Lighthouses of Japan: Western Yamaguchi

The nation of Japan, known in Japanese as Nihon or Nippon (日本), occupies an archipelago off the east coast of Asia. The four main islands are Hokkaidō in the north, Honshū (the largest) in the center, Shikoku in the south, and Kyūshū in the southwest. The country includes thousands of other islands of all sizes; among them the Ryūkyū (Nansei) Islands are a long chain extending to the southwest and including the large island of Okinawa, and the Nanpō Islands are another long chain extending south into the Pacific Ocean. Much of Japan is mountainous but the coastal regions are densely populated and urbanized; the country's population is about 126 million.

Japan is divided into 47 prefectures. Yamaguchi Prefecture is located at the extreme southwestern tip of the main island of Honshū. Yamaguchi has coasts facing south on the Seto Inland Sea (Seto Naikai) and west and northwest on the Sea of Japan. The narrow, twisting Kanmon Strait connects these two seas and barely separates Honshū from Kyūshū. The principal ports in Yamaguchi are Tokuyama on the Inland Sea, Shimonoseki on the Kanmon Strait, and Nagato on the Sea of Japan.

Because of its lengthy coastline, Yamaguchi Prefecture has an unusually large number of lighthouses. This page includes lighthouses of the Kanmon Strait and Sea of Japan; the Eastern Yamaguchi page has the lighthouses of the Seto Inland Sea.

In Japanese the word for a lighthouse is tōdai or toudai (灯台). The words saki and misaki are for capes and headlands, hana ("nose") is a promontory, hantō is a peninsula, shima (also spelled sima or jima) is an island, bae is a reef, iwa or shi is a rocky reef, amase or se is a shoal, wan is a bay, nada is a sound or basin, kaikyō is a strait, kawa is a river, and or minato 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. The situation in Yamaguchi is more complicated. The Kanmon Strait lighthouses are maintained by the Moji Office, located across the strait in Fukuoka Prefecture, and the Senzaki Office in northern Yamaguchi maintains the lights on the prefecture's Sea of Japan coast.

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 - Yamaguchi
A site providing photos and data for most major Japanese lighthouses.
Lighthouse-Japan.com - Yamaguchi
Another comprehensive site with photos and notes from visits to many lighthouses.
Form of a Lighthouse - Yamaguchi
A large and growing web site, cited below as FOAL.
Lighthouse Visit
Another site with photos of Yamaguchi lighthouses.
Misty's Japanese Lighthouse Tour - Yamaguchi
Photos and a few notes for lighthouses in all parts of the country.
Japanese Lighthouse/Cape Index
Photos of many Japanese lighthouses (identified by JCG number) are linked to this page.
Senzaki Coast Guard Office - Lighthouses
Photos and data for the major lighthouses on the prefecture's northwest coast.
Moji Coast Guard Office - Lighthouses
Photos of lighthouses in the Moji Coast Guard District.
Online List of Lights - Japan
Photos by various photographers posted by Alexander Trabas.
Lighthouses in Yamaguchi Prefecture
Photos by various photographers available from Wikimedia.
Lighthouses in the Meiji Period
Information and photos of lighthouses built during the reign of the Emperor Meiji (1868-1912), posted by the 7th Coast Guard Region.
Japan: Modern Lighthouses
Historic postcard views posted by Michel Forand.
Navionics Charts
Navigation chart for Kanmon Strait area.


Tsuno Shima Light, Shimonoseki, October 2012
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by Yoshihide Fujitani


