Lighthouses of Japan: Yamagata and Akita

This page lists lighthouses of the prefectures of Yamagata and Akita, located at the northwestern end of Japan's largest island, Honshū. Yamagata and Akita Prefectures face west on the Sea of Japan.

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 usually one Coast Guard Section Office in each prefecture. In this area, the Sakata Section covers Yamagata Prefecture and the Akita Section covers Akita Prefecture.

A note on the Sea of Japan/East Sea controversy: The Directory takes no side in any international dispute; it makes use of the terminology, names, and spellings as they currently exist in each area covered. The sea between Japan and Korea is called the Sea of Japan on the pages for Japan and the East Sea on the pages for Korea.

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
A comprehensive site, almost entirely in Japanese. It's easiest to use the pages for each prefecture: Yamagata | Akita.
Lighthouse of Japan
Another comprehensive site, in Japanese, with pages for each prefecture: Yamagata | Akita.
Misty's Japanese Lighthouse Tour
Photos and brief notes in English for lighthouses in all parts of the country. Again, it's easiest to use the pages for each prefecture: Yamagata | Akita.
Kiso's Lighthouses
This site has many excellent photos of Japanese lighthouses.
Second District Lighthouse Photos
Posted by the Coast Guard district office in Aomori. Photos are available for: Yamagata | Akita.
Sakata Section Aids to Navigation
An interactive map links to photos and information on the major lights of Yamagata.
Akita Section Lighthouse Information
Information and photos posted by the Akita office of the Japanese Coast Guard.
Lighthouses in Akita Prefecture
A collection of recent photos.
The Famous Fifty Lighthouses
Photos of the lighthouses voted most famous in Japan, posted by the Eighth Coast Guard Region. One of the fifty (Nyūdō Saki) stands in the area covered by this page.
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.

Nyūdō Saki Light
Nyūdō Saki Light, Oga, April 2009
Panoramio Creative Commons photo by tsushima

Lighthouses of Yamagata Prefecture

Tsuruoka City Lighthouses
* Nezugaseki Kō (Benten Shima)
1925. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); two white flashes every 7 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. The photo from the Coast Guard's page is at right, Lighthouse of Japan has a page with good photos, Misty's Tour has additional photos, the Coast Guard has a sunset photo and a more distant view, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. The lighthouse is located on Benten Shima, a wedge-shaped island that has been connected to the mainland by a causeway separating the two halves of the harbor. Accessible by a paved pathway. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-408; JCG-1363; Admiralty M7088; NGA 3428.
* Nezugaseki Kō West Breakwater
1962. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); continuous red light with a more intense flash every 5 s. 11 m (36 ft) concrete post light rising from a a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse painted red. Google has an indistinct satellite view. Lighthouse of Japan also has photos of the similar but smaller light, painted white, on the north breakwater. Located at an elbow of the original west breakwater of Nezugaseki. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1181; JCG-1364; Admiralty M7088.4; NGA 3432.
* Hato Saki
1955. Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post light rising from a a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Lighthouse of Japan has a page with several good photos, the Coast Guard's page has a good photo, Misty's Tour also has a photo, but Google's dim satellite view does not show the light. Located on a promontory about 8 km (5 mi) north of Atsumi. National route 7 passes close to the light. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-091; JCG-1367; Admiralty M7087.8; NGA 3440.
Ryūtōan Shima
1955. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 15 m (49 ft) round concrete tower with a small lantern, mounted on a conical stone base. Lighthouse painted black with a red horizontal band. The Coast Guard's page has a good photo, Lighthouses of Japan has a distant view, Misty's Tour has a small photo, and Google has a dark and distant satellite view of the reef. Located on a small skerry about 1 km (0.6 mi) off Hato Saki. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2637; JCG-1366; Admiralty M7087.9; NGA 3444.
Nezugaseki Light
Nezugaseki (Benten Shima) Light, Nezugaseki
Japanese Coast Guard Sakata Section photo
* Ara Saki (Arasaki) (2)
1953 (station established 1903). Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); white flash every 5 s. 12 m (39 ft) concrete post light rising from a a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard's page has a good photo, a 2005 photo is available, Lighthouse of Japan has a page with good photos, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse is adjacent to the Kamo Aquarium., which is known especially for its large collection of jellyfish. Located on a promontory at Kamo, about 10 km (6 mi) west of Tsuruoka. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-024; JCG-1371; Admiralty M7087; NGA 3460.
* Kamo Kō (Arasaki) Inner Breakwater
1962. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); continuous red light with two more intense flashes every 8 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is red. Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located at the end of the short west inner breakwater, a short distance east of the Kamo Aquarium. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1174; JCG-1373; Admiralty M7087.2; NGA 3468.
* Kamo Kō (Arasaki) North Breakwater
1968. 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. A distant view shows the dormant Chōkai-san volcano in the distance, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located at the end of the north (main) breakwater of Kamo harbor. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1175; JCG-1372; Admiralty M7087.1; NGA 3464.

