Lighthouses of Japan: Kōbe Area

This page includes lighthouses of the southern coast of the Japanese prefecture of Hyōgo, including and the greater Kōbe metropolitan area. Southern Hyōgo faces south on the eastern end of the Inland Sea (Seto Naikai), which separates Honshū from Shikoku. Hyōgo also includes the large island of Awaji, which nearly spans the Inland Sea and comes very close to connecting Honshū and Shikoku. Ōsaka Bay is the portion of the Inland Sea to the east of Awaji, and Harima Bay is on the west of Awaji.

Ōsaka Prefecture includes the east coast of Ōsaka Bay, a coast crowded with port facilities. These industrialized facilities continue westward through the city of Kōbe in Hyōgo Prefecture.

Hyōgo Prefecture also has a northern coast facing the Sea of Japan. Lighthouses of that coast are described on the Southwestern Honshū page.

In Japanese, the word for a lighthouse is tōdai or toudai. The words saki and misaki are for capes and headlands, shima (also spelled sima or jima) is an island, wan is a bay, and kō is a harbor. Lighthouses in Japan are operated and maintained by the Japanese Coast Guard's Maritime Safety Agency. On Honshū there is 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 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, although almost entirely in Japanese. There's also a page on Lighthouses by R. H. Brunton listing the earliest Western-style Japanese lighthouses.
Lighthouse-Japan.com - Hyōgo
A page from a large site; photos and notes from recent visits.
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.

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

Kōbe City Lighthouses

Kōbe Harbor 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 and a night time photo are available, The Nishinomiya district government has a page for the lighthouse, 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; JP-3632; Admiralty M5886; NGA 7404.
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; Admiralty M5899.2; NGA 7430.
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; JP-3467.5; 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. No photo available, but 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; Admiralty M5867; NGA 7424.
Nishinomiya Breakwater West Light
Nishinomiya Breakwater West End Light
Japanese Coast Guard photo
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; 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; 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. 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; 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; Admiralty M5862; NGA 7456.
Kobe Breakwater Two Light
Kōbe Breakwater Two Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo
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 concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. No photo available, but 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. Admiralty M5861; NGA 7460.
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, Kentaru Suda has a 2008 photo, Nicki Kaoru also has a photo, a 2011 photo is available, 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. 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. 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; JP-3633; Admiralty M5854; NGA 7408.

Northwestern Ōsaka Bay Lighthouses
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, 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 JPN-268; JP-3669; Admiralty M5852; NGA 7476.
* 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 is available, and Google has a satellite view. 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 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.
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 Honshū. Located about 500 m (0.3 mi) offshore southeast of Akashi. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-782; JP-3675; Admiralty M5840; NGA 7500.
Wada Misaki Light
Wada Misaki Light, March 2006
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by Tomo Marusan

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 Honshū by the narrow Akashi Strait, while the southwestern end is separated from Shikoku by the even more narrow Naruto Strait. The Kōbe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway crosses the island lengthwise and provides a high-speed link between Shikoku and Honshū. The expressway crosses the Akashi Strait by the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge, which currently has the world's longest suspension span (1991 m or 6532 ft).
Awaji City Lighthouses
* 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 2nd order Fresnel lens is in use. The Coast Guard has several photos (all three on the top row), Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with several photos, Kiso has a photo taken from the sea, Misty's Tour has a nighttime photo, and Google has a satellite view. 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 17 January 1995, which caused heavy damage throughout Awaji and the Kōbe area. The smaller lighthouse at the foot of the bluff, seen in Kiso's photo, may be faux or might be a former passing light. Located on a bluff above the northernmost point of Awaji, a short distance west of the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-056; JP-3801; Admiralty M5796; NGA 7648.
Iwaya Kō 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, and Google has a satellite view. 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 Kaikyō Bridge. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1778; Admiralty M5834.2; NGA 7644.
* Ura Kō South Breakwater
1963. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); green light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 8 m (26 ft) round hourglass-shaped white concrete tower. Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the main breakwater of Ura Kō, a small harbor about 13 km (8 mi) south of the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1799; JP-3711; Admiralty M5828; NGA 7628.