Tawara Shima Light, Nagato
Japanese Coast Guard Senzaki Office photo

Shimonoseki City (Moji Coast Guard District) Lighthouses

North Side Kanmon Strait Lighthouses
The Kanmon Strait is the narrow passage separating the southwestern tip of Honshū from the northern tip of Kyūshū. The two great islands have been joined since 1958 by the Kanmon Roadway Tunnel and since 1973 by the Kanmonkyō Bridge, which crosses the narrowest point of the strait from Shimonoseki, Honshū, to Kitakyūshū. There are also two railway tunnels under the strait, one of them carrying high-speed trains. The twisting strait has strong tidal currents and is not easy to navigate. Lighthouses on the south side of the strait are described on the Kitakyūshū Area page.
Manzyu (Manju) Shima
1934. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white flash every 4 s. 16 m (52 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. A photo is available, Trabas has Jim Smith's view from the sea (also seen at right), additional photos (second lighthouse on the page) are available, FOAL's page has photos, Lighthouse Visit also has a page with photos, and Google has a satellite view. Manzyu Shima is a small, wooded island on the north side of the eastern entrance to Kanmon Strait, about 8 km (5 mi) northeast of Shimonoseki. Located on the southern shore of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-330; JCG-5401; Admiralty M5360; NGA 9762.
Chifumiyazaki (Tyohu, Chofunakahama Kō)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a closeup photo, FOAL's page has photos, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located at the end of detached breakwater off an industrial harbor in northeastern Shimonoseki. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. JCG-5416; Admiralty M5358; NGA 9770.
Shimonoseki Range Front
1901. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); continuous yellow light. 12 m (39 ft) cast iron skeletal tower with gallery mounted on a round stone tower; an arrow-shaped daymark surrounds the light. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a closeup photo, FOAL has a page for the two range lights, Lighthouse Visit has a page for them, Michel Forand has a historic postcard view, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The range guides westbound ships passing Shimonoseki. Located beside the San'yōdō expressway on the waterfront just west of the Kanmonkyō Bridge. Site and tower closed, but the light is a familiar landmark on the south side of the expressway. JCG-5423; Admiralty M5356; NGA 9778.

