Lighthouses of Japan: Amakusa Islands

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), 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.

Located at the southwestern end of the Japanese archipelago, the island of Kyūshū is divided into seven prefectures. This page includes lighthouses in the Amakusa Islands of Kumamoto Prefecture. The Amakusa-Shotō, as it is called in Japanese, includes a pair of large and well-populated islands totaling about 42 km (26 mi) long and 21 km (13 mi) wide, separated from the mainland portion of Kumamoto Prefecture by Yatsushiro Bay. At Hondo a narrow channel separates the two large islands, Kami Shima to the northeast and Shimo Shima to the southwest. The islands have a total population of about 120,000 and are accessible from the mainland by a series of bridges on highway 266.

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. There is at least one Coast Guard Section Office in each prefecture, often two or more. The Amakusa Islands lighthouses are maintained by the Coast Guard Office at Kumamoto City.

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 - Kumamoto
This site covers most of the major Japanese lighthouses.
Our Lighthouses of Amakusa
A comprehensive collection of photos of Amakusa Islands lighthouses.
Lighthouse of Japan - Kumamoto
Another comprehensive site, in Japanese.
Form of a Lighthouse - Kumamoto
Another site with many photos of Japanese lighthouses, cited below as FOAL.
Lighthouse Visits
This site has photos for many lighthouses in this area.
Region Ten Lighthouses
Information and photos posted by the Tenth Coast Guard Region office, which is responsible for Kumamoto Prefecture.
Kumamoto Prefecture Lighthouses
Information posted by the Kumamoto Coast Guard Office. The office also has a gallery of photos.
Online List of Lights - Japan
Photos by various photographers posted by Alexander Trabas.
Navionics Charts
Navigation chart information for the islands.


Yu Shima Light, Kami-Amakusa, September 2023
Google Maps photo by Edwin Wang

Kami-Amakusa City Lighthouses

The metropolitan city of Kami-Amakusa (Upper Amakusa) includes the island of Ōyano Shima and the eastern portion of Kami Shima, along with smaller neighboring islands. It was created in 2004 by merging the towns of Himedo, Matsushima, Ōyano, and Ryūgatake. The total population is about 28,000.

Ariake Bay Lighthouse
* Yu Shima
1916. Active; focal plane 39 m (128 ft); white flash every 3 s. 11.5 m (38 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. Edwin Wang's 2023 photo is at the top of this page, Coast Guard has a photo and a page for the lighthouse, Our Lighthouses has a page with good photos, another good photo is available, FOAL has good photos at the bottom of the page, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Yu Shima is an island about 1 km (0.6 mi) in diameter in the middle of Ariake Bay about 10 km (6 mi) west of Kami-Amakusa. The island is inhabited and is accessible by passenger ferry service from Misumi. The lighthouse is located on the western tip of the island. Site open, tower closed. . ARLHS JPN-764; JCG-6375; Admiralty M5156; NGA 11528.

Ōyano Shima Lighthouses
Ōyano Shima is linked to the mainland by two bridges and to Kami Shima by a substantial bridge.
* Misumi
1890. Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); two white flashes every 7 s. 6.5 m (21 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery rising from a 1-story concrete equipment building. Entire lighthouse is white. 4th order (?) Fresnel lens in use. A 2022 photo is at right, the Coast Guard has a photo , Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with good photos, Trabas has a photo, FOAL has excellent photos, Our Lighthouses has a page with photos, and a closeup photo is available, but trees partially hide the lighthouse in Google's satellite view. The lighthouse was renovated in 1952. Located on a promontory on the northern tip of Ōyano Shima and the west side of the entrance to Misumi Strait from Ariake Bay, about 2 km (1.2 mi) northwest of Misumi. Accessible by a popular hiking trail from the Iwaya fishing port. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-359; JCG-6428; Admiralty M5160; NGA 11544.
Higo Kabuto Shima
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); white flash every 3 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) round concrete tower centered on a square 1-story concrete equipment building. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a photo, FOAL has photos and Google has a satellite view and a distant street view. Located on a rocky reef in the narrow passage between Ōyano Shima and Iwajima. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6437; Admiralty M5165; NGA 11560.
Satuma Se
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower mounted on a round stone pier. Lighthouse painted black with one red horizontal band. Trabas has a photo, S. Katsuragi has a 2020 photo, FOAL has good photos near the bottom of the page and Google has a distant satellite view. Located on an isolated reef (hidden at high tide) about 1.5 km (1 mi) east of Yanagi. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6447; Admiralty M5141.4; NGA 11516.
* Yanagi Kō
1976. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green light, 2 s on, 2 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 photo, FOAL has a closeup photo and Google has a satellite view and a distant street view. Located at the end of the west breakwater of Yanagi harbor, at the south end of Ōyano Shima. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2114; JCG-6443; Admiralty M5141.5; NGA 11520.

Misumi Light, Kami-Amakusa, March 2022
Instagram photo by peugeot208de

Matsushima Lighthouses
The lighthouses in the next three groups are on the Yatsushiro Bay (east) coast of Kami Shima in the former towns of Matsushima, Himedo, and Ryūgatake.

#Amura Kō
1979. Removed in 2012 (still listed by NGA). This was an 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse was red. Google's satellite view confirms that the lighthouse was removed after deactivation. Formerly located at the end of the west breakwater of Amura harbor, at the north end of Matsushima. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2085; ex-JCG-6450; ex-Admiralty M5141.2; NGA 11316.
* Shimo (Simo) Utono Hana
1955. Active; focal plane 45 m (148 ft); two white flashes every 6 s; also a continuous white spotlight (JCG-6449) illuminates a nearby reef. 11 m (36 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. A photo is at right, Coast Guard has a page with a photo, Our Lighthouses has a page with good photos, FOAL's page also has good photos, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with several photos, Trabas has a closeup photo, Jun Kino has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. The design details of this lighthouse were inspired by the design of a nearby Christian church. A 2017 photo shows how the lighthouse is dwarfed by a giant tower carrying electric power to the island. Located at the northeastern tip of Amakusa Kami Shima. Accessible by road; parking is available. Site open, tower closed. . ARLHS JPN-566; JCG-6448; Admiralty M5141; NGA 11312.

Himedo Lighthouses
Ushi (Use) Se
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12.5 m (41 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Tower is black with one red horizontal band. Trabas has a photo, FOAL has photos, S. Katsuragi has a 2020 closeup, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef off Muta harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6522; Admiralty M5140.8; NGA 11300.
* Himedo Kō
1977. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 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 photo, FOAL's page has good photos and Google has a satellite view and a distant street view. Located at the end of the south breakwater of Himedo harbor, in the lee of Uryū Saki. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2094; JCG-6520; Adsmiralty M5140.5