Lighthouses of Japan: Gotō Islands

Located at the southwestern end of the Japanese archipelago, Kyūshū is divided into seven prefectures. This page includes lighthouses of the Gotō Islands, a part of Nagasaki Prefecture. The Gotō Islands (Gotō-rettō) are an archipelago stretching over about 85 km (53 mi) southwestward into the East China Sea from a point to the west of Hirado Shima, north of Sasebo. The islands are roughly 100 km (60 mi) west of Nagasaki City. There are some 140 islands and islets in all, but only seven are inhabited. The largest and most populous islands are Nakadōri Shima in the north and Fukue Shima in the south. The islands are accessible by ferry from Nagasaki, and there is air transportation from Nagasaki to Nakadōri and to Fukue. 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. 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. 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 - Nagasaki 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. Kiso's Lighthouses This site has many excellent photos of Japanese lighthouses. Misty's Japanese Lighthouse Tour - Nagasaki This web site has photos of several Nagasaki area lighthouses. Sasebo Coast Guard Office - Gallery This page includes a dozen photos of lighthouses. Aids to Navigation Information Sasebo Notices of changes posted by the Coast Guard, including photos of the lights. The Sasebo office manages lighthouses of Sasebo City and the Kitamatsuura District. Aids to Navigation Information Nagasaki An interactive map leads to information and photos posted by the Nagasaki Coast Guard office, which manages lighthouses of the Minamimatsuura District and Gotō City. Edge of Japan (Cape/Lighthouse) - 6 and 10 The first several photos on each page of this site are photos of lighthouses in the islands. The Famous Fifty Lighthouses Photos of the lighthouses voted most famous in Japan, posted by the Eighth Coast Guard Region. Two of the fifty (Ōse Saki and Me Shima) stand in the area covered by this page.

Tsuwa Saki Light, May 2010 Panoramio Creative Commons photo by elf4

Sasebo City Lighthouses

Koshi Shima Lighthouses

Koshiki (Kosiki) Shima Date unknown. Active; focal plane 70 m (230 ft); white flash every 10 s. 13 m (43 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 2-story concrete keeper's cottage. Entire lighthouse is white. A Coast Guard photo is at right, and Google has a distant satellite view. This lighthouse is perched on a steep pinnacle of rock that emerges from the sea at the north end of the Gotō chain. Accessible only by boat, and landing does not look easy. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-808; JCG-6101; Admiralty M5018; NGA 12720. * Tsushimase (Tushimase) Hana 1978. Active; focal plane 29 m (95 ft); white light, 4 s on, 4 s off. 12 m (39 ft) round concrete tower with double gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. A page for the lighthouse has good photos, the Coast Guard also has a distant view, and Google has a distant satellite view. Located at the northernmost point of Koshi Shima, the northernmost of the islands. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-833; JCG-6102; Admiralty M5017.8; NGA 12716. * Hizen Nagasaki Hana Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); white light occulting once every 4 s. 7.5 m (35 ft) round concrete tower with an off-center gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard has a photo (note the Koshiki Shima Light in the background), and Edge of Japan has a distant view, but Google has only a distant satellite view of the cape. This is one of at least four Nagasaki Hana lights in Nagasaki Prefecture. Located in the surf at the easternmost point of Koshi Shima. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2232; JCG-6104; Admiralty M5017.7; NGA 12744.

Koshiki Shima Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo

Kuromo (Kurobo) Se

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); white flash every 3 s. 7.5 m (25 ft) round concrete tower centered on a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Edge of Japan has a photo (sixth photo on the page) and a more distant view, but the reef is only a barely visible spot in Google's satellite view. Located on an isolated reef about 6.5 km (4 mi) southeast of Ukumachi, the port of Koshi Shima. Accessible only by boat, but there's a good view from ferreis between Sasebo and Ukumachi. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2214; JCG-6105; Admiralty M5016; NGA 12724.

Kitamatsuura District Lighthouses

Shiro Se

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); flash every 4 s, white or red depending on direction. 8 m (26 ft) square concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. No photo available, but Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Located on an isolated rock about 25 km (15 mi) west of Ojika Shima. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-2265; Admiralty M5026; NGA 12764.

* Madara Shima (2?)

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); white light occulting twice every 12 s. 10 m (33 ft) square 2-stage concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. A distant view is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the northwestern point of Madara Shima, a smaller island off the west coast of Ojika Shima; accessible by bridge from Ojika Shima. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2217; Admiralty M5020; NGA 12760.

Ai Se

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 5 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) round tapered concrete tower attached to a small equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Edge of Japan has a photo (third photo on the page) and a more distant view, and Google has a satellite view. Located on an isolated rock in the center of the channel between Koshi Shima and Ojika Shima, about 2 km (1.25 mi) from each island. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2152; JCG-6110; Admiralty M5016.4; NGA 12740.

Minamimatsuura District Lighthouses

Nakadōri Shima Lighthouses

* Tsuwa (Tuwa) Saki

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 119 m (390 ft); continuous white light with a more intense flash every 5 s. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower rising from a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. A closeup photo is at the top of this page, a second photo are available, Edge of Japan has a photo (second photo on the page), and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the long northern peninsula of Nakadōri Shima. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-834; JCG-6117; Admiralty M5025; NGA 12728.

