Lighthouses of Japan: Tokushima

Smallest of the Japanese main islands, Shikoku is divided into four prefectures. This page includes lighthouses of Tokushima Prefecture, at the eastern end of the island. Tokushima faces mostly east on the Kii Strait, which connects the Inland Sea to the Pacific Ocean. The southernmost part of the prefecture faces the open Pacific.

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. 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 - Tokushima
A comprehensive site, almost entirely in Japanese. There's also a page on Lighthouses by R. H. Brunton listing the earliest Western-style Japanese lighthouses.
Lighthouse of Japan -Tokushima
Another comprehensive site, in Japanese, with pages for each prefecture.
Kiso's Lighthouses
This site, entirely in Japanese, has many excellent photos of Japanese lighthouses.
Misty's Japanese Lighthouse Tour - Tokushima
Photos and a few notes in English for lighthouses in all parts of the country.
Kato's Lighthouses
Photos and notes from all parts of Japan.
Lighthouses of Region 5
Posted by the Fifth Coast Guard Region, photos from Tokushima Prefecture.
The Japanese Lighthouse - Tokushima
A collection of photos of lighthouses.e.

Komatsushima Light
Komatsushima Light
Japanese Coast Guard photo
Naruto City Lighthouses
Note: Naruto is at the northeastern corner of Shikoku. To the north is Harima Bay, the easternmost basin of the Inland Sea, and to the east is the Kii Strait, which connects the Inland Sea to the Pacific.
* Awa Kō (Kitadomari)
1996. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); red flash every 4 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is red. Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the main breakwater at Awa, a small boat harbor on Harima Bay about 6 km (3.5 mi) west of the Naruto Strait. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2536; JP-3969.1; Admiralty M5551; NGA 7994.
Kameura Kō
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); red flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is red. Photos are available (4th and 7th photos on the page), and there's a distant view with the Naruto Strait Bridge in the background, but Google has only a fuzzy satellite view. Located at the east end of the detached breakwater of Kameura, about 3 km (2 mi) west of the Naruto Strait. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2535; Admiralty M5551.3; NGA 7988.
* Mago Saki
1951. Active; focal plane 51 m (167 ft); white flash every 5 s. 11 m (36 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery, attached to a small concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. A Coast Guard photo is at right, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with several photos, Kato's page has photos, Kiso has a photo, Misty's Tour has additional photos, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse marks the south side of the Naruto-Kaikyō (Naruto Strait), which separates Shikoku from the island of Awaji. The strait is very dangerous, having the fastest tidal current in Japan and fourth-fastest in the world. An expressway bridge, a link in the Kōbe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway linking Shikoku and Honshu, crosses the strait just east of the lighthouse. The site commands a broad view of Harima Bay, the easternmost basin of the Inland Sea. Located on the point of the cape; accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-326; JP-3455; Admiralty M5551.5; NGA 7168.
Naruto Tobi Shima
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 32 m (105 ft); white flash every 3 s. 22.5 m (74 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery. Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with several photos, Kiso has a good closeup, the Coast Guard has a view from the south, Misty's Tour has a view from Mago Saki, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view of the location. This lighthouse is located on a small island in the middle of the Naruto Strait just south of the Naruto Kaikyō Bridge. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-404; JP-3454; Admiralty M5551.75; NGA 7164.
Naka Se (Nakase)
1946. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); one short and one long red flash every 8 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, mounted on a round concrete pier. Entire lighthouse painted red. The Coast Guard has a closeup photo, Misty's Tour has a photo, and Google has a distant satellite view. Located on a rocky shoal in the entrance to Muya harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. JP-3450; Admiralty M5552; NGA 7148.

Mago Saki Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo
* Ōiso Saki
1967. Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); four white flashes every 15 s. 10.5 m (35 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with double gallery. Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with several photos, Kiso has a good closeup, Misty's Tour has additional photos, and Google has a very distant satellite view. Located on a sharp promontory pointing into the Kii Strait on the east side of Muya. The path from the beach to the lighthouse is reported washed out, but there's a good view from the beach. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-455; JP-3448; Admiralty M5551.8; NGA 7144.

