Lighthouses of Japan: Okayama and Hiroshima

This page lists lighthouses of the Japanese prefectures of Okayama and Hiroshima, located near the southwestern end of the main island of Honshū. Okayama and Hiroshima face south on the Inland Sea (Seto Naikai), which is not a single body of water but a network of sounds and channels separating Honshū from Shikoku. Hiroshima is the largest port of this region; other important ports (east to west) include Okayama, Fukuyama, Onomichi, and Kure.

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 or more.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. JP numbers are the Japanese Coast Guard's light list numbers. Admiralty numbers are from volume M of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 112.

General Sources
Lighthouses in Japan
A comprehensive site, although almost entirely in Japanese. It's easiest to use the pages for each prefecture: Okayama | Hiroshima. There's also a page on Lighthouses by R. H. Brunton listing the earliest Western-style Japanese lighthouses.
Lighthouse-Japan.com
A large site with photos and notes from recent visits; there are pages for Okayama and Hiroshima, but the latter had no entries as of October 2011.
Kiso's Lighthouses
This site has many excellent photos of Japanese lighthouses. Link #4 leads to lighthouses of Okayama and Kagawa Prefectures, and links #2 and #3 lead to photos of Hiroshima Prefecture lighthouses.
Misty's Japanese Lighthouse Tour
Photos and a few notes for lighthouses in all parts of the country.
Lighthouse Photo Gallery
Unlabeled photos from the web site of the Sixth Coast Guard Region.
Onomichi Area Lighthouses
Photos and descriptions of major lighthouses posted by the Onomichi Coast Guard Office.
Kure Area Lighthouses
A small collection of photos posted by the Kure Coast Guard Office.
Hiroshima Coast Guard Aids to Navigation
Information on aids to navigation posted by the Hiroshima Coast Guard office.
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.


Mu Shima Light, Kasaoka City, Okayama

Nakano Hana Light
Nakano Hana Light, Toyota District, Hiroshima
Japanese Coast Guard photos

Lighthouses of Okayama Prefecture

Bizen City Lighthouses
Unoisi Hana
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); three white flashes every 14 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) round cylindrical concrete white tower. A photo is available, and Google has a distant satellite view. Located on a promontory at the southeastern tip of Kakui Shima, an island just off the coast south of Bizen. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-716; JP-3899; Admiralty M5755.3; NGA 7816.
Hinase Kō
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); red flash every 3 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post light rising from a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is red. Located at the end of a detached breakwater protecting the entrance to Hinase harbor in Bizen. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1883; JP-3900; Admiralty M5755; NGA 7820.
Ōtsabu (Ōtabu) Shima
1991. Active; focal plane 31 m (102 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 11 m (36 ft) white concrete tower with gallery. Lighthouse-Japan.com has good photos, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a small island in the northwest corner of Harima Bay about 10 km (6 mi) southwest of Ako. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-467; JP-3901.1; Admiralty M5754.85; NGA 7826.
Ki Shima (Bizen Ki Shima)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); white flash every 4 s. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower, rising through a square platform. Kiso has a distant view, but the light is inconspicuous in Google's satellite view of the area. Located on a small island about 3 km (2 mi) southeast of Ushimado. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-1886; JP-3917; Admiralty M5752.2; NGA 7844.

Setouchi City Lighthouses
* Ushimado Kō
1971. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); continuous white light with a more intense flash every 3 s. 11 m (36 ft) round white concrete tower with a small gallery. Adam Stuart has a fuzzy photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a rocky point on the northwest side of Maejima, the island sheltering the harbor of Ushimado, about 1 km (0.6 mi) east of the town's waterfront. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1903; JP-3918; Admiralty M5751.8; NGA 7848.
* Ushimado Kō Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green flash every 3 s. 12 m (39 ft) white concrete post light rising from a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Yuko Honda's sunset photo is at right, a photo is available in which the light is seen in the upper left corner, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view of the location. Located at the end of a detached breakwater at Ushimado, a small and very scenic port about 25 km (15 mi) east southeast of Okayama. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1904; JP-3819; Admiralty M5752; NGA 7852.
Yomogi Saki (Yomogisaki)
1962. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); white flash every 5 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery, mounted on a square concrete pier. Entire lighthouse is white. Kiso has a photo, but Google has only a distant satellite view of the cape. Located at the foot of a promontory about 4 km (2.5 mi) southwest of Ushimado. The author of Lighthouse-Japan.com reached the lighthouse on foot, but found the going difficult. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1905; JP-3921; Admiralty M5751.6; NGA 7856.
Ushimado Breakwater Light
Ushimado Kō Breakwater Light, April 2010
Creative Commons photo by Yuko Honda