Manzyu Shima Light, Shimonoseki
photo copyright Jim Smith; used by permission
Shimonoseki Range Rear
1901. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); continuous yellow light. 5 m (17 ft) round cast iron tower with gallery; an arrow-shaped daymark surrounds the light. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a closeup photo, FOAL has a page for the two range lights, Lighthouse Visit has a page for them, another photo is available, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located on a bluff above the north side of the San'yōdō expressway, 163 m (535 ft) west southwest of the front light. The light is not visible from the eastbound lanes of the expressway, being hidden by a concrete retaining wall. Site and tower closed. JCG-5424; Admiralty M5356.1; NGA 9782.
* Sotohama (Kannonzaki) East Breakwater (2?)
Date unknown (1997? station established 1913). Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); red flash every 4 s. 6 m (20 ft) round concrete tower with gallery. Lighthouse covered with red ceramic tiles. The light is in the background of the photo at right, Lighthouse Visit has a page for the two breakwater lights, Trabas has a closeup photo, FOAL has a view of the two breakwater lights from across the strait, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. It's not clear if this is a new structure or a refurbished version of the original lighthouse. Located on the west breakwater of a small craft basin about 1.5 km (1 mi) southwest of the Kanmonkyō Bridge. Accessible by walking the pier; it's an easy walk from the nearby public aquarium. Site open, tower closed. JCG-5425; Admiralty M5353; NGA 9786.
* Sotohama (Kannonzaki) West Breakwater
1997. Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); green flash every 4 s. 6 m (20 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. The lighthouse is covered with white and gray ceramic tiles; lantern painted black. A photo is at right, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with several photos, Trabas has a closeup photo, another photo is available, Lighthouse Visit has a page for the two breakwater lights, FOAL has a view of the two breakwater lights from across the strait, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located on the west breakwater of a small craft basin about 1.5 km (1 mi) southwest of the Kanmonkyō Bridge. Accessible by walking the pier; it's only a few steps from the Shimonoseki Marine Science Museum. Site open, tower closed. JCG-5425.1; Admiralty M5352; NGA 9788.
Shimonoseki Kō (Hananocho Breakwater)
2008 (?). Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); red flash every 5 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is red. FOAL's page has photos, Trabas has a closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view and a distant street view. Located at the end of the breakwater for the Hananocho harbor. JCG-5427; Admiralty M5351; NGA 9794.
Hikoshima Range Front
2002. Active; focal plane 27 m (89 ft); continuous yellow light. 26 m (85 ft) round concrete tower with triangular topmark and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. A photo is available, a second photo shows both range lights, FOAL's page for the range has photos, Trabas has a closeup photo, the Coast Guard has a photo of the two range lighthouses, and Google has a street view and a good satellite view. This range replaced the Ganryu Shima lighthouse (see below). It guides westbound vessels in the reach under the Kanmonkyō Bridge and past the Shimonoseki waterfront. Located on the shore of the strait about 4 km (2.5 mi) southwest of the Kanmonkyō Bridge. Site and tower closed. JCG-5431.1; Admiralty M5349; NGA 9799.
Sotohama West Breakwater Light
Sotohama West Breakwater Light, Shimonoseki, August 2009
ex-Panoramio photo copyright shita; permission requested
Hikoshima Range Rear
2002. Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft); continuous yellow light. 13 m (46 ft) concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. A closeup photo is available, a second photo shows both range lights, Trabas has a photo, FOAL's page for the range has photos, the Coast Guard has a photo of the two range lighthouses, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a wooded bluff 90 m (300 ft) southwest of the front light. Site status unknown. JCG-5431.2; Admiralty M5349.1; NGA 9799.5.
#Ganryu Shima
Date unknown. Demolished in 2003. This was a 17 m (56 ft) round tower with lantern and gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. There's a photo of the small square concrete platform on which the lighthouse stood and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse became redundant with the activation of the Hikoshima range lights (previous entries), so it was demolished in January 2003. Located at the tip of a headland a short distance south of the Hikishima lighthouses. Site status unknown. ex-JCG-5431; ex-Admiralty F5350.
#Yamasokono Hana
1918. Demolished, probably in 2003. This 14 m (46 ft) structure consisted of a 5 m (17 ft) round stone tower extended by a square skeletal tower. Google's satellite view shows no trace of the lighthouse. The light was replaced by a green buoy. Located on the north edge of the strait about 2 km (1.25 mi) east of the Kanenotsuru lighthouse (next entry). Site open. ex-JCG-5435.
Kanenotsuru (Kanenoturu) Misaki (Cape Kinnogen)
1871 (relocated here in 1920). Inactive since 2000. 8.5 m (28 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery. The tower is unpainted; lantern painted white. A 2008 photo is at right, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with two 2008 photos, a 2016 photo is available, Kenichiro Asai has a 2020 view from the strait, and Google has a satellite view. This small lighthouse stands on the extreme southwestern tip of Honshū, on the inside of a right-angle bend in the Kanmon Strait. Ships rounding this point are guided now by buoys and by range lights on the south (Kyūshū) side of the strait, making this light obsolete. Of the four historic lighthouses that guided ships around this bend, this is the only one not demolished. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-805; ex-JCG-5441; ex-Admiralty F5342.
#Ōyamano Hana
1901. Demolished, probably in 2003. This was a 12.5 m (41 ft) concrete tower from which the lantern had been removed. Google has a street view and a satellite view of a small concrete pier on which the lighthouse stood. Located about 400 m (1/4 mi) northwest of the Kanenotsuru lighthouse (previous entry). Site open. ex-JCG-5460.
Fukuura Breakwater (Simonoseki Basin Breakwater)
1965. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); two green flashes every 8 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a closeup photo, FOAL's page has photos, Lighthouse Visit has a page with a photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located at the end of the breakwater of the Fukuura harbor on the west side of Hikoshima. This pier seems too narrow to be walked safely. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-816; JCG-5461; Admiralty M5339; NGA 9860.
Kanenotsuru Misaki Light
Kanenotsuru Misaki Light, Shimonoseki, August 2008
ex-Panoramio photo copyright aogaeru; permission requested
#Daiba (Daiga) Hana
1900. Inactive since 2009 and demolished, probably in 2010. This was an 11 m (36 ft) round brick tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with excellent photos taken in 2008 and Misty's Tour has a 2003 photo. Google's satellite view confirms that the lighthouse was removed, an unfortunate loss of a historic structure. This lighthouse marked the north side of the entrance to the Kanmon Strait from the Sea of Japan. It stood on an island, separated from the mainland by a narrow channel but accessible by bridge. ARLHS JPN-1607; ex-JCG-5530; ex-Admiralty M5335.6; ex-NGA 9920.
* Mutsure (Muture) Shima
1871 (Richard Henry Brunton). Active; focal plane 28 m (92 ft); white flash every 10 s. 11 m (36 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a semicircular keeper's cottage. The lighthouse is unpainted granite; lantern painted white. A photo is at right, the Coast Guard has a page for the lighthouse, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with good photos, Lighthouse Visit has a page with photos, FOAL's page has photos, Misty's Tour has a photo, Trabas has Jim Smith's photo, a 2023 closeup and a 2018 closeup are available, the Moji Coast Office has a photo, Ryokuya Midori has a fine 2019 street view, and Google has a satellite view. This historic light is one of the oldest active Japanese lighthouses, inaugurated on 21 November 1871. The emperor Meiji visited the lighthouse on 12 June 1872. In 2020 it was the first active lighthouse to be designated a National Important Cultural Property. The lighthouse marks the approach to Kanmon Strait, which is from the north and not from the west. Located at the northeastern point of Mutsure Shima about 3 km (2 mi) north of Daiba Hana. The island is accessible by passenger ferry, and the lighthouse is only a short walk from the harbor. Site status unknown. . ARLHS JPN-384; JCG-5537; Admiralty M5334; NGA 9944.