Mamako Se Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); white flash every 3 s. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower attached to a small equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Edge of Japan has a photo (third photo on the page), and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a reef in the entrance to Arikawa harbor, on the northeast coast of Nakadōri Shima. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2219; JCG-6120; Admiralty M5015; NGA 12772. Hirakushi Saki Date unknown. Active; focal plane 36 m (118 ft); white flash every 5 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. Kiso has an excellent photo (about 1/3 the way down the page), Edge of Japan has a photo (fourth photo on the page), and Google has a satellite view. Located on a promontory on the northeast coast of Nakadōri Shima, near Arikawa. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-124; JCG-6121; Admiralty M5014; NGA 12776. Hira Shima Date unknown. Active; focal plane 53 m (174 ft); white flash every 4 s. 19 m (62 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. Edge of Japan has a closeup photo (1/5 the way down the page, #6122), Kiso has a distant view (about 1/3 the way down the page), and Google has a satellite view. Hira Shima is an island off the northeastern coast of Nakadōri Shima. Located at the western tip of Hira Shima, marking the strait between the two islands. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-121; JCG-6122; Admiralty M5013; NGA 12780. Aino Shima Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); white flash every 5 s. 24 m (79 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. Edge of Japan has a distant photo (1/5 the way down the page, #6124), a view from the sea is available, and Google has a satellite view. Aino Shima is an island off the northeastern coast of Nakadōri Shima, about 10 km (6 mi) southwest of Hira Shima. Located at the western tip of Aino Shima, marking the strait between the two islands. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-2153; JCG-6124; Admiralty M5011; NGA 12792. Otona Se 1951. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 16 m (52 ft) round tapered concrete tower, painted black with a red horizontal band and mounted on a round concrete pier. The Coast Guard photo is at right. Located on a reef about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) east of Sao Saki. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M5010; NGA 12860.

Otona Se Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo

Gotō Sao Saki 1973. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); white flash every 3 s. 12 m (39 ft) concrete post light attached to a 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard photo is at right, and Google has a distant satellite view. Located at the southern tip of Nakadōri Shima. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-073; JCG-6134; Admiralty M5009.6; NGA 12836. Arifuku (Arihuku) Shima (Fukushima) 1972. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); white flash every 3 s. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post light attached to a 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Gogle has an indistinct satellite view. Arifugu Shima is a small island, accessible by bridge, off the southwestern end of Nakadōri Shima. Located on the western tip of the island. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2158; Admiralty M5028.4; NGA 12828. Kushi Shima (Kusi Sima) 1952. Active; focal plane 114 m (374 ft); white flash every 4 s. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower rising for a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a satellite view. Located on a small island off the westernmost point of Nakadōri Shima. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-314; JCG-6176; Admiralty M5028; NGA 12824. Ichino (Itino) Se (Aokata Kō) 1963. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); one short and one long green flash every 8 s. 11 m (36 ft) round tapered concrete tower with an expanded top section, painted green. Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a reef in the entrance to Aokata, on the west coast of Nakadōri Shima. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M5027.4; NGA 12816.

Gotō Sao Saki Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo

Yagatomeno Hana (Yakatame Saki)

1954. Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); white light, 4 s on, 4 s off. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. Edge of Japan has a photo (first photo on the page), and Google has a satellite view. Located on a promontory on the northwest coast of Nakadōri Shima. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-746; JCG-6179; Admiralty M5027; NGA 12812.

Tuboga Se

1969. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); two white flashe every 5 s. 14 m (46 ft) round tapered concrete tower with an expanded top section, painted black with a red horizontal band. Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a reef about 3 km (2 mi) off the northwest coast of Nakadōri Shima. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M5026.6; NGA 12808.

Gotō City (Southern Gotō Islands) Lighthouses

Naru Shima Lighthouses

Kurose Hana

1976. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); white flash every 5 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) concrete post light attached to a 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a satellite view. Located on a rock off the western tip of Naru Shima. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2215; Admiralty M5028.6; NGA 12972.

* Narushima (Narusima) Kō

1986. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); white flash every 3 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) concrete post light attached to a 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located at the end of the main (south) breakwater of Narushima harbor. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M5008.45; NGA 12960.

Takanō (Takanou) Hana

1964. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 12 m (29 ft) concrete post light attached to a 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located at the tip of a promontory on the east side of an island southeast of Naru Shima. May be accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-2277; Admiralty M5008; NGA 12856.