Okayama City Lighthouses
Kome Saki (Komesaki)
1966. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 10 m (30 ft) round white concrete tower. The tower is not seen in Google's satellite view of the cape. Located on the promontory on the west side of the entrance to the well-protected harbor of Okayama. Site status unknown. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-284; JP-4009; Admiralty M5748.6; NGA 8040.
Tsubushisho (Tubusi Syo)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); two red flashes, one short and one long, every 8 s. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Tower painted red. Google has a satellite view. Located on a shoal in Okayama harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. JP-4016; Admiralty M5751; NGA 8052.

Tamano City Lighthouses
Ohiru Shima
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft); white flash every 5 s. 14 m (46 ft) 2-stage round concrete tower with gallery. The lower stage appears to be a 5 m (16 ft) round concrete lighthouse; the lantern was removed and replaced with a 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical stage. Entire lighthouse is white. Kiso has a photo, and Google has a very distant satellite view. Located on a small island in a narrow passage about 16 km (10 mi) south of Okayama. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. JP-4026; Admiralty M5748; NGA 8070.
* Hibi Kō East Breakwater
1971. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); red flash every 3 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) concrete post light rising from a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is red. Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the east breakwater of Hibi harbor in Tamano. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1881; JP-4046; Admiralty M5737.7; NGA 8102.

Kurashiki City Lighthouses
* Kotoura Kō East Breakwater
1954. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 9 m (30 ft) concrete post light rising from a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is red. Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the east breakwater of Kotoura harbor in Kurashiki. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1889; JP-4053; Admiralty M5737.5; NGA 8110.
Kusumi (Kusume) Hana
1942. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); one short and one long green flash every 11 s. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower, flared at the top, with gallery. Entire lighthouse painted green. The lighthouse is not seen in Google's distant satellite view. Seen in the background of the linked photo is the Shimotsui-Seto Bridge, the northernmost in a chain of six bridges connecting Honshū and Shikoku. The lighthouse is located at the end of a sharp promonotory about 1.6 km (1 mi) east of the north end of the bridge. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-317; JP-4056; Admiralty M5737; NGA 8114.
Shimotsui Kō
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); continuous red light with two more intense flashes every 8 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, attached to a square 1-story equipment room. Lighthouse painted red. Yoshizumi Endo's photo is at right, a small photo is available (about 1/3 of the way down the page), but the area is very fuzzy in Google's satellite view. Located at the end of the breakwater mole at Shimotsui, a short distance west of the north end of the Shimotsui-Seto Bridge. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1899; JP-4058; Admiralty M5735; NGA 8118.
Shimotsui Breakwater Light
Shimotsui Kō Light, January 2009
Creative Commons photo by Yoshizumi Endo

Kasaoka City Lighthouses
Note: The city of Kasaoka includes a chain of islands, known as the Kasaoka Islands, stretching south southeast across the Inland Sea.
Shiraishi (Okinosiraisi)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 3 s. 15 m (49 ft) tower, consisting of an 8 m (26 ft) round tower with gallery topped by a 7 m (23 ft) post light. Entire lighthouse painted white. No photo available, but the light is barely visible in a Google satellite view. This is one of several lights guiding ships through a particularly difficult and narrow passage between the islands of Taka Shima and Shiraishi Shima. Located on a skerry obstructing the narrow channel, about 8 km (5 mi) south of Kasaoka. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1896; Admiralty M5732; NGA 8300.
Hyaken (Hyakken)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13m (43 ft); one short and one long green flash every 8 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Entire lighthouse painted green. A Coast Guard photo is at right. Not to be confused with the Hyaken Shima Light (see below), this is one of several lights guiding ships through a particularly difficult and narrow passage in the Inland Sea. Located about 400 m (1/4 mi) northwest of the Shiraisi light. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Admiralty M5731.9; NGA 8304.
* Shiraisishima Kō
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); continuous red light with a more intense flash every 5 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post light rising from a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is red. Google has a distant satellite view. Located at the end of the main breakwater of Shiraisi Shima. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1900; JP-4291; Admiralty M5732.02; NGA 8296.

