 37 m (121 ft); white light occulting once every 8 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, rising from a small 1-story equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Located on a promontory sheltering Tanabe Bay, about 8 km (5 mi) south of Tanabe. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-042; JP-2913; Admiralty F5984; NGA 6824.
Siso Shima
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); white flash every 5 s. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. Located on a skerry about 800 m (1/2 mi) west of the Bansho Hana lighthouse. Accessible only by boat, but there is a good view from the mainland. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-587; JP-2914; Admiralty F5979; NGA 6828.
Tanabe Okino Shima
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 3 s. 15 m (49 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 1-story concrete equipment house. Located on a small island in the entrance to Tanabe Bay, about 3 km (2 mi) northwest of the Bansho Hana lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JAP-1976; JP-3320; Admiralty F5978; NGA 6832.
Gobo Katuo Shima
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (56 ft); white flash every 4 s. 15 m (49 ft) round white concrete tower. No photo available. Located on a small island about 4 km (2.5 mi) south of Gobo. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JAP-1940; Admiralty F5974; NGA 6888.
Gobo Ko (Outer Breakwater)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); red flash every 6 s. 14 m (46 ft) round concrete tower, painted red. No photo available. Located at the end of a breakwater on the south side of the harbor at Gobo. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1941; Admiralty F5974.5; NGA 6892.

Kii Strait Lighthouses
* Kii Hino Misaki (2)
1951 (station established 1895). Active; focal plane 140 m (459 ft); three white flashes every 40 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story concrete equipment building. Entire lighthouse painted white. A Coast Guard photo is at right, Kiso has a photo, and another photo is available. One of Japan's most important lighthouses, this light stands at the gateway to the Inland Sea (Seto Naikai). Its powerful light has a range of more than 50 km (32 mi). The original lighthouse was destroyed by a U.S. air raid in 1945. Located at the tip of a long promontory about 10 km (6 mi) west of Gobo. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-255; JP-3301; Admiralty F5970; NGA 6900.
* Kii Myazakino Hana
1966. Active; focal plane 81 m (266 ft); white light occulting once every 8 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with gallery. Kiso has a distant view. Located on the tip of a promontory projecting into the Kii Strait about 5 km (3 mi) southwest of Arida. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-256; JP-3319; Admiralty F5967.8; NGA 6960.
Shimotsu (Simotu) Ko
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 94 m (308 ft); white flash every 4 s. 13 m (43 ft) square white concrete tower. No photo available. Located at Shimotsu, about 4 km (2.5 mi) north of Arida. Site status unknown. ARLHS JAP-1970; JP-3326; Admiralty F5967.4; NGA 6968.
Hino Misaki
Kii Hino Misaki Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo
** Saika (Saiga) Saki
1960. Active; focal plane 75 m (246 ft); white flash every 8 s.14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. the tower is also surrounded by two large observation platforms accessed by stairways. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard has an excellent photo, Kiso has a good photo, and additional photos are available. The observation platforms provide a wide view of the Kii Strait and the coast of Shikoku. Located on a high promontory about 7 km (4.5 mi) south of Wakayama. Site open, observation platforms open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-525; JP-3341; Admiralty F5965; NGA 7018.
Wakayama Ko South Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); two red flashes every 7 s. 13 m (43 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. The pier no longer serves as a breakwater; satellite photos show a newer south outer breakwater that encloses it. Located at the end of short pier on the south side of the traditional harbor of Wakayama. This pier does not appear to be walkable. Site and tower closed. Admiralty F5963; NGA 7028.
Wakayama Ko North Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); two green flashes every 7 s. 13 m (43 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the north breakwater of the traditional harbor of Wakayama. This pier does not appear to be walkable. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1987; Admiralty F5964; NGA 7032.
Wakayama Kita Ko West Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 17 m (56 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Land has been filled south of this pier for a new industrial area, so the "breakwater" is now only a few tens of meters long. Located on the south side of the entrance to Wakayama's newer harbor; possibly accessible. Site status unknown. ARLHS JAP-1955; Admiralty F5961.6; NGA 7036.
Wakayama Kita Ko North Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 17 m (56 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the breakwater on the north side of the entrance to Wakayama's newer harbor. Site status unknown. ARLHS JAP-1954; Admiralty F5961.8; NGA 7034.
* Takura Saki
1956. Active; focal plane 49 m (161 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 11 m (36 ft) concrete post light with gallery, rising from a 1-story hexagonal concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Kiso has a photo, and another photo is available. Takura Saki is a promontory at the north end of the Kii Strait and the south end of Osaka Wan; the entrance to the bay is only about 6 km (3.5 mi) wide. Located on the cape, about 7 km (4.5 mi) west of Wakayama; Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-622; JP-3354; Admiralty F5961; NGA 7040.
* Tomoga (Tomo Ga) Shima
1872 (Richard Henry Brunton). Active; focal plane 60 m (197 ft); flash every 5 s, alternately red and white. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical stone tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a semicircular 1-story equipment house. Entire lighthouse painted white. Detached 1-story keeper's house. Kiso has a photo, and additional photos (with some historical information) are available. Military engineers moved the lighthouse 25 m (82 ft) east in 1890 to make way for a coastal defense battery. Tomoga Shima is a general name for a group of four islands in the entrance to Osaka Wan from the Kii Strait (Kii Suido). This historic lighthouse is built on Okino Shima, the largest and highest of the four. The island is a historic site and nature preserve, with hiking trails and the remains of military installations from World War II and earlier. Passenger ferry transportation is available from Kada, a small port just north of Takura Saki. Located at the western end of the island, about 6 km (3.5 mi) northwest of Takura Saki. Google has a satellite view. Accessible by hiking trail. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-669; JP-3501; Admiralty F5960; NGA 7200.
Zino (Jino) Shima
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 55 m (180 ft); two white flashes every 8 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) octagonal white concrete tower. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Zino Shima is the easternmost island of the Tomoga Shima group, and his lighthouse guides ships through the narrow channel, only 800 m (1/2 mi) wide, between the island and the mainland. The island is owned by the military and closed to civilians. Located on a hill at the eastern end of Zino Shima, about 5 km (3 mi) north of Takura Saki. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1990; Admiralty F5959; NGA 7204.
Tomoga Shima
Tomoga Shima Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo

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Posted November 5, 2006. Checked and revised March 5, 2008. Lighthouses: 66. Site copyright 2008 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.