Sakata City Lighthouses
Sakata Kō South Breakwater
1989. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); two red flashes every 5 s. 16 m (52 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. A closeup photo is available, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located at the end of the south breakwater at the mouth of the Mogami River in Sakata, the principal port of Yamagata Prefecture. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1183; Admiralty M7084; NGA 3480.
Sakata Kō North Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); two green flashes every 7 s. 14 m (46 ft) round white concrete tower with lantern and gallery. A 2010 photo is available, the Coast Guard Second District has a more distant view, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the north breakwater at the mouth of the Mogami River in Sakata. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-530; JCG-1375; Admiralty M7083; NGA 3484.
* Sakata (1)
1895. Inactive since 1958 (a decorative light is displayed). Approx. 8 m (26 ft) hexagonal pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. A photo is at right, another excellent photo is available, Takashi Tsukahara has a 2008 photo, the Coast Guard has a historic photo, and Google has a satellite view. This historic lighthouse is claimed to be Japan's oldest wooden light. The building was completely restored in 2006. Located on a hilltop in Hiyoriyama Park, a city park on the north side of the Mogami River entrance in downtown Sakata. Site open, tower closed.
Old Sakata Light
1895 Sakata Light, Sakata, June 2010
Panoramio Creative Commons photo by gaopi
**** Sakata (3)
2000 (station established 1895). Active; focal plane 41 m (135 ft); white flash every 8 s. 30 m (98 ft) square building with a lantern on the roof and a large enclosed observation deck wrapping around the seaward side about 3/4 of the way up. The building is white. A Coast Guard photo is at right, Lighthouse of Japan has a page with good photos, Misty's Tour has two photos, Lighthouses of Japan also has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. The translation of the linked page says that since 1999 the building has been open to the public free of charge except during the winter, and the observation deck is the perfect place for watching the sun sink into the Sea of Japan. Located on filled land on the Sakata waterfront. Site open, tower open daily in season. ARLHS JPN-529; JCG-1380; Admiralty M7082; NGA 3472.
* Sakata (2)
1958. Inactive since 2000. 11m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. Lighthouses in Japan has photos (second and third photos on the page), the Coast Guard has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located about 800 m (1/2 mi) west of the new lighthouse. Site apparently open, tower closed.
* Sakata Groin
1979. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 11 m (36 ft) square tapered skeletal tower, painted red. A small photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a short groin at the entrance to the inner north harbor basin of Sakata, about 500 m (0.4 mi) north of the new lighthouse. Apparently accessible by walking the groin. Site open, tower closed. JCG-1381; Admiralty M7082.5; NGA 3476.
Sakata Light
2000 Sakata Light, Sakata
Japanese Coast Guard Sakata Section photo