E Saki Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo
Tsuno (Tuno) Kō Shizuki South Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); two green flashes every 7 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post light rising for a square 1-story concrete service building. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has an indistinct satellite view. Tsuno Kō is a port district that extends for almost 8 km (5 mi) along the east coast of Awaji. Located at the end of the south breakwater of the Shizuki basin of Tsuno Kō. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-1789; JP-3694; Admiralty M5822.16; NGA 7604.
Tsuno (Tuno) Kō Shiota South Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); continuous green light with three more intense flashes every 13 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post light rising for a square 1-story concrete service building. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located at the end of the south breakwater of the Shiota basin of Tsuno Kō. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-1790; JP-3694; Admiralty M5822.12; NGA 7600.

Sumoto City (Taka Saki Area) Lighthouses
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. JP-3684; Admiralty M5815.5; NGA 7524.
* 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. Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with a photo, Misty's Tour has photos taken from the sea, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse and the Tomoga Shima lighthouse (see the Wakayama page) frame the westernmost entrance to Ōsaka Bay from the Kii Strait. Located at the southern tip of a small island just off the southeasternmost point of Awaji. Site status unknown, but probably accessible; tower closed. ARLHS JPN-610; JP-3683; Admiralty M5815; 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. Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with a photo, Misty's Tour has additional photos, and Google has a satellite view. 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. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-476; JP-3681; Admiralty M5814.6; NGA 7516.

Minamiawaji City (Naruto Strait) Lighthouses
* Nu (Numa) Shima (Nushima)
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's photo is at right, Lighthouse Japan.com has a page with several photos, Kazunori Seki has a good photo, Misty's Tour has additional photos, and Google has a satellite view. 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 boat transportation is available. Located on the highest point of the island. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-438; JP-3461; Admiralty M5570; 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. Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with several photos, Misty's Tour has additional photos, and Google has a satellite view. 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. Site open, tower closed. JP-3459; Admiralty M5812; 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 store or a museum. Entire lighthouse is white. Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with several photos, and Google has a satellite view. 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 Ōnaruto Bridge, which crosses the Naruto Strait and joins Awaji to Shikoku. Accessible by a scenic drive that winds to the tip of the promontory. Site open, tower status unknown. ARLHS JPN-650; JP-3458; Admiralty M5811.4; NGA 7172.
Nushima Light
Nushima Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo

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. 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; 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 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; 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; JP-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; JP-3825; Admiralty M5782.6; NGA 7664.
Akashi Kō Light
Akashi Kō Light, January 2008
Panoramio Creative Commons photo by K. Comiida

Harima Town Lighthouses
Behu-Futami Kō
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); continuous light, white, red or green depending on direction. No photo available, and Google's fuzzy satellite view does not show the light. 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 JPN-1486; Admiralty M5775; NGA 7692.
Behu (Befu, Beppu, 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, painted red. No photo available, and Google has only a distant satellite view. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1880; Admiralty M5774.4; NGA 7680.
Behu (Befu, Beppu, 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, painted white. The Coast Guard has a photo, and Miko Coffey has a photo, but Google has only a distant satellite view. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1880; Admiralty M5774; NGA 7684.

Takasago City Lighthouses
* Ibo Kō
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; Admiralty M5770; NGA 7716.

Himeji City Lighthouses
* 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. A photo is available, and 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; 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; 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. 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, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the older west breakwater of Himeji Kō. Site and tower closed. Admiralty M5766; NGA 7732.
Himeji Ko East Breakwater Light
Himeji (Mega) Kō East Outer Breakwater Light
Japanese Coast Guard photo
Himeji (Mega) Kō (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.
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. An excellent closeup is available (halfway down the page), and Google has a satellite view. Sikama 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; Admiralty M5764.6; NGA 7740.
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. Two photos of both breakwater lights are available (halfway down the page), and Google has a satellite view. Sikama 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; 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. No photo available, but 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; Admiralty M5762; NGA 7752.

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.
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; JP-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; JP-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; JP-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; JP-3932; Admiralty M5757.3; NGA 7888.

Matsu Shima Light; Japanese Coast Guard 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, 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.

Aioi City Lighthouses
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; JP-3886; Admiralty M5756.4; NGA 7788.

Akō City Lighthouses
* 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, 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; JP-3889; Admiralty M57565.6; NGA 7800.

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

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: East: Ōsaka | West: Okayama and Hiroshima

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Posted December 22, 2006. Checked and revised September 30, 2011. Lighthouses: 50. Site copyright 2011 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.