Lighthouses of Japan: Kōbe Area

This page includes lighthouses of the southern coast of the Japanese prefecture of Hyōgo, including the greater Kōbe metropolitan area. Southern Hyōgo faces south on the eastern end of the Seto Inland Sea (Seto Naikai), which separates Honshū from Shikoku. Hyōgo also includes the large island of Awaji, which nearly spans the Seto Inland Sea and comes very close to connecting Honshū and Shikoku. Lighthouses of Awaji Shima are on a separate page. In addition, Hyōgo Prefecture also has a northern coast facing the Sea of Japan. Lighthouses of that coast are described on the Tottori Area page.

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 at least one Coast Guard Section Office in each prefecture, often two.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. JCG 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 - Hyōgo
A comprehensive site, almost entirely in Japanese.
Lighthouse-Japan.com - Hyōgo
A page from a large site; photos and notes from recent visits.
Lighthouses (Hyōgo Prefecture)
A comprehensive site for photos of 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 - Hyōgo
Photos posted by the Fifth Coast Guard Region.
Modern Lighthouse Design
Posted by the Japan Aids to Navigation Association (JANA), this page links to descriptions and photos of interesting modern lighthouses throughout Japan.
Lighthouses in Hyōgo Prefecture
Photos available from Wikimedia.
Richard Henry Brunton
Wikipedia article on the Scottish engineer who built most of Japan's oldest lighthouses.
Japan: Modern Lighthouses
Historic postcard views posted by Michel Forand.

Hira Iso Light
Hira Iso Light, Akashi Strait
Japanese Coast Guard Fifth Region photo

Kōbe City Lighthouses

Nishinomiya Lighthouses
* Ozekishuzo Imazu (Ozeki Saki)
1810 (reconstructed 1965). Active; focal plane 7.5 m (25 ft); continuous green light. 8 m (26 ft) square tapered wood tower with a open square "birdcage" lantern, mounted on a square stone base. Tower painted black. S. Morita has a closeup photo, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. This historic lighthouse was rebuilt by the Osabe Brewing Company; it is the only pre-Meiji era lighthouse active in Japan. We don't know how much of the tower is original material. Although the light has only slight value for boaters, it is carried on all the light lists as an official aid to navigation. Located at the entrance to a small boat harbor, part of an athletic complex in the Nishinomiya neighborhood at the eastern edge of Kōbe. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1527; JCG-3632; Admiralty M5886; NGA 7404.
Nishinomiya North Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green flash every 3 s. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. A sunset photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of a long breakwater sheltering Nishinomiya harbor. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-1524; JCG-3631.6; Admiralty M5899.5; NGA 7398.
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. A Coast Guard photo is at right, and Google has a satellite view. The Nishinomiya Breakwater is a long east-west detached breakwater parallel to the coast between Ōsaka and Kōbe. Located at the west (Kōbe) end of the breakwater, marking the east side of the entrance to Kōbe. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1523; JCG-3631.1; Admiralty M5899.2; NGA 7430.
Nishinomiya Breakwater West Light
Nishinomiya Breakwater West End Light, Nishinomiya, Kōbe
Japanese Coast Guard Fifth Region photo

Kōbe Harbor Lighthouses
Kōbe Kō (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. Kōbe Breakwater Seven is an east-west detached breakwater parallel to the coast protecting the harbor of Kōbe. One of the main entrances to Kōbe 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 JPN-269; JCG-3647.5; Admiralty M5867.2; NGA 7428.
Kōbe 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. Nicki Kaoru has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the western end of Kōbe Breakwater Seven, which bends sharply southwestward to be parallel to the entrance channel. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1511; JCG-3647; Admiralty M5867; NGA 7424.
Kōbe 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. Kōbe 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 JPN-1510; JCG-3645.5; Admiralty M5866.3; NGA 7420.
Kōbe 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. Kōbe 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 JPN-1509; JCG-3645; Admiralty M5866; NGA 7416.
Kōbe 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. Kōbe Breakwater Five is a detached breakwater that originally protected the Kōbe 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. JCG-3650; Admiralty M5870; NGA 7436.
Kōbe 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. Kōbe 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 Kōbe. Located at the east end of the breakwater. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1507; JCG-3661; Admiralty M5868; NGA 7452.
* Kōbe 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 Kōbe 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 JPN-1506; JCG-3664; Admiralty M5862; NGA 7456.
Kōbe 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 hourglass-shaped concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. A photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Kōbe 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. JCG-3665; Admiralty M5861; NGA 7460.
K
Kōbe Breakwater Two Light, Kōbe
Japanese Coast Guard Fifth Region photo
Kōbe 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 inscription is a blessing for the port, to protect it against typhoons. The Coast Guard has a photo, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with two photos, Kentaru Suda has a 2008 photo, Nicki Kaoru also has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Kōbe 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. ARLHS JPN-1504; JCG-3666; Admiralty M5860; NGA 7464.
* Naka (Meriken Park Oriental Hotel)
1995. 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 hotel building. Another photo is available, Kiso has a photo and 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. Site manager: Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel. ARLHS JPN-1520; JCG-3633; Admiralty M5854; NGA 7408.