Fukue Shima Lighthouses

Gotō (Fukue Kō) North Breakwater 2001. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 9 m (30 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is red. A view from the sea is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the east end of the detached north breakwater of Gotō harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2169; Admiralty M5006; NGA 12864. * Saikai About 1850. Inactive. Approx. 6 m (20 ft) square pyramidal unpainted stone tower with an open box lantern. A photo is available, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. This is a rare surviving example of a traditional Japanese lighthouse. Located on a stone pier, connected to shore by a modern pier, in downtown Gotō. Site open, tower closed. * Sakiyama Kō (North Breakwater) 1973. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 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. Located at the end of the north breakwater of Sakiyama, near the easternmost point of Fukue Shima. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2169; Admiralty M5005.7; NGA 12876. Ō Shima (Gotō Ōshima, Fukue Ōshima) 1934. Active; focal plane 103 m (338 ft); two white flashes every 20 s. 13 m (43 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story concrete keeper's house. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard's photo is at right, and Google has a distant satellite view. Ō Shima is an inhabited island about 2 km (1.2 mi) in length located about 10 km (6 mi) southeast of Fukue Shima. Located on the highest point of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-447; JCG-6152; Admiralty M5003; NGA 12976.

Gotō Ō Shima Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo

Tomie Kō (Okinokuro Se)

Date unknown (station established 1927). Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); white flash every 5 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has only a fuzzy satellite view. Located on a reef outside the harbor of Tomie, on the south coast of Fukue Shima. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-2282; Admiralty M5004; NGA 12880.

Kasayama Saki

1966. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); white flash every 6 s; also a continuous white spotlight illuminates a nearby reef. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower with a round enclosure for the spotlight at the top, attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has only a fuzzy satellite view. Located at the southernmost point of Fukue Shima. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-2196; Admiralty M5002.8; NGA 12892.

* Ōse (Ohse) Saki (2) 1971 (station established 1881). Active; focal plane 83 m (272 ft); white flash every 10 s. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard's photo seen at right is from its Famous Fifty collection. Kiso has an excellent photo (about 1/3 the way down the page), there's another closeup, and Hiroki Saito has a panoramic photo of the spectacular site. Google has only a very distant satellite view. This historic light station stands at Japan's extreme southwest corner. The original lighthouse, a cast iron tower, was preserved and is on display at the Museum of Maritime Science (Fune-no-Kagakukan) in Tokyo. Located on a rocky promontory at the southwestern tip of Fukue Shima, marking the end of the Gotō archipelago. Accessible by road and a hiking trail. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-815; JCG-6161; Admiralty M5002; NGA 12904. Tamanoura (Kuro Se) 1961. Active; focal plane 34 m (112 ft); white flash every 3 s. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard has a page with a photo, and Google has a very distant satellite view. Located atop a large rock on the south side of the entrance to the harbor of Tamanoura, on the west coast of Fukue Shima. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-825; JCG-6163; Admiralty M5033; NGA 12916. Tamanoura Kō 1970. Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft); white flash every 3 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. No closeup photo available; Google has a very fuzzy satellite view. Located on the hillside above the north (main) breakwater of Tamanoura. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-623; JCG-6164; Admiralty M5033; NGA 12916.

Ōse Saki Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo

* Tamanoura North Breakwater

1982. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); green flash every 3 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a very fuzzy satellite view. Located at the end of the north (main) breakwater of Tamanoura. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2278; JCG-6165; Admiralty M5033.5; NGA 12920.

* Fukue Nagasaki Hana

1977. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off; there is also a continuous white spotlight illuminating a reef 520 m (1/3 mi) offshore. Approx. 18 m (59 ft) square cylindrical white concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Located on a prominent cape on the northwestern coast of Fukue Shima. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2233; NGA 12928.

* Kashiwa Saki

1956. Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); white flash every 3 s. 15 m (49 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Located on the northwestern tip of Fukue Shima. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2198; Admiralty M5030; NGA 12924.

Tateko Shima

1971. Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); white flash every 4 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. A panoramic view shows the light, and Google has a very fuzzy satellite view. NGA and ARLHS misspell the name of the island as Taketo Shima. Located on an island off the western harbor of Kishiku, on the northwest coast of Fukue Shima. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-631; JCG-6165; Admiralty M5033.5; NGA 12920.

Itokushi Hana (Itokusi Saki) 1958. Active; focal plane 107 m (351 ft); white light occulting twice every 12 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) round concrete tower with a square, box-like lantern. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a very distant satellite view. Located on the northern tip of Fukue Shima. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-186; JCG-6173; Admiralty M5029; NGA 12948. Meshima Lighthouse Meshima (Me Shima) (2) 1953 (station established 1927). Active; focal plane 119 m (390 ft); three white flashes every 40 s. 15 m (49 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story concrete keeper's house. Entire lighthouse is white. A Coast Guard photo is at right, and the Coast Guard also has a photo in its Famous Fifty collection, but the island is only a blur in Google's satellite view. The original lighthouse was heavily damaged in World War II, but the Fresnel lans and its rotating equipement were saved by being buried deep in the mountain nearby. The lighthouse was returned to service in 1948. In 2006, this was the last Japanese lighthouse to be automated; a blogger covered this event, with photos. Me Shima is the southernmost of two uninhabited, isolated and rugged islands in the East China Sea about 60 km (40 mi) south southeast of Fukue Shima. Located at the southern end of the island. Accessible only by boat or helicopter. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-336; JCG-6181; Admiralty M4998; NGA 12980.

Meshima Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: East: Nagasaki Area

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Posted August 6, 2007. Checked and revised March 5, 2012. Lighthouses: 37. Site copyright 2012 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.