Lighthouses of the Osaka Area

This page includes lighthouses of the Japanese prefecture of Osaka and the south coast of the prefecture of Hyogo. (Hyogo also has a northern coast on the Sea of Japan.) This region can be described rather broadly as the greater Osaka (or Osaka-Kobe) metropolitan area. The two prefectures are included in the Fifth Japanese Coast Guard Region. Osaka and Hyogo face south on the eastern end of the Inland Sea, which separates Honshu from Shikoku. Osaka Prefecture includes the east coast of Osaka Bay, a coast crowded with port facilities. These industrialized facilities continue westward through the city of Kobe, which is in Hyogo Prefecture. Hyogo also includes the large island of Awaji, which nearly spans the Inland Sea and comes very close to connecting Honshu and Shikoku. Osaka Bay lies to the east of Awaji and Harima Bay to the west. 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 at least one Coast Guard Section Office in each prefecture, often 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: General Sources Lighthouses in Japan A comprehensive site, although almost entirely in Japanese. It's easiest to use the pages for each prefecture: Osaka | Hyogo. 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. Misty's Japanese Lighthouse Tour Photos and a few notes for lighthouses in all parts of the country. Lighthouses of Region 5 Posted by the Fifth Coast Guard Region, with photos from Osaka and Hyogo Prefectures.

Hira Iso Light, Akashi Strait Japanese Coast Guard photo

Lighthouses of Osaka Prefecture

Osaka Bay Lighthouses
Ozaki Ko Outer Breakwater

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); red flash every 3 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post light with gallery, rising from a square 1-story equipment room. Entire lighthouse painted red. The Coast Guard has a photo. Located at the end of the outer breakwater of Ozaki, a small port at the southern end of Osaka Bay. Site and tower closed. Admiralty F5957.7; NGA 7230.6.

Kanku (Kansai International Airport) North Breakwater

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); red light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 13 m (43 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted red. Osaka's airport, Kansai International, is built on an artificial island in Osaka Bay about 40 km (25 mi) south of the city. Most travelers arrive at the airport by monorail or express trains, but there is also a high speed ferry service that brings travelers across the bay from Kobe (on the north) and from Sumoto on Awaji island to the west. This lighthouse marks the entrance to the small ferry harbor, at the north end of the artificial island. Located at the end of the curved breakwater on the north side of the ferry harbor; it is barely visible in an aerial photo (2/3 of the way down the page), but Google has a satellite view. Site and tower closed, but there must be excellent views from the ferries. ARLHS JAP-1913; Admiralty F5957.65; NGA 7238.

Hannan Ko Breakwater North End

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); two red flashes every 7 s. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted red. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the outer breakwater of Hannon Ko, which is just east of Kansai International Airport. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1911; Admiralty F5957.2; NGA 7240.

Kishiwada (West Breakwater North End)

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); three red flashes every 13 s. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted red. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the north end of the detached west breakwater of Kishiwada, an industrial city about 20 km (13 mi) south of Osaka. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1914; Admiralty F5955; NGA 7260.

Senboku Wharf Northeast Corner

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); red flash every 3 s. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted red. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the northeast corner of a large new wharf area constructed on fill at Senboku, about 5 km (3 mi) north of Kishiwada. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1928; Admiralty F5953.6; NGA 7272.

Sakai Hamadera South Breakwater

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted red. The Coast Guard has a photo that is probably of this lighthouse, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the short south breakwater at the entrance to the south harbor of Sakai, on the south side of Osaka. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1927; Admiralty F5951; NGA 7288.

Sakai Hamadera North Breakwater

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. The Coast Guard's photo is at right, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the short north breakwater at the entrance to the south harbor of Sakai, on the south side of Osaka. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1926; JP-3588; Admiralty F5950; NGA 7284.

* Sakai 1877. Inactive since 1968. 11 m (36 ft) hexagonal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Sakai is justifiably proud of this lighthouse, which was built by the town government at a time when Japan had fewer than 30 Western style lighthouses. In 2006, the historic lighthouse was restored and relocated to a new pier; Google's satellite view shows the pier under construction. The lighthouse was scheduled to reopen to the public in March 2007, and the restoration appears complete in Trane DeVore's November 2007 photo. Located on the southern seawall of Sakai. Sakai Detached Breakwater North End Date unknown. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); red light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 19 m (62 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted red. The Coast Guard has a photo that is probably of this lighthouse. Located at the seaward end of a detached breakwater on the south side of the entrance to the north harbor of Sakai; Google has a satellite view. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1924; JP-3589; Admiralty F5939.7; NGA 7296. Osaka (Gaiko) South Breakwater Date unknown. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); two red flashes every 7 s. 19 m (62 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted red. No photo available; Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Located at the end of the breakwater on the south side of the entrance to Osaka's south harbor. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1921; Admiralty F5939.4; NGA 7316. Osaka (Gaiko) North Breakwater Date unknown. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); two green flashes every 7 s. 19 m (62 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. No photo available, but Google has a good satellite view. Located at the end of the breakwater on the north side of the entrance to Osaka's south harbor. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1920; Admiralty F5939; NGA 7312.