Wadamisaki Lighthouses
Kōbe Breakwater One West End
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is red. Nicki Kaoru has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the west end of the detached Breakwater One, marking the entrance to Wadamisaki harbor on the west side of Kōbe. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1505; JCG-3667; Admiralty M5857.5; NGA 7472.5.
Wadamisaki (Wada) Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a short breakwater on the west side of the entrance to Wadamisaki harbor. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-1544; JCG-3668; Admiralty M5857; NGA 7472.
Kōbe
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, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located a short distance west of Wadamisaki, in an industrial area. Site status unknown; the lack of photos on the Internet suggests the site may be closed to the public. ARLHS JPN-268; JCG-3669; Admiralty M5852; NGA 7476.

Nagata, Suma, and Tarumi Lighthouses
Nagata Kō
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on the breakwater on the west side of the entrance to Nagata harbor, an industrial basin. ARLHS JPN-1519; JCG-3672; Admiralty M5844; NGA 7488.
* Wada Misaki (Wadamisaki) (2) (relocated)
1884 (station established 1871). 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. Tomo Marusan's photo is at right, Lighthouses of Japan has a photo (bottom of the page), a 2007 photo and another photo are available, and Google has a satellite view. Forand has a postcard view of the lighthouse in service. This historic lighthouse was built on Wada Misaki, the point of land at the west end of Kōbe harbor; it replaced a wood lighthouse designed by Richard Henry Brunton. 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. Site open, tower closed.
Wada Misaki Light
Wada Misaki Light, Suma, Kōbe, March 2006
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by Tomo Marusan
** Suma (Outer Suma Tower)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); three white flashes, two short and one long, every 15 s. 19 m (62 ft) round observation building supported by pilings. The building is white. K. Maruyama has a view from shore, another view is available, and Google has a satellite view. This popular tower is built over a complex of public fishing piers. Located in Suma, a ward on the west side of Kōbe. Site and tower open. JCG-3674; Admiralty M5842.4; NGA 7496.
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, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with photos, Forand has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. This historic lighthouse is one of the oldest Japanese waveswept towers. 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 Honshū. Located about 500 m (0.3 mi) offshore from Tarumi Ward, at the western edge of Kōbe City. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-782; JCG-3675; Admiralty M5840; NGA 7500.

Harima Bay North Coast Lighthouses

Akashi City Lighthouses
* Akashi (Akasi) South Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 9 m (30 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is red. K. Maruyama has a photo, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the main east breakwater at Akashi, about 4 km (2.5 mi) west of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. JCG-3822; Admiralty M5783; NGA 7652.
Akashi (Akasi) Kō Outer Harbor West Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 9 m (30 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. A photo is available, the light is at the left in K. Comiida's photo at right, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the west mole at the entrance to the main harbor of Akashi. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1485; JCG-3823; Admiralty M5785; NGA 7656.
Akashi (Akasi) Kō (East Breakwater)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 9 m (30 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is red. K. Comiida's photo is at right, the Coast Guard has a closeup, the light is at the far right in a photo of the harbor, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the original east breakwater at Akashi. Accessible by walking the pier. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-012; JCG-3824; Admiralty M5784; NGA 7660.
Akashi Kō 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. Google has a satellite view. Located on the west mole at the entrance to the main harbor of Akashi. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1483; JCG-3824.5; Admiralty M5782.8; NGA 7666.
Akashi Kō 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. The second light seen in the photo is the West Breakwater light (previous entry). Another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located actually on the east end of the west outer breakwater of Akashi. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1485; JCG-3825; Admiralty M5782.6; NGA 7664.
Akashi Kō Light
Akashi Kō Light, Akashi, January 2008
Panoramio Creative Commons photo by K. Comiida
* Eigishima (Eigashima) Kō
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); continuous green light with a more intense flash every 7 s. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a distant satellite view. Located at the end of the west (main) breakwater of Eigishima, a small boat harbor on the west side of Akashi. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1489; JCG-3830; Admiralty M5781; NGA 7672.