Tokushima City Lighthouses
* Imagire Kō
1963. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); continuous red light with a more intense flash every 6 s. 9 m (30 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is red. Google has a distant satellite view. Located at the end of the north breakwater of Imagire harbor, on the north side of Tokushima. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. JP-3445; Admiralty M5554; NGA 7132.
Okame Se
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 17 m (56 ft) tower, painted black with a red horizontal band. No photo available. Located on a rock about 5 km (3 mi) southeast of Tokushima harbor and the same distance northeast of Komatsushima harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M5555; NGA 7088.

Komatsushima City Lighthouses
* Komatsushima
1977. Active; focal plane 92 m (302 ft); white light, 4 s on, 4 s off. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a small concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard's photo is at the top of this page, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with a good photo, Misty's Tour has additional photos, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. The lighthouse serves as a landfall light for both Tokushima and Komatsushima, two ports separated by a high ridge. Located on the ridge overlooking the harbor of Komatsushima to the south. Apparently accessible by road, but some local knowledge may be needed. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-283; JP-3433; Admiralty M5561; NGA 7104.
Komatsushima Kō (Detached Breakwater North End)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green flash every 4 s. 13 m (43 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard has a good photo, and Google has a satellite view. Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with photos of the much smaller South End Light, and this lighthouse can be seen in the background. Located at the north end of the detached breakwater protecting the harbor of Komatsushima. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2538; JP-3431; Admiralty M5565.4; NGA 7100.
* Komatsushima South Breakwater
1953. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a fuzzy satellite view of the breakwater. Located at the end of the breakwater; accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2540; JP-3429; Admiralty M5564; NGA 7092.

Anan City Lighthouses
Ao Shima
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 58 m (190 ft); two white flashes every 7 s. 12 m (39 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, attached to a small concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard's photo is at right, and Google has a satellite view. Ao Shima is a small island off the entrance to the harbor of Tomioka; it's not known if there is public access to the island. Located on the highest point of the island. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-022; JP-3415; Admiralty M5574; NGA 7068.
Funa Iso
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 14 m (46 ft) round concrete tower, painted black with a red horizontal band. No photo available. Located on a reef off Tachibana harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty M5575; NGA 7064.
Tachibana (Tatibana)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 10.5 m (35 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a distant satellite view of the location. Located at the east end of Naga Shima, a steep island that forms a natural breakwater protecting the harbor of Tachibana. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-633; JP-3407; Admiralty M5575.4; NGA 7060.
Karimata Saki
1965. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); white light, 2 s on, 1 s off, 2 s on, 3 s off. 9.5 m round hourglass-shaped concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with good photos, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the tip of a rocky promontory 3 km (2 mi) northwest of Kamoda Saki. Accessible by a hiking trail. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-233; JP-3406; Admiralty M5575.6; NGA 7056.
* Kamoda Misaki (2)
1972 (station established 1924). Active; focal plane 48 m (158 ft); white flash every 3 s. 11.5 m (38 ft) round concrete tower with gallery. In addition to the main light, a spotlight is shown through a square window to iluminate a nearby and dangerous rock. Entire lighthouse is white. Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with several photos, a 2009 photo is available, Jon Elliott has a photo of the pathway to the lighthouse, and Google has a satellite view. Kamoda Misaki is the easternmost point of Shikoku. The site is accessible by road and parking is provided. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-219; JP-3403; Admiralty M5577; NGA 7052.
Ao Shima Light
Ao Shima Light
Japanese Coast Guard photo
Ishima Kō West Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); continuous red light with a more intense flash every 3 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is red. Google has an indistinct satellite view. I Shima (Ishima) is an island about 5 km (3 mi) due east of Kamoda Misaki. Located at the elbow of a detached breakwater in the entrance to Ishima harbor. Accessible by boat, although there are good views from ferries arriving at the island. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2534; JP-3402; Admiralty M5576.4; NGA 7048.
I Shima
1956. Active; focal plane 144 m (472 ft); white flash every 10 s. 22 m (72 ft) square concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 1-story concrete equipment building. Entire lighthouse is white. Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with a good photo, and Google has a satellite view. This important and powerful lighthouse marks the southern entrance to the Kii Strait and Inland Sea. The light has a range of 54 km (33 mi). Located on the highest point of the island of I Shima. Probably accessible by a hiking trail. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-153; JP-3401; Admiralty M5576; NGA 7044.