West Coast (Sea of Japan) Lighthouses
Kurumi Se (Kurumi No Se)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 12 m (39 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower with gallery, painted black with one red horizontal band. Trabas has a closeup photo, FOAL has photos (bottom of the page), and Bing has an indistinct satellite view of the reef. Located on a reef about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) west of Fukue. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JCG-0701; Admiralty M5330; NGA 1540.

Mutsure Shima Light, Shimonoseki, November 2020
Nippon Foundation photo
Futaoi (Hutaoi, Hutsaoi) Shima
1912. Active; focal plane 104 m (341 ft); three white flashes every 30 s. 15 m (49 ft) octagonal concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story concrete keeper's house. Entire lighthouse is white. A photo is at right, the Moji Coast Guard Office has a photo, Trabas has Jim Smith's photo, Yukihiro Matsumura has a 2022 photo, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Futaoi Shima is an inhabited island about 6 km (3.5 mi) off the mainland and about 16 km (10 mi) north northwest of Daiba Hana and the entrance to the Kanmon Strait. The light here is an important guide for ships approaching the strait, especially from the north. In 1951 the lighthouse was the first in Japan to be powered by wind, but it was converted to regular electric power after lines were brought to the station in 1967. Located at the southwestern tip of the island, which is accessible by ferry. Site status unknown. . ARLHS JPN-147; JCG-0704; Admiralty M5322; NGA 1548.
Yadama (Yatama) Kō
1963. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); two green flashes every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a closeup photo, FOAL's page has photos, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located at the end of the west breakwater of Yadama harbor, about 13 km (8 mi) southeast of Tsuno Shima. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1679; JCG-0707; Admiralty M7400; NGA 1560.
* Kottoi
1912. Active; focal plane 27 m (89 ft); white or red light depending on direction, occulting once every 8 s; in addition, a continuous white spotlight (JCG-0710) illuminates a stone beacon on a nearby reef. 6 m (20 ft) octagonal concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a closeup photo, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with several photos, Lighthouse Visit has a page with photos (second lighthouse on the page), FOAL also has photos, Benedict Lee has a closeup photo, another good closeup is available, the Coast Guard has a closeup, and Google has a satellite view. This is the westernmost lighthouse on the mainland of Honshū. Located on a bluff on the north side of the entrance to Kottoi, a small town about 35 km (22 mi) west of Nagato. An unmarked stairway leads from the waterfront to the lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. . ARLHS JPN-291; JCG-0709; Admiralty M7399; NGA 1564.
**** Tsuno (Tuno) Shima
1876 (Richard Henry Brunton). Active; focal plane 45 m (148 ft); white flash every 5 s. 30 m (98 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery. The tower is unpainted gray stone; lantern painted white. Adjoining keeper's house and other light station buildings. Yoshihide Fujitani's photo is at the top of this page, Trabas has a fine closeup photo, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with good photos, Lighthouse Visit has a page with photos, FOAL's page has photos, another good photo is available, the Coast Guard has a photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view of the station. This handsome lighthouse is the last of the lighthouses built in Japan by the British engineer Richard Henry Brunton. It marks the "top of the toe" of Honshū, a place where the trend of the coastline shifts from north-south to east-west. The island, Tsuno Shima, is connected to the mainland by an exceptionally scenic bridge. Located at the western tip of the island. Site open, tower open for climbing daily. . ARLHS JPN-693; JCG-0715; Admiralty M7397; NGA 1568.