Harima Town Lighthouses
* Beppu East Harbor West Breakwater
Date unknown. Inactive since 2008. 8.5 m (28 ft) round concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. A photo is available, but Google has only a distant satellite view. What was once a breakwater is now the east edge of Higashiniijima, a large area filled for industrial development. Located at the southeastern corner of Higashiniijima. Site open, tower closed. JCG-3840; ex-Admiralty M4776; NGA 7688.
Beppu (Befu, Higashi-Harima) Kō East Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); red light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is red. Google has only a distant satellite view. Located at the end of the east breakwater of the main harbor of Harima. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1880; JCG-3838; Admiralty M5774.4; NGA 7680.
Beppu (Befu, Higashi-Harima) Kō 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. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard's photo is at right, and Miko Coffey has a photo, but Google has only a distant satellite view. Located at the end of the west breakwater of the main harbor of Harima. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1880; JCG-3839; Admiralty M5774; NGA 7684.
Beppu West Port (Nisiko) Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); two green flashes every 7 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has only a distant satellite view. Located at the end of a very long breakwater at the west end of Harima. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JCG-3845; Admiralty M5773; NGA 7700.

Takasago City Lighthouses
Takasago Kō East Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) 10 m (33 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is red. Google has only a very distant satellite view. Located on a detached breakwater on the east side of the entrance to Takasago harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1538; JCG-3846; Admiralty M5772.5; NGA 7704.
Beppu West Breakwater Light
Beppu Kō West Breakwater Light, Harima
Japanese Coast Guard Fifth Region photo
* Takasago Kō West Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); green light, 6 s on, 2 s off. 10 m (33 ft) 10 m (33 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has only a very distant satellite view. Located on the breakwater on the west side of the entrance to Takasago harbor. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1539; JCG-3847; Admiralty M5772; NGA 7708.
* Ibo Kō West Breakwater
1930. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. A photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the west side of the entrance to Ibo harbor in Takasago. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1497; JCG-3850; Admiralty M5770; NGA 7716.

Himeji City Lighthouses
* Yagi Kō
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a distant satellite view. Located at the end of a breakwater in the Yagi ward of Himeji. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1546; JCG-3852; Admiralty M5769; NGA 7724.
* Mega (Himeji) Gyoko
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); red 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 red. Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the east (main) breakwater of a small boat harbor on the east side of Himeji. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1514; JCG-3853.3; Admiralty M5767; NGA 7726.
* Himeji (Mega) Kō East Outer 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, and Google has a satellite view. Himeji is a major port area about 10 km (6 mi) west of Kakogawa. Mega Kō 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 Kō. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1515; JCG-3856; Admiralty M5766.3; NGA 7728.
Himeji (Mega) Kō 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 of the East Breakwater Light at right, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the southeast end of a detached breakwater. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. JCG-3858; Admiralty M5766.5; NGA 7736.
Himeji (Mega) Kō 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, but Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the older west breakwater of Himeji Kō. Site and tower closed. JCG-3857; Admiralty M5766; NGA 7732.
Himeji Ko East Breakwater Light
Himeji (Mega) Kō East Outer Breakwater Light, Himeji
Japanese Coast Guard Fifth Region photo
* Himeji (Mega) Kō (1) (relocated)
1937. Inactive since 1966. 7.5 m (25 ft) round unpainted concrete tower, rising from a square base. A photo and a second photo are available, and Google has a satellite view. This small light formerly stood at the Himeji harbor entrance; in 1993 it was restored and relocated to a waterfront park, just west of the Ieshima and Shodoshima ferry terminal. Site open, tower closed.
Shikama (Sikama) Kō East Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 14 m (46 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. Wikimedia has a photo, an excellent closeup is available (halfway down the page), and Google has a satellite view. Shikama Kō is the central basin of the Himeji port complex. Located at the end of the east mole at the entrance to Sikama Kō. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1535; JCG-3861; Admiralty M5764.6; NGA 7740.
Shikama (Sikama) Kō West Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); two green flashes every 6 s. 14 m (46 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. A photo is at right, two photos of both breakwater lights are available (halfway down the page), and Google has a satellite view. Shikama Kō is the central basin of the Himeji port complex. Located at the end of the east mole at the entrance to Sikama Kō. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1536; JCG-3862; Admiralty M5764.8; NGA 7744.
Hirohata Kō (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. A small photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Hirohata Kō 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 Kō. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1493; JCG-3873; Admiralty M5762; NGA 7752.
Aboshi (Abosi) Kō
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); green flash every 4 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of a guidewall on the east side of the entrance to Aboshi harbor, near the west end of the Himeji waterfront. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-1478; JCG-3876; Admiralty M5761; NGA 7764.
Shikama East Breakwater Light
Shikama East Breakwater Light, Himeji
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by Corpse Reviver
* Himeji Kō (Naka) West Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); green light, 3 s on, 3 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 satellite view. Located on a breakwater at the western edge of Himeji. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1520; JCG-3882; Admiralty M5759.6; NGA 7776.