Akumi District Lighthouses
* Ugo Misaki
1960. Active; focal plane 68 m (223 ft); two white flashes every 7 s. 10.5 m (35 ft) concrete post light rising from a a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Lighthouse of Japan has a page with good photos, and the Coast Guard's page also has good photos, but the lighthouse is not seen in Google's fuzzy satellite view. We need information on this area, because a more substantial building is shown in a 2002 photo. Located on a promontory about 25 km (15 mi) north of Sakata, just south of the border between Yamagata and Akita prefectures. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-710; JCG-1383; Admiralty M7077; NGA 3496.
Tobi Shima Kō Middle Breakwater
1962. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); red flash every 3 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post light rising from a a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is red. The Coast Guard's photo also shows the south breakwater light. Google has only a fuzzy satellite view of the harbor. Tobi Shima is an island in the Sea of Japan about 40 km (25 mi) northwest of Sakata. Very popular with birders, the island has a population of about 600 and is accessible by ferry from Sakata. Located at the south end of the middle breakwater of Tobi Shima's harbor. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1044; JCG-1385; Admiralty M7076.3; NGA 3508.
Tobi Shima Kō South Breakwater
1968. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green flash every 3 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) round concrete tower with a flared top, attached to a small 1-story concrete equipment shelter. The Coast Guard's photo also shows the middle breakwater light. Located at the end of the south breakwater of Tobi Shima's harbor. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1045; JCG-1386; Admiralty M7076.2; NGA 3512.
* Tobi Shima (2)
Date unknown (station established 1948). Active; focal plane 82 m (269 ft); white flash every 10 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower with lantern and gallery, connected to a small equipment building or keeper's house. The photo from the Coast Guard's page is at right, and another photo is available, but Google has only a very fuzzy satellite view of the station. Lighthouses in Japan has a photo of the original lighthouse taken about 1996; we do not know why or exactly when the lighthouse was replaced. Located on the highest point of the island. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-657; JCG-1387; Admiralty M7076; NGA 3504.
Tobishima Light
Tobi Shima Light
Japanese Coast Guard Sakata Section photo

Lighthouses of Akita Prefecture

Nikaho City Lighthouse
* Konoura Kō
1938. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); white flash every 4 s. 11 m (36 ft) concrete post light rising from a a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. A 2007 closeup photo is available, and Google has a distant satellite view of the site. Located on the waterfront of Konoura. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1037; JCG-1390; Admiralty M7072; NGA 3520.
Hirasawa Kō West Jetty
1962. Inactive since 2009. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post light rising from a a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is red. The light is in the background of Jasmine Yomei's photo, but Google has only a fuzzy satellite view of the harbor. Hirasawa Kō is the harbor of Nikaho City. Located at the end of the west breakwater. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-1032; ex-JCG-1392; ex-Admiralty M7071; NGA 3532.
Hirasawa Kō East Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green flash every 4 s. 11 m (36 ft) concrete post light rising from a a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. The light is in the background of Jasmine Yomei's photo, but Google has only a fuzzy satellite view of the harbor. Hirasawa Kō is the harbor of Nikaho City. Located at the end of the west breakwater. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-1031; Admiralty M7070; NGA 3528.

Yurihonjō City Lighthouses
Honjō (Yurihonjō) Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); green light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 14 m (46 ft) concrete post light rising from a a square 1-story concrete equipment room, painted white. A distant photo is available, but Google's distant satellite view of the harbor doesn't show the light. Located at the end of the main breakwater at Honjō. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1033; Admiralty M7069.6; NGA 3540.
* Honjō (Honzyo, Yurihonjō)
1968. Inactive since 2009. 11 m (36 ft) octagonal hourglass-shaped concrete tower with gallery; no lantern. Lighthouse painted white. Lighthouse of Japan has a page with photos, Lighthouses in Japan also has a photo, and Google has a distant satellite view. The light was deactivated in November 2009. Located on a bluff about 2 km (1.25 mi) northeast of the Honjō waterfront. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-776; JCG-1394; Admiralty M7069.4; NGA 3536.
* Matsuga Saki
1958. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); white flash every 5 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower mounted on a square concrete equipment building; no lantern. Lighthouse of Japan has a page with photos, Lighthouses in Japan also has a photo, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Matsuga Saki means Pine Cape. Located on a bluff about 8 km (5 mi) north of Honjō. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-777; JCG-1395; Admiralty M7069; NGA 3544.

Akita City Lighthouse
Akita Kō
1986. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); two red flashes every 5 s. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted bright red. Google has a satellite view. Located on the outer breakwater of Akita. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1026; Admiralty M7066.5; NGA 3548.

Oga City Lighthouses
* Hunagawa (Unosaki, Funagawa)
Date unknown (station established 1869). Active; focal plane 49 m (161 ft); two white flashes every 8 s. 19 m (62 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted with red and white horizontal bands; lantern is gray metallic. A Coast Guard photo is at right, Lighthouse of Japan has a page with excellent photos, a good 2006 photo and a 2010 photo are available, and Google has a distant satellite view. Located on Uno Saki, a promontory at Hunagawa, on the south side of the Oga Peninsula. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-778; JCG-1406; Admiralty M7061; NGA 3560.