Hyaken Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo
* Manabeshima Kō
1982. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); continuous red light with a more intense flash every 6 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) concrete post light rising from a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is red. Google has a distant satellite view. Located at the end of the main breakwater of Manabe Shima. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1890; JP-4289; Admiralty M5732.15; NGA 8284.
Mu Shima (Mushima)
1922. Active; focal plane 70 m (230 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 13 m (43 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 1-story concrete keeper's house. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard's photo appears at the top of this page, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with good photos, Kiso has a photo, and the station is barely visible in a distant Google satellite view. This lighthouse stands at the eastern entrance to Hiiuchi Bay, one of the wider sections of the Inland Sea. Located on an island about 6 km (3.5 mi) northwest of Hako Saki on Shikoku. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-375; JP-4401; Admiralty M5500; NGA 8380.

Lighthouses of Hiroshima Prefecture

Fukuyama City Lighthouses
Tomo Kō
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green flash every 3 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower with gallery. A photo and a second photo are available, and Google has a distant satellite view. Located at the east end of the detached breakwater protecting Tomo harbor in Fukuyama.
Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M5729.4; NGA 8412.
Abuto Saki
1958. Active; focal plane 88 m (289 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery. Kiso has a closeup, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse is at the tip of a peninsula, marking a narrow strait between the mainland and the island of Hakosaki. Located about 15 km (9 mi) southeast of Onomichi. Site status unknown; there does not appear to be good road access to this area. ARLHS JPN-001; JP-4445; Admiralty M5728.5; NGA 8424.
Hakosaki Kō Breakwater
1990 (relocated in 1997). Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); red flash every 3 s. 8 m (28 ft) concrete post light mounted atop a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse painted red. Google has a satellite view. The light was originally located at the south end of the main detached breakwater of Hakosaki Kō; it was relocated to the south end of an additional detached breakwater built to provide more protection to the harbor entrance. Note: not to be confused with the much better known Hako Saki Light in Kagawa Prefecture on the other side of the Inland Sea. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1730; JP-4446; Admiralty M5728.7; NGA 8428.

Onomichi City Lighthouses
* Onomichi (Onomiti)
1933. Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); white flash every 4 s. 11 m (36 ft) round 2-stage cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. A closeup is available, M. Terada has a nighttime photo showing the tower floodlit, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. The western entrance to the harbor of Onomichi is through a narrow channel between the mainland and the island of Mukai Shima. This lighthouse is on the south side of the channel (on the island) to guide ships through the channel. The island is accessible by a bridge. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-491; JP-4460; Admiralty M5722; NGA 8452.
* Usino Ura
1957. Active; focal plane 28 m (92 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 11 m (33 ft) narrow round concrete tower with gallery, mounted atop a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse painted white. A photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located near the northwestern point of Mukai Shima, marking the entrance to the strait leading to Onomichi. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-727; JP-4461; Admiralty M5723; NGA 8456.
*** Ōhama Saki
1897. Reactivated (inactive 1910-1954); focal plane 18 m (59 ft); white or red light, depending on direction, 3 s on, 3 s off. 9 m (30 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. Misty's Tour has another photo, Kiso has a good closeup, another closeup is available, the Coast Guard has a page with several small photos, and Google has a satellite view. In the background of the photo at right is the Innoshima Bridge, one of nine bridges on the Nishi-Seto Expressway connecting Honshū and Shikoku. The bridge connects Mukai Shima to Inno Shima. When the lighthouse was deactivated in 1910, the station was concerted to a tidal signal station. Recently the old tidal station has been converted to a popular lighthouse museum. As a result, this relatively minor light is now one of the best known lighthouses of the Inland Sea. The original lantern of the Tyōdayū Syo light is displayed on the grounds. The lighthouse is located on a promontory on the east side of the island of Inno Shima, just north of the Innoshima Bridge. Site open, museum and tower open daily. ARLHS JPN-453; JP-4468; Admiralty M5724; NGA 8468.
Tyōdayū Syo
1894 (daybeacon established 1880; rebuilt in 1921). Active; focal plane 9 m (28 ft); quick-flashing white light. 11 m (36 ft) round strongly conical stone tower attached to a small equipment room, mounted on a stone and concrete pier. Upper half of tower painted black, lower half yellow. Kiso has a closeup, and the light is barely visible in a Google satellite view. In 1894 a lantern was added to the beacon. In 1921 the tower was rebuilt to accommodate an acetylene-powered light. The original lantern is now displayed at the Ōhama Saki Lighthouse Museum, and the present light is powered by batteries. Located on a shoal about 3 km (2 mi) northwest of the Ōhama Saki Light. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-706; JP-4471; Admiralty M5720; NGA 8472.