Ieshima Islands Lighthouses
Note: The Ieshima Islands are a chain of small islands lying about 15 km (9 mi) off the north coast of Harima Bay between Himeji and Akō. The islands are administered as part of Himeji City.
Kami Shima (Ueshima)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 60 m (197 ft); two flashes every 8 s. 13 m (43 ft) tower, described by NGA as a hexagonal skeletal tower, although distant photos seem to show an enclosed tower. Google has only a very distant satellite view of the island. Located atop a small island in Harima Bay about 10 km (6 mi) south of Himeji. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-787; JCG-3923; Admiralty M5768; NGA 7860.
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, and Google has a distant satellite view. 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 JPN-306; JCG-3924; Admiralty M5758.4; NGA 7864.
Tanga Shima
1959. Active; focal plane 76 m (249 ft); white flash every 6 s. 12 m (39 ft) round white concrete tower with a flared top. A photo is available, and Google has a distant satellite view. 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 JPN-626; JCG-3926; Admiralty M5758; 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. A photo is available, and Google has a distant satellite view. 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 JPN-499; JCG-3928; Admiralty M5757.6; 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. No closeup photo available; Google has a distant satellite view. 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 JPN-168; JCG-3932; Admiralty M5757.3; NGA 7888.

Matsu Shima Light, Ieshima
Japanese Coast Guard Fifth Region photo
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 above right, and Google has a very distant satellite view of the location. Matsu Shima is a small, uninhabited island south of the main Ieshima group, about 12 km (7.5 mi) southwest of Ieshima island. Located at the southwestern tip of the island. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-1513; Admiralty M5757; NGA 7892.

Tatsuno City Lighthouse
* Murotsu Kō
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); red flash every 3 s. 8.5 m (28 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 the east breakwater of Murotsu harbor. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1518; JCG-3885; Admiralty M5756.8; NGA 7784.

Aioi City Lighthouse
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, and Google has a distant satellite view. Kazura Shima is small, rounded island in Harima Bay about 8 km (5 mi) east of the entrance to Akō harbor. Located on the highest point of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-253; JCG-3886; Admiralty M5756.4; NGA 7788.

Akō City Lighthouse
* Akō 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. Mike Neko's photo is at right, the Coast Guard has a closeup photo, Wikimedia has two good photos, and another photo is available, but Google has only a distant satellite view of the area 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 Akō. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-014; JCG-3889; Admiralty M57565.6; NGA 7800.

Akō Misaki Light, Akō, August 2008
Panoramio Creative Commons photo by Mike Neko

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: East: Ōsaka | South: Awaji Shima | West: Okayama and Hiroshima

Return to the Lighthouse Directory index | Ratings key

Posted December 22, 2006. Checked and revised September 9, 2012. Lighthouses: 53. Site copyright 2012 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.