Kaifu District (Pacific Coast) Lighthouses
Note: The east coast of Shikoku, from Kamoda Misaki in Tokushima Prefecture to Muroto Saki in Kōchi Prefecture, has a rugged beauty similar to the coast of Oregon. Most of the coast is protected as the Muroto-Anan Kaigan Quasi-National Park, and most of the light stations are in the park.
* Yuki Kō
1978. Active; focal plane 69 m (226 ft); continuous white light. 9 m (30 ft) square tile-covered concrete tower with a hexagonal lantern and a small gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. Another photo is available (first photo on the page), but the light is barely visible in Google's distant satellite view. Located on a bluff above Yuki harbor, about 2 km (1.2 mi) north of Asebino Hana. Accessible by a short hiking trail. Site open, tower closed. JP-3004; Admiralty M5578.2.
* Asebino Hana
1952. Active; focal plane 160 m (525 ft); white flash every 5 s. 12 m (39 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. A Coast Guard photo is at right, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with several photos, Misty's Tour has additional photos, and Google has a distant satellite view. Located on a high promontory jutting into the Pacific at the eastern entrance to Hiwasa Bay, about 20 km (13 mi) southwest of Kamoda Misaki. Accessible by a short hiking trail. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-026; JP-3005; Admiralty M5578.5; NGA 10000.
* Hiwasa Kō North Breakwater
1966. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); continuous red light with two more intense flashes every 10 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is red. A closeup photo is available, and Google has a distant satellite view. Located at the end of the north breakwater of Hiwasa. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2532; JP-3006; Admiralty M5578.8; NGA 10004.
Asebino Hana Light
Asebino Hana Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo
* Hiwasa Kō South Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); green flash every 3 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a distant satellite view. Located at the north end of the detached outer breakwater of Hiwasa. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2533; JP-3008; Admiralty M5578.6; NGA 10012.
Mugi Kō
1993. Active; focal plane 48 m (157); continuous white spotlight. 7.5 m (25 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower; the light is shown through a square window.Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a distant satellite view. Located on a promontory on the east side of the entrance to Mugu harbor. Accessible by a footpath. Site open, tower closed. JP-3013; Admiralty M5580.
* Mugi Kō East Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 11 m (36 ft) round hourglass-shaped red concrete tower. Google has a satellite view of the location. Located at the end of the east breakwater at Mugi. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2541; JP-3011; Admiralty M5579.6; NGA 10024.
* Mugi Kō West Breakwater
1981. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 9.5 m (31 ft) round concrete post light attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Google has a satellite view of the location. Located at the end of the west breakwater at Mugi. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2542; JP-3012; Admiralty M5579.7; NGA 10028.
Deba (Ewa, Teba) Shima
1959. Active; focal plane 85 m (279 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 11 m (36 ft) octagonal hourglass-shaped concrete tower with gallery, formerly attached to a 1-story concrete equipment building. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard's photo at right shows the original appearance of the light. The lighthouse was being rebuilt in January 2010, when the Lighthouse-Japan.com webmaster visited. A September 2010 photo shows that the equipment building was removed. Google has a distant satellite view. Located at the south end of a high island about 6 km (3.5 mi) east of Asakawa harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-637(=2529); JP-3009; Admiralty M5581; NGA 10032.
* Awa Takega Shima
1974. Active; focal plane 97 m (318 ft); white flash every 8 s. 13 m (43 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, centered on a round 1-story equipment building. Tower painted white with one red horizontal band. Misty's Tour has additional photos, and Google has a distant satellite view. Takega Shima is an island about 1 km (0.6 mi) long, separated from the mainland of Shikoku by a narrow channel. The island is accessible by bridge. Located at the southeastern tip of the island; accessible by a hiking trail. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-035; JP-3017; Admiralty M5581.8; NGA 10052.

Deba Shima (Tebashima) Light; Japanese Coast Guard photo

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Kagama | East: Wakayama | South: Kōchi | West: Ehime

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Posted April 23, 2007. Checked and revised December 14, 2011. Lighthouses: 27. Site copyright 2011 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.