Hunagawa Light, Oga
Japanese Coast Guard Akita Section photo
* Tateyama Saki
1930. Active; focal plane 48 m (157 ft); continuous white spotlight. 10 m (33 ft) semielliptical cylindrical concrete tower; the light is shown through a square window. The light illuminates Mitiguri Shima, a dangerous offshore reef. The Coast Guard has a page for the lighthouse, and Google has a distant satellite view. Located on a bluff behind the harbor of Tsubaki Kō about 3.5 km (2 mi) west of the Hunagawa lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1043; JCG-1409; Admiralty M7059.6; NGA 3588.
Shioga (Shiose) Misaki
1955. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); white light, 4 s on, 4 s off. 9.5 m (31 ft) concrete post light rising from a a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Lighthouse of Japan has a page with good photos, and a 2007 photo is available, but Google's satellite view of the cape does not show the light. Located on a rocky point at the southwestern tip of the Oga Peninsula. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1042; JCG-1410; Admiralty M7059.5; NGA 3592.
Toga
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); white flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post light rising from a 1-1/2 story round equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. A photo (3/4 the way down the page) and a distant view are available, but the lighthouse is barely visible in Google's satellite view. Toga Wan is a semicircular bay at the west end of the Oga Peninsula. Located on a small island at the southern entrance to the bay. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JCG-1411; Admiralty M7058.8; NGA 3600.
Toga Kō Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower, flared at the top and attached to a small equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is red. A distant view is available, but the lighthouse is barely visible in Google's satellite view. Located at the north end of a detached breakwater that shelters Toga Wan. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed.ARLHS JPN-1046; Admiralty M7058.9; NGA 3596.
**** Nyūdō Saki (2)
Date unknown (station established 1898). Active; focal plane 57 m (187 ft); white flash every 15 s. 28 m (92 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted with black and white horizontal bands; lantern is gray metallic. The lighthouse also carries a continuous white spotlight that shines on the Mizu Shima reef about 1 km (0.6 mi) to the north. A stone monument near the lighthouse marks latitude 40° north. A photo is at the top of this page, Lighthouse of Japan has a page with good photos, Lighthouses in Japan has a photo, Yasuhiro Sakuda has another good photo, Misty's Tour has additional photos, and Google has a distant satellite view. This lighthouse guides ships around the Oga Hantō (peninsula), which projects some 30 km (20 mi) westward into the Sea of Japan. Volunteers from the Japan Lighthouse Society conduct guided tours of the lighthouse. Klaus Huelse has a historic postcard view of the original lighthouse, a square skeletal tower with central cylinder, lantern and gallery. Located on the extreme northwestern tip of the peninsula. Site open, tower open daily. ARLHS JPN-441; JCG-1414 (main light) and 1415 (spotlight); Admiralty M7058; NGA 3604.
Kitaura Kō Detached Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); red flash every 3 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is red. A photo and a second photo are available, but Google has only a fuzzy satellite view. Located at the east end of the breakwater at Kitaura, about 10 km (6 mi) southeast of Nyūdō Saki. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. JCG-1416; Admiralty M7057.2; NGA 3620.

Yamamoto District Lighthouse
* Hachimori Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); green flash every 3 s. 12 m (39 ft) concrete post light rising from a a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. A photo is available, but Google has only a fuzzy satellite view of the harbor. Located at the end of the breakwater of Hachimori, a small port about 3 km (2 mi) southeast of Tigoki Saki. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1030; Admiralty M7055.9; NGA 3628.
* Chigoki Saki (Tigoki Saki, Sugo Saki)
1954. Active; focal plane 47 m (154 ft); white flash every 5 s. 14 m (46 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with semicircular lantern and gallery, all painted white. A Coast Guard photo is at right, Lighthouse of Japan has a page with good photos, Lighthouses in Japan also has a photo, Yobito Kayanuma has a view from the land side, and Misty's Tour has a nighttime photo, but Google's distant satellite view does not reveal the lighthouse. Located on a promontory about 35 km (22 mi) north of Noshiro. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-642; JCG-1422; Admiralty M7055.5; NGA 3636.

Chigoki Saki Light, Yamamoto
Japanese Coast Guard Akita Section photo

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Aomori | South: Niigata

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Posted August 15, 2006. Checked and revised June 17, 2012. Lighthouses: 33. Site copyright 2012 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.