Osaka (Gaiko) North Breakwater Light Japanese Coast Guard photo

Osaka (Radar Tower)

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 52 m (171 ft); white flash every 5 s. 50 m (164 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with a round skeletal tower and two galleries supporting various equipment at the top. The equipment presumably includes harbor control radar. Entire lighthouse is unpainted gray concrete. Google has an excellent satellite view. This tower probably replaced a historic lighthouse located on the original shoreline of the area. Located at the southeast corner of a large artificial island being created between the north and south harbors of Osaka. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-814; JP-3602; Admiralty F5932; NGA 7348.

Osaka Southeast Breakwater

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); green flash every 5 s. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. The Coast Guard has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of a detached breakwater off the north harbor of Osaka. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Admiralty F5899; NGA 7400.

Lighthouses of Hyogo Prefecture

Kobe Harbor Lighthouses
Nishinomiya Breakwater West End

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); red flash every 3 s. 17 m (56 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted red. The Coast Guard has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. The Nishinomiya Breakwater is a long east-west detached breakwater parallel to the coast between Osaka and Kobe. Located at the west (Kobe) end of the breakwater, marking the east side of the entrance to Kobe. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1523; Admiralty F5899.2; NGA 7430.

Kobe Ko (Breakwater Seven Northeast End)

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); green flash every 3 s. 20 m (66 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. Google has a satellite view. Kobe Breakwater Seven is an east-west detached breakwater parallel to the coast protecting the harbor of Kobe. One of the main entrances to Kobe harbor is between this breakwater and the Nishinomiya Breakwater to the east. Located at the east end of the breakwater. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-269; JP-3647.5; Admiralty F5867.2; NGA 7428.

Kobe Breakwater Seven Southwest End

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); red flash every 3 s. 19 m (62 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted red. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the western end of Kobe Breakwater Seven, which bends sharply southwestward to be perpendicular to the entrance channel. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1511; Admiralty F5867; NGA 7424.

Kobe Breakwater Six South End

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); green light occulting once every 4 s. 19 m (62 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Kobe Breakwater Six is in two sections, one projecting eastward from Ohashi island and this one detached and directed southeastward parallel to the entrance channel. Located at the southeast end of the detached section, opposite the Breakwater Seven Southwest End lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1510; Admiralty F5866.3; NGA 7420.

Kobe Breakwater Six East End

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); green flash every 3 s. 19 m (62 ft) round slightly hourglass-shaped concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. Diana Grande has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Kobe Breakwater Six is in two sections, one projecting eastward from Ohashi island and this one detached and directed southeastward parallel to the entrance channel. Located at the east end of the attached section, opposite the Breakwater Seven Southwest End lighthouse. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1509; Admiralty F5866; NGA 7416.

Kobe Breakwater Five Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); green flash every 5 s. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Kobe Breakwater Five is a detached breakwater that originally protected the Kobe waterfront; now it is deep in the inner harbor, surrounded by artificial islands. Located at the east end of the breakwater. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Admiralty F5870; NGA 7436. Kobe Breakwater Three Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); two green flashes every 7 s. 19 m (62 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Kobe Breakwater Three is a short detached breakwater near the northeastern corner of Ohashi island. At an earlier time this lighthouse probably marked the entrance to the inner harbor of Kobe. Located at the east end of the breakwater. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1507; Admiralty F5868; NGA 7452. * Kobe Breakwater Two Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); red light, 6 s on, 2 s off. 19 m (62 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. The lighthouse has unusual architectural details, as seen in the Coast Guard's photo at right. Another photo and a 2007 photo are available, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse and the next two mark the older entrance to Kobe harbor on the west side of Osashi island. Located at the end of the breakwater, a short pier at the southwestern corner of Osashi island. This lighthouse appears to be accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1506; Admiralty F5862; NGA 7456.