Futaoi Shima Light, Shimonoseki, October 2015
Google Maps photo by Mission Specialist
* Kuzu Se
1972. Active; focal plane about 19 m (62 ft); continuous white spotlight. 4 m (13 ft) square stone tower, painted white. Lighthouse Visit's page for Tsuno Shima has photos (lower half of the page). Located at the base of the Tsuno Shima lighthouse, this light illuminates a reef 1.3 km (0.8 mi) north northwest. Site open, tower closed. JCG-0716.
* Motoyama
1982. Active; focal plane 60 m (197 ft); two continuous white spotlights illuminating the two ends of the Sano Se reef north of Tsunoshima. 13 m (43 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower carrying a large square lantern room and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. FOAL's page has photos, Lighthouse Visit also has a page with photos, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located near the northern point of the island Tsuno Shima. Site open (limited parking available), tower closed. JCG-0717 and 0718; NGA 1572.
Nagato Ise
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); white flash every 3 s. 13 m (43 ft) round tapered concrete tower with gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Entire lighthouse is white. A Coast Guard photo is at right, Lighthouse Visit has a page with photos, FOAL has photos, Trabas has a photo, and Google has a satellite view and a distant street view from the Tsuno Shima Bridge. Located on a skerry in the northern entrance to the strait separating Tsuno Shima from the mainland. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1642; JCG-0714; Admiralty M7396; NGA 1584.
Yuya Kō Agawa Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); green flash every 3 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post rising from a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a closeup photo, FOAL's page has photos, a 2021 photo is available, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located on a detached breakwater protecting Agawa harbor, on the south side of Yuya Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JCG-0720; Admiralty M7395.4; NGA 1576.
Yuya Kō Awano Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green flash every 3 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a closeup photo, FOAL's page has photos, S. Katsuragi has a 2020 photo, and Google has a satellite view and a distant street view. Located on a detached breakwater protecting Awano harbor, on the south side of Yuya Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JCG-0721; Admiralty M7395.6; NGA 1580.
 