Ōhama Saki Light and Innoshima Bridge
Japanese Coast Guard photo
* Sagi Shima
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 27 m (89 ft); white light occulting once every 8 s. 7 m (23 ft) round white concrete tower. Kiso has a closeup and a view from the sea, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Sagi Shima is an island northwest of Inno Shima and south of the port of Mihara. The island is accessible by ferry. Located at the northeastern point of the island. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-521; JP-4473; Admiralty M5718; NGA 8480.
Kosagi Shima
1896. Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); white flash every 4 s. 6.5 m (21 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. Kiso has a good closeup and a view from the sea, and Google has a distant satellite view. Clearly a sibling of the better known Ōhama Saki Light. This lighthouse is located on a small island off the northwestern tip of Sagi Shima. Site status unknown; the island is probably accessible by ferry. ARLHS JPN-289; JP-4475; Admiralty M5716; NGA 8488.
* Kōne Shima
1897. Active; focal plane 45 m (148 ft); white light, 4 s on, 4 s off. 4.3 m (14 ft) round stone tower with double gallery; the lantern has been removed and replaced by a short post light. Entire lighthouse painted white. Kiso has a closeup and a more distant view, but Google's fuzzy satellite view does not show the station. A diminutive sibling of the Ōhama Shima and Kosagi Shima Lights, this is the only lighthouse of Okayama or Hiroshima prefectures selected by the Eighth Coast District for its collection of Japan's Famous Fifty Lighthouses. Kōne Shima is an island west of Sagi Shima, accessible by bridge. Located at the northern tip of the island. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-273; JP-4477; Admiralty M5714; NGA 8496.

Takehara City Lighthouse
* Ōkuno Shima
1892. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); white or red light, depending on direction, 3 s on, 3 s off. 7 m (23 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. A 2008 photo is at right, Kiso has a closeup, and Google has a satellite view. Another in the chain of historic lights marking the northern channel of the Inland Sea west of Onomichi. Ōkuno Shima is a small island north of the much larger island of Ōmi Shima, which is one of the islands crossed by the Nishi-Seto Expressway connecting Honshū and Shikoku. Located at the southern tip of the island. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-458; JP-4481; Admiralty M5712; NGA 8504.
Okuno Shima Light
Ōkuno Shima Light, April 2008
anonymous Panoramio Creative Commons photo

Toyota District (Ōsakikami Shima) Lighthouses
* Mebaru Saki
1897. Inactive since 2009. 4.5 m (15 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. Kiso has a closeup, and the tiny lighthouse is barely visible in a Google satellite view. Located at the northeastern tip of Ōsakikami Shima, a large island in the Inland Sea south of Takehara. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-338; JP-4483; Admiralty M5704; NGA 8508.
* Nakano Hana
1894. Active; focal plane 45 m (148 ft); three flashes every 13 s, red or white depending on direction. 5 m (17 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. The Coast Guard's photo is at the top of this page, Kiso has a closeup, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the southeastern tip of Ōsakikami Shima. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-397; JP-4487; Admiralty M5702; NGA 8520.