Kobe Breakwater Two Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo

Kobe Breakwater One South End

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); green light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 19 m (62 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Kobe Breakwater One is in two sections, both detached. Located at the south end of the southern section of the breakwater, which is directed southeastward parallel to the entrance channel. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Admiralty F5861; NGA 7460.

Kobe Breakwater One East End

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); green light, 6 s on, 2 s off. 19 m (62 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white; there are three large Japanese characters painted in black on the seaward side. The Coast Guard has a photo, Nicki Kaoru also has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Kobe Breakwater One is in two sections, both detached. Located at the east end of the northern section of the breakwater, which is directed east to west. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Admiralty F5860; NGA 7464.

* Naka

Date unknown. Active (privately maintained); focal plane 54 m (177 ft); flash every 5 s, alternately red and green. 5 m (16 ft) octagonal skeletal tower with lantern, mounted atop a 16-story office building. Kiso also has a closeup of the lantern, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a pier in the inner harbor area north of the Breakwater One lights. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1520; JP-3633; Admiralty F5854; NGA 7408.

Northwest Osaka Bay Lighthouses Kobe 1884. Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); white flash every 8 s. 29 m (95 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. The Coast Guard also has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located a short distance west of Wada Misaki, in an industrial area. Site status unknown; the lack of photos on the Internet suggests the site may be closed to the public. ARLHS JAP-268; JP-3669; Admiralty F5852; NGA 7476. * Wada Misaki 1872 (Richard Henry Brunton). Inactive. Approx. 12 m (39 ft) hexagonal cast iron pyramidal tower with lantern, gallery, enclosed watch room, central cylinder, and a hexagonal wood keeper's cottage at the base. Lighthouse painted red with white trim. A Wikimedia photo is at right, Lighthouses of Japan has a photo (bottom of the page), a 2007 photo is available, and Klaus Huelse has a postcard view of the lighthouse in service, apparently in 1906. This historic lighthouse was built on Wada Misaki, the point of land at the west end of Kobe harbor. It has been relocated as a historic monument to the Suma seaside park, about 800 m (1/2 mi) west of the aquarium and 6 km (4 mi) west of the original location. Google has a satellite view. Site open, tower closed. Hira Iso 1893. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); six quick white flashes followed by one lone white flash, every 15 s. 15 m (49 ft) round tower with lantern and double gallery, mounted on a solid conical base. Tower painted yellow, conical base painted black. The Coast Guard's photo is at the top of this page, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse marks a dangerous shoal in the eastern approach to the Akashi Strait, which separates the island of Awaji Shima from the mainland of Honshu. Located about 500 m (0.3 mi) offshore southeast of Akashi. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-782; JP-3675; Admiralty F5840; NGA 7500.

Wada Misaki Light Wikimedia Commons photo by Tomomarusan

Awaji Shima Lighthouses
Note: Awaji is a large island, about 105 km (66 mi) long, stretching across the eastern end of the Inland Sea. About 160,000 people live on the island. The northeastern end of Awaji is separated from Honshu by the narrow Akashi Strait, while the southwestern end is separated from Shikoku by the even more narrow Naruto Strait. The Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway crosses the island lengthwise and provides a high-speed link between Shikoku and Honshu. The expressway crosses the Akashi Strait by the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, which currently has the world's longest suspension span (1991 m or 6532 ft).

* E Saki 1871 (Richard Henry Brunton). Active; focal plane 49 m (161 ft); flash every 5 s, alternately red and white. 8 m (26 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery, surrounded on one side by a semicircular 1-story keeper's house. Entire lighthouse painted white. A 2° Fresnel lens is in use. The Coast Guard has several photos (all three on the top row). Kiso has a photo taken from the sea that shows another, unknown lighthouse at the foot of the bluff. Although it isn't very tall, this is one of Japan's oldest active lighthouses and an important historic site. The lighthouse was carefully repaired after being damaged by the great earthquake of January 17, 1995, which caused heavy damage throughout Awaji and the Kobe area. Located on a bluff above the northernmost point of Awaji, a short distance west of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. Google has a satellite view. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-056; JP-3801; Admiralty F5796; NGA 7648. Iwaya Ko West Breakwater Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green flash every 3 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted white. The Coast Guard has a photo. Located at the end of the detached west breakwater of Iwaya, a small boats port about 1.5 km (1 mi) southeast of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge; Google has a satellite view. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1778; Admiralty F5834.2; NGA 7644. Naruyama (Naruga) Shima Date unknown. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); three quick white flashes every 10 s. 17 m (56 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower mounted on an octagonal concrete pier. Lighthouse painted black with a broad yellow horizontal band. The Coast Guard has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located in the water off Naruyama Shima, on the east side of Awaji about 1.6 km (1 mi) due north of Taka Saki. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Admiralty F5815.5; NGA 7524.

E Saki Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo

* Taka Saki

Date unknown (1970s?). Active; focal plane 28 m (92 ft); white light occulting once every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower, painted white. Photos taken from the sea are available. This lighthouse and the Tomoga Shima lighthouse (see the Mie and Wakayama page) frame the westernmost entrance to Osaka Bay from the Kii Strait. Located at the southern tip of a small island just off the southeasternmost point of Awaji; Google has a satellite view. Site status unknown, but probably accessible; tower closed. ARLHS JAP-610; JP-3683; Admiralty F5815; NGA 7520.

* Oishino (Oisino) Hana

1974. Active; focal plane 118 m (387 ft); white flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower, painted white. Additional photos are available. This light and the Taka Saki light seem to be a pair. Located on the heights above and about 1.2 km (3/4 mi) to the southwest of Taka Saki; Google has a satellite view. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-476; JP-3681; Admiralty F5814.6; NGA 7516.

Nu (Numa) Shima

1961. Active; focal plane 133 m (436 ft); white flash every 10 s. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. The Coast Guard also has a photo, and additional photos are available. Nu Shima is a small island in the Kii Strait about 4 km (2.5 mi) south of Awaji's southern coast. The island is inhabited and presumably accessible. Located on the highest point of the island. Site status unknown. ARLHS JAP-438; JP-3461; Admiralty F5570; NGA 7184.

* Tarushima (Tsurishima) Hana

1955. Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); white flash every 3 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) round concrete tower rising from a round 1-story equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Additional photos are available. Located on a promontory marking the north side of the entrance to the harbor of Nandan from the Naruto Strait, at the southwestern end of Awaji; Google has a satellite view. Site open, tower closed. JP-3459; Admiralty F5812; NGA 7176.

** To Saki

1964. Active; focal plane 59 m (194 ft); two white flashes every 8 s. 12 m (39 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery, attached to a large 1-story building that appears to be a museum. Entire lighthouse is white. We need more information on this site; what is the nature of the building? Located near the tip of a very sharp promontory overlooking the northern end of the Naruto Kaikyo (Naruto Strait) Bridge, which joins Awaji to Shikoku; Google has a satellite view. Accessible by a scenic drive that winds to the tip of the promontory. Site open, tower status unknown. ARLHS JAP-650; JP-3458; Admiralty F5811.4; NGA 7172.

Harima Bay North Coast Lighthouses
Akashi Ko West Breakwater

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); two green flashes every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post light centered on a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Located on the west mole at the entrance to the main harbor of Akashi, about 4 km (2.5 mi) west of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge; Google has a satellite view. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1483; JP-3824.5; Admiralty F5782.8; NGA 7666.

Akashi Ko West Outer Breakwater

1970. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 8.5 m (29 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. It's believed that the second light seen in the photo is the West Breakwater light (previous entry). Located actually on the east end of the west outer breakwater of Akashi. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1485; JP-3825; Admiralty F5782.6; NGA 7664.

Futami Ko East Breakwater

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); red light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 16 m (52 ft) round concrete tower, painted red. No photo available. Behu-Futami is a port about 16 km (10 mi) west of Akashi and 8 km (5 mi) south of Kakogawa. Located on the east breakwater at the main harbor entrance. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1491; Admiralty F5774.4; NGA 7680.

Behu-Futami Ko

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); continuous light, white, red or green depending on direction. No photo available. This directional light is apparently on the main waterfront of Behu; it guides ships entering the port between the two breakwaters. Site status unknown, possibly open. ARLHS JAP-1486; Admiralty F5775; NGA 7692.

Behu (Befu) Ko West Breakwater

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); green light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. The Coast Guard has a photo. This light and the Futami Ko East Breakwater light frame the entrance to Behu-Futami harbor. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1880; Admiralty F5774; NGA 7684.

Himeji (Mega) Ko East Breakwater Date unknown. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); red flash every 4 s. 19 m (62 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. The Coast Guard's photo appears at right. Himeji is a major port area about 10 km (6 mi) west of Kakogawa. Mega Ko is the eastern basin of the harbor complex. Located at the end of a short mole on the east side of the entrance to Mega Ko. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1515; Admiralty F5766.3; NGA 7728. Himeji Ko West Outer Breakwater Date unknown. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); green flash every 3 s. 19 m (62 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. The lighthouse can be seen in the right background of the photo at the top of this page. This light and the Mega Ko East Breakwater light are a pair framing the harbor entrance. Located at the southeast end of a detached breakwater. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Admiralty F5766.5; NGA 7736. Himeji Ko West Breakwater Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); green flash every 3 s. 16 m (52 ft) round concrete tower, painted white. No photo available. Located at the end of the older west breakwater of Himeji Ko. Site and tower closed. Admiralty F5766; NGA 7732. Sikama Ko East Breakwater Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 14 m (46 ft) round concrete tower, painted red. No photo available. Sikama Ko is the central basin of the Himeji port complex. Located at the end of the east mole at the entrance to Sikama Ko. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1535; Admiralty F5764.6; NGA 7740. Sikama Ko West Breakwater Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); two green flashes every 6 s. 14 m (46 ft) round concrete tower, painted white. No photo available. Sikama Ko is the central basin of the Himeji port complex. Located at the end of the east mole at the entrance to Sikama Ko. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1536; Admiralty F5764.8; NGA 7744.

Himeji (Mega) Ko East Breakwater Light; J apanese Coast Guard photo

Hirohata Ko (East Breakwater)

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); red light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 17 m (56 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. No photo available. Hirohata Ko is a basin on the west side of the Himeji port complex. Located at the end of the east mole at the entrance to Hirohata Ko. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JAP-1493; Admiralty F5762; NGA 7752.

Kazura Shima

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 53 m (174 ft); three white flashes every 13 s. 13 m (43 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a small 1-story equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard has a closeup photo. Kazura Shima is small, rounded island in Harima Bay about 8 km (5 mi) east of the entrance to Ako harbor. Located on the highest point of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JAP-253; JP-3886; Admiralty F5756.4; NGA 7788.

* Ako Misaki

1963. Active; focal plane 84 m (276 ft); white flash every 10 s. 16 m (52 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard has a closeup photo. This is a well-known lighthouse; it is one of the few in the area that is readily accessible to the public, and it commands a sweeping view of Harima Bay. Located on a promontory on the east side of Ako. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-014; JP-3889; Admiralty F57565.6; NGA 7800.

Ieshima Islands Lighthouses
Note: The Ieshima Islands are a chain of small islands lying about 15 km (9 mi) south of the north coast of Harima Bay between Himeji and Ako.
Kurakake Shima

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 67 m (220 ft); four white flashes every 20 s. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery, attached to a small 1-story square concrete equipment room. Lighthouse painted with red and white horizontal bands. The Coast Guard has a closeup photo. Kurakake Shima, the easternmost of the Ieshima Islands, is a small, uninhabited island. Located on the highest point of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JAP-306; JP-3924; Admiralty F5758.4; NGA 7864.

Tanga Shima

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 76 m (249 ft); white flash every 6 s. 12 m (39 ft) white tower. No photo available. Tanga Shima is about 1.5 km (1 mi) in diameter; a large part of the island has been removed by quarrying operations. Located on the south side of the island. Site status unknown. ARLHS JAP-626; JP-3926; Admiralty F5758; NGA 7868.

* Osaki Hana (Ieshima) 1954. Active; focal plane 70 m (230 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, mounted on a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. The lighthouse guides ships into the harbor of Ieshima, the principal town of the islands, on the north side of the island of Ieshima. Located on a promontory sheltering the west side of the approach to the harbor. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JAP-499; JP-3928; Admiralty F5757.6; NGA 7880. Inge Shima Date unknown. Active; focal plane 73 m (240 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower with gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. Inge Shima is a small, uninhabited island at the western end of the Ieshima group. Located near the western end of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JAP-168; JP-3932; Admiralty F5757.3; NGA 7888. Matsu (Matu) Shima Date unknown. Active; focal plane 51 m (167 ft); white flash every 3 s. 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard's photo is at right. Matsu Shima is a small, uninhabited island south of the main Ieshima group, about 12 km (7.5 mi) southwest of Ieshima island. Site status unknown. ARLHS JAP-1513; Admiralty F5757; NGA 7892.

Matsu Shima Light; Japanese Coast Guard Light

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

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Posted December 22, 2006. Checked and revised March 14, 2008. Lighthouses: 53. Site copyright 2008 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.