Nagato Ise Light, Shimonoseki
Moji Coast Guard Office photo
 

North Coast (Senzaki Coast Guard District) Lighthouses

Nagato City Lighthouses
Hon Yuya (Funa Se)
1976. Active; focal plane 95 m (312 ft); continuous white spotlight. The light illuminates the Funa Se reef about 800 m (1/2 mi) south southwest. 11 m (36 ft) concrete post with a large, square lantern room. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a closeup photo, FOAL also has photos (top of the page), and Google has a satellite view and a street view through heavy vegetation. Erroneously listed as "Yuya Ko" in NGA. Located on the north side of Yuya Bay about 1 km (0.6 mi) east of the Tawara Shima lighthouse (next entry). Accessible by road but the light is hard to find and there's no parking. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-766; JCG-0724; Admiralty M7394.2; NGA 1596.
Yuya Kō (Tawara Shima, Yuya Wan)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 39 m (128 ft); white light occulting twice every 10 s; also a continuous white spotlight (JCG-0719.1) illuminates a nearby reef. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower rising from a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Lighthouse Visit has a page with photos, FOAL also has photos (bottom of the page), Trabas has a photo, a closeup photo is available, the Coast Guard has a page with a closeup photo (also seen at the top of this page), and Google has a satellite view and a distant street view. The lighthouse stands at the summit of a small island (Tawara Shima) sheltering Yuya harbor. The island is connected tenuously to the mainland by a series of stepping stones that can be crossed at low tide, but some local knowledge is probably needed to do this safely. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1683; JCG-0719; Admiralty M7394; NGA 1600.
* Nagato Kawajiri (Kawaziri) Misaki (1?)
1929. Active; focal plane 70 m (230 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post rising from a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. A photo is at right, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with photos, FOAL also has photos, the Coast Guard also has a page with a photo, a 2022 photo is available, Trabas has a distant view, and Google has a satellite view. Despite its small size, this is an important light for navigation along this dangerous coast. An Admiralty Notice to Mariners suggests this lighthouse may have been replaced in 2017; new photos are needed. Located on a sharp headland about 15 km (9 mi) west northwest of Nagato. Accessible by a very scenic hiking trail; parking is available at the trailhead. Site open, tower closed. Site manager: Kita-Nagato Kaigan Quasi-National Park. . ARLHS JPN-395; JCG-0725; Admiralty M7392; NGA 1604.
Kawaziri Misaki Light
Nagato Kawaziri Misaki Light, Nagato, August 2010
ex-Panoramio Creative Commons photo by gata rou (ガタロー)
* Kawajiri Kō
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); red flash every 3 s. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post rising from a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is red. Trabas has a closeup photo, FOAL's page for Kawajiri has photos and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located on the main breakwater of Kawajiri harbor, on the east side of the Kawajiri peninsula. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1624; JCG-0726; Admiralty M7390.5; NGA 1616.
* Kiwado Kō
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post rising from a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is red. Trabas has a closeup photo, Lighthouse Visit has a photo, and Google has a satellite view and a very distant street view. Located at the end of the main breakwater at Kiwado, a small port on Fukawa Bay. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1627; JCG-0739; Admiralty M7389.5; NGA 1624.
Ima Misaki
1959. Active; focal plane 75 m (246 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 7 m (23 ft) concrete post rising from a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard has a page with a photo, Lighthouse Visit has a page with a photo, FOAL's page has closeup photos, a 2021 photo and another photo are available, Trabas has a very distant view, and Google has a satellite view. Accessible, but even the FOAL webmaster needed local guidance to find the path to this light. Located on a promontory marking the west side of the entrance to Nagato Wan (bay). Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-162; JCG-0738; Admiralty M7388; NGA 1620.
Shiobana (Siobana, Ushiobata) Hana (2)
Date unknown (station established 1894). Active; focal plane 104 m (341 ft); white light, 4 s on, 4 s off. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower rising from a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard has a page for the lighthouse including the photo at right, Trabas has a drone view, Tomokazu Yasuda has a 2022 photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a high promontory jutting into the Sea of Japan at the northeast end of Omi Shima, about 13 km (8 mi) northeast of Nagato. Accessible by a hiking trail, but local knowledge will be needed. Site open, tower closed. . ARLHS JPN-571; JCG-0744; Admiralty M7377; NGA 1628.
Senzaki Kō Outer No. 1 Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); continuous green light with a more intense flash every 4 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) concrete post attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located at the north end of the northern detached breakwater on the east side of Senzaki harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1653; JCG-0752; Admiralty M7381.8; NGA 1656.
Shiobana Hana Light
Shiobana Hana Light, Nagato
Japanese Coast Guard Senzaki Office photo
Senzaki Kō Outer No. 2 Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); continuous red light with two more intense flashes every 8 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) concrete post attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is red. Trabas has a photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located at the south end of the southern detached breakwater on the east side of Senzaki harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1654; JCG-0753; Admiralty M7381.9; NGA 1660.
* Matsushima
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 9.5 m (31 ft); continuous white spotlight illuminating a nearby reef. 10 m (33 ft) square cylindrical white concrete tower; the light is shown through a square window. Trabas has a closeup, FOAL also has photos (lower half of the page), and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located on a sharp point of land on the south side of Senzaki Bay about 8 km (5 mi) east of Nagato. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. JCG-0755; Admiralty M7386.5.