Kure City Lighthouses
* Mitarai Kō Breakwater
1940. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 8.5 m (28 ft) square tapered stone tower with a crown resembling a pagoda. The light is displayed from the "roof" of the pagoda. The photo at right is from JANA's page for the lighthouse, Kiso has a closeup, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse has a unique and interesting design, intended to resemble an ishidoro, or stone lantern, used for decorating gardens, shrine precincts, etc. Mitarai is a town near the eastern tip of Osaki Shimo-jima, an island southwest of Ōsakikami Shima. Located at an elbow of the breakwater mole at Mitarai. The site appears to be accessible by walking the mole. Site open, tower closed. JP-4654; Admiralty M5697; NGA 8848.
Kamagarini Shima
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); white flash every 4 s. 8 m (26 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower centered on a square 1-story equipment room and mounted on a square concrete pier. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard has a photo, and additional photos are available, but the tower is not seen in Google's satellite view. (Tom Zane points out that the rope connecting the two peaks in the Coast Guard photo is a shimenawa, a traditional Japanese good luck or good fortune symbol. It consists of a left hand plaited straw rope, so wound because the left is the pure or fortunate side. Groups of straw pendants hang from the rope.) Located on a skerry off the northeastern tip of Kamagarini Shima, about 20 km (13 mi) east of Kure. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1739; Admiralty M5695.8; NGA 8868.
Meneko Shima
Date unknown. Inactive since 2008. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery, painted white. The Coast Guard has a photo, another photo is available, and Kiso has a closeup, but the tower is not seen in Google's satellite view. This lighthouse is located at the northern tip of Meneko Shima, practically under the bridge joining that island to the mainland, about 10 km (6 mi) southeast of Kure. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1749; ex-JP-4662; ex-Admiralty M5695.4; ex-NGA 8884.

Matarai Breakwater Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo
* Ondo
1959. Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery, rising from one end of a rectangular 1-story equipment building. Entire lighthouse is white. Kiso has a closeup, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. This lighthouse guides ships entering the north end of the narrow strait separating the large island of Kurahashi Shima from the mainland at Ondo, about 7 km (4.5 mi) south of Kure. Located on a bluff at the northern tip of Kurahashi Shima in the city of Ondo. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-489; JP-4771; Admiralty M5693; NGA 9056.
Dentaro Hana
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); white flash every 4 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete pillar with gallery, mounted on a square concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Kiso has a photo, and Google has a distant satellite view. Located on the southwestern tip of Kurahashi Shima. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1726; JP-4789; Admiralty M5664.4; NGA 9092.
Nisigobanno Hana
1904. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); nine quick white flashes every 15 s. 17 m (56 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Lighthouse painted bright yellow with one black horizontal band. The Coast Guard's photo is at right, and Kiso also has a fine photo, but Google's distant satellite view does not show the island. This historic beacon guides ships rounding Kurahashi Shima en route to Hiroshima from the Inland Sea. Located about 3 km (2 mi) southwest of the southwestern tip of Kurahashi Shima. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JP-4708; Admiralty M5664; NGA 8916.
Kourume Shima (Kure)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); white flash every 4 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with a flared top and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. Kiso also has a closeup, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Kure's beautiful harbor is a traditional home port for the Japanese Navy. Kourume Shima is a small island off the harbor of Kure, within 400 m (1/4 mi) of the mainland. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-1744; JP-4769; Admiralty M5692; NGA 9052.

Nisigobanno Hana Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo

Etajima City Lighthouses
Note: Eta Shima (also called Etajima or Edajima) is a large island occupying the southeastern third of Hiroshima Bay, southwest of Kure. The island is accessible by a bridge from Kurahashi Shima and by ferries from Hiroshima and Kure.
Aki Shiraishi (Siraisi)
1903. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 20 m (66 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Lighthouse painted black with one red horizontal band. Kiso has a lovely photo, another photo is available, and Google has a very distant satellite view. Very similar to the Nisigobanno Hana Light. Located near the center of Hiroshima Bay about 12 km (7.5 mi) east of Iwakuni. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JP-4712; Admiralty M5668; NGA 8924.
Manaita Syo
1960. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower with double gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Lighthouse painted black with one red horizontal band. Kiso has a good closeup of the lighthouse with a Japanese Navy destroyer. Located about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) southwest of the northwestern tip of Eta Shima (Etajima), a large island protecting the harbor of Hiroshima. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JP-4737; Admiralty M5679; NGA 8964.
Nakano Se
1903 (?). Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); one long and two short green flashes every 8 s. 15 m (49 ft) round strongly conical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted green. The Coast Guard's photo is at right, Kiso has a great closeup, and Garrett McGowan has also posted an excellent closeup photo. The fact that this beacon is concrete rather than stone suggests it may have been replaced at some time in its history. Located about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) off the northwestern tip of Eta Shima. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JP-4841; Admiralty M5680; NGA 8980.
Aki Eno Shima
1904. Active; focal plane 49 m (161 ft); white flash every 4 s. 13.5 m (44 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery; the lantern has been removed. Entire lighthouse is white. Additional photos are available, and Kiso has a view from the sea, but Google has only a distant satellite view of the island. Located atop a small island about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) northwest of Ando Shima and 1.2 km (3/4 mi) east of the eastern tip of Eno Shima, another large island lying southwest of Hiroshima. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-1721; JP-4742; Admiralty M5681; NGA 8984.
Yakata Isi
1904. Active; focal plane 7.5 m (25 ft); quick-flashing white light. 8 m (26 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Lower half of lighthouse painted bright yellow, upper half black. Kiso has a good closeup, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a rocky reef just off the northern tip of Eta Shima. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JP-4747; Admiralty M5690; NGA 9000.
Nakano Se Light
Nakano Se Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo
Ando Shima
1967. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft) white flash every 4 s. 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery, painted white. Two more photos are available, Kiso has a closeup, and a 2008 photo is available, but the islet is barely visible in Google's satellite view. Located on an islet north of the northwestern tip of Eta Shima. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-1725; JP-4743; Admiralty M5680.4; NGA 8988.