Hagi City: Ai Shima Lighthouse
Hagi Ai Shima
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 56 m (184 ft); two white flashes every 21 s. 10 m (33 ft) semicircular cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. Junichi Ishikawa's 2023 photo is at right, Tomio Tatsumi has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located near the northern tip of Ai Shima (also called Ainoshima), a small island about 15 km (9 mi) northwest of Hagi. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. JCG-0756; Admiralty M7378; NGA 1632.

Hagi City: Hagi Harbor Lighthouse
* Tamae Kō
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); two red flashes every 8 s; in addition, a continuous white spotlight (JCG-0760) illuminates the breakwater on the other side of the harbor entrance. 9.5 m (31 ft) concrete post attached to a square 1-story equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is red. Trabas has a photo, FOAL's page has closeup photos, Tavis Allen has a photo, and Google has a distant street view and an indistinct satellite view. Located on a rock on the west side of the entrance to the Hashimoto River in Tamae, on the east side of Hagi City. Site open (may not be accessible at high tide), tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1665; Admiralty M7365; JCG-0759; NGA 1688.

Hagi Ai Shima Light, Hagi, August 2023
Google Maps photo by Junichi Ishikawa
#Hagi Kō Obata Hotō Breakwater (Fishery Harbor East Breakwater)
Date unknown. Removed aound 2020. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post rising from a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a closeup photo and FOAL has 2017 photos (second row), but Google's distant 2023 street view and satellite view confirm the removal. Located at the end of an inner breakwater at Hagi harbor. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-1612; JCG-0765; ex-Admiralty M7363.4 (?); NGA 1700.
#Hagi Kō Uraoki Breakwater
Date unknown. Removed in 2019. This was an 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post rising from a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is red. FOAL has photos (bottom of the page) but Google's satellite view and street view confirm the removal. Site status unknown. ex-JCG-0766.5; ex-Admiralty M7362.5; NGA 1722.
Hagi Kō (Kistsune Shima)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); white flash every 5 s. 7 m (23 ft) white concrete post with gallery rising from a round concrete equipment shelter. Trabas has a photo, Lighthouse Visit has a page with a photo (first lighthouse on the page), FOAL has photos (top of the page), another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on Kistsune Shima, which is not an island but a peninsula connected to the north end of Hagi by a narrow isthmus. The lighthouse is behind the campus of a small college, which has been closed in recent years. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-1626; JCG-0767; Admiralty M7362; NGA 1696.
* Toraga Saki
1959. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post rising from a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. A photo is at right, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with photos, Lighthouse Visit also has a page with photos, FOAL's page has photos, Trabas has a closeup, another closeup is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located in the Tsubaki Forest preserve at the tip of a peninsula protecting the north side of Hagi Wan. Accessible by a short walk. Site open, tower closed. . ARLHS JPN-832; JCG-0771; Admiralty M7361; NGA 1692.
Toraga Saki Light
Toraga Saki Light, Hagi, October 2007
ex-Panoramio photo copyright katsudon; used by permission

Abu Town Lighthouse
Abu is an independent town surrounded by Hagi City.

Ōhira Se
1976. Active; focal plane 140 m (459 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 13 m (43 ft) concrete post attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard has a page for the lighthouse, Trabas has a closeup photo, Lighthouse Visit has a page with good photos, FOAL's page also has photos, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a high promontory in a wild area about 8 km (5 mi) northwest of Abu. Accessible by walking a service road, but local knowledge is required to find this lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. JCG-0775; Admiralty M7360.6; NGA 1736.