Hiroshima City Lighthouses
* Uzina
1950. Active; focal plane 46 m (151 ft); flash every 5 s, alternately red and white. 21 m (69 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, centered on a square 1-story service building; 6th order Fresnel lens. Entire lighthouse is white. Kiso has a good closeup, a view from the shore is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the tip of a wooded promontory projecting into the busy and beautiful harbor of Hiroshima. Easily accessible by road, and parking is provided, so it is surprising that there are not more photos of this lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-735; JP-4753; Admiralty M5687; NGA 9004.
Hiroshima East Breakwater
1978. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); red light occulting once every 4 s. 19 m (62 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern, gallery, and a tall "dunce cap" crown; 5th order Fresnel lens. Entire lighthouse painted red. A Coast Guard photo is at right, another photo and a 2009 view from the harbor are available, and Google has a satellite view. The "dunce cap" on these modern lighthouses is a historical touch recalling similar crowns on the lighthouses of Yokohama harbor. Located at the end of the detached east breakwater of Hiroshima's modern port, west of the Uzina lighthouse. Site and tower closed, but there should be excellent views from arriving or departing ferries. ARLHS JPN-1769; JP-4754; Admiralty M5687.5; NGA 9008.
Hiroshima West Breakwater
1971. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); red light occulting once every 4 s. 19 m (62 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern, gallery, and a tall "dunce cap" crown; 5th order Fresnel lens. Entire lighthouse painted white. Another photo is available, Kiso has a good photo, and Google has a satellite view. The "dunce cap" on these modern lighthouses is a historical touch recalling similar crowns on the lighthouses of Yokohama harbor. Located at the end of the west breakwater of Hiroshima's modern port, west of the Uzina lighthouse. Site and tower closed, but there should be excellent views from arriving or departing ferries. ARLHS JPN-1770; JP-4755; Admiralty M5687.4; NGA 9012.
Kusatsu (Kusatu) Gyoko East Breakwater
1981(?). Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); red flash every 5 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) round concrete tower. Described as white by NGA, the tower appears to be red in a Google satellite view. Located at the end of the east breakwater protecting the fishery harbor on the west side of Hiroshima. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1747; Admiralty M5684; NGA 9024.
Hiroshima Breakwater Lights
Hiroshima Breakwater Lights
Japanese Coast Guard photo
Kusatsu (Kusatu) Gyoko South Breakwater
1981. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); green light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post with gallery centered on a square 1-story equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a satellite view. Located at the east end of a detached breakwater protecting the fishery harbor on the west side of Hiroshima. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1748; JP-4759; Admiralty M5683; NGA 9028.

Hatsukaichi City Lighthouse
#Shinkai (Sinkai, Singai) Hana (2)
1951 (station established 1899). Inactive since 2008, and probably demolished; Google's satellite view does not show the tower. 7 m (23 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, attached to a small concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Additional photos are available. The original lighthouse was destroyed by the storm surge of a typhoon in 1949. This lighthouse stands (or stood) on the mainland at the narrowest point of the strait between the mainland and the island of Eno Shima; the strait here is about 500 m (0.3 mi) wide. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-794; ex-JP-4765; ex-Admiralty M5676; ex-NGA 9048.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: East: Kōbe Area | South: Northwestern Shikoku | West: Yamaguchi

Return to the Lighthouse Directory index | Ratings key

Posted January 25, 2007. Checked and revised October 5, 2011. Lighthouses: 51. Site copyright 2011 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.