Hagi City: Susa and Ezaki Lighthouses
Susa Kō (Tenjin Shima)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 52 m (171 ft); white flash every 3 s. 7.5 m (25 ft) concrete post attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. FOAL has a distant view (bottom of the page), Trabas also has a distant view, and Google has a satellite view. Located on an island in the entrance to Susa Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. JCG-0777; Admiralty M7360; NGA 1780.
Kōyama Misaki South
1985. Active; focal plane 115 m (377 ft); continuous white spotlight illuminating a shoal 930 m (0.58 mi) to the west. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with a large concrete lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with several good photos, Trabas has a closeup, FOAL has photos (top of the page), Lighthouse Visit also has a page with photos, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Kōyama Misaki is a prominent cape about 20 km (13 mi) west of Masuda. Located atop a summit on the south side of the cape, about 1 km (0.6 mi) southwest of the main lighthouse (next entry). Site status unknown, but the tower can be seen from the road leading to the Koyama Misaki lighthouse. JCG-0778.5; Admiralty M7359.5.
* Kōyama Misaki
1951. Active; focal plane 93 m (305 ft); white flash every 15 s. 12 m (39 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 1-story concrete keeper's house. Entire lighthouse is white. Yukihiro Matsumura's photo is at right, the Coast Guard has a page with a good photo, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with excellent photos, Lighthouse Visit also has a page with photos (lower half of the page), Trabas has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the tip of Kōyama Misaki, about 20 km (13 mi) west of Masuda. Accessible by a narrow, twisting road (reported open to the public) followed by a short hike up the service road to the lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. . ARLHS JPN-277; JCG-0779; Admiralty M7359; NGA 1784.
Esaki (Ezaki) Kō (Ryukin Saki)
1959. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); white light occulting once every 8 s. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower with gallery rising from a round 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a photo, FOAL's page has photos (lower half of the page), Lighthouse Visit has a page with photos (last lighthouse on the page), another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the east side of the entrance to a fjord leading to the harbor of Ezaki. Accessible by a hiking trail. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1608; JCG-0782; Admiralty M7358; NGA 1788.

Kōyama Misaki Light, Hagi, April 2021
Instagram photo byy Yukihiro Matsumura

Hagi City: Mishima Lighthouses
Mishima (Mi Shima) is a small island located in the Sea of Japan about 50 km (30 mi) northwest of Hagi. The island is famous for its cattle, which produce the highly prized and very expensive Mishima beef. The island is accessible by ferry from Hagi.

Mishima East Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); continuous red light with a more intense flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with a flared top attached to a small equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is red. A 2021 photo is available, the light is the left distance in Takahiro Miyake's photo and Google has a satellite view. The Admiralty and NGA misidentify this as the west breakwater light. Located on the detached east breakwater of Mishima harbor, at the south end of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1632; JCG-0732; Admiralty M7374; NGA 1758.
Mishima West Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); two white flashes every 8 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, flared at the top, attached to a small equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. A 2021 photo is available, Takahiro Miyake has a photo and Google has a satellite view. NGA misidentifies this as the east breakwater light. Located on the detached west breakwater of Mishima harbor, at the south end of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-1634; JCG-0729.5; Admiralty M7372.4; NGA 1754.
* Mishima (South)
1934. Active; focal plane 81 m (266 ft); white flash every 4 s. 14 m (46 ft) concrete post rising from a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. An adjoining 1-story building, perhaps a former keeper's house, appears to house communications equipment. The Coast Guard has a page for the lighthouse, Chie Date has a 2021 photo, a 2018 closeup photo is available, and Google has a satellite view of the station. Located on heights at the south end of the island west of harbor. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-346; JCG-0729; Admiralty M7370; NGA 1748.
* Mishima North
1963. Active; focal plane 57 m (187 ft); two white flashes every 30 s. 14 m (46 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 2-story concrete equipment building. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard has a page for the lighthouse including the photo at right, a 2022 photo is available, Masahiro Nakano has a 2017 photo, Takashi Sugiyama has a street view, and Google has a satellite view of the station. Located at the north end of the island. Site open, tower closed. . ARLHS JPN-1633; JCG-0737; Admiralty M7368; NGA 1764.
Utsu Kō Owari Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 14 m (46 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with a flared top attached to a small equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is red. A 2021 photo is available and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the main breakwater of the Utsu port on the northeast coast of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JCG-0736; Admiralty M7369.6; NGA 1760.

Mishima North Light
Japanese Coast Guard Seventh Region photo

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Shimane | East: Eastern Yamaguchi | South: Kitakyūshū Area

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Posted January 25, 2007. Checked and revised November 9, 2023. Lighthouses: 52. Site copyright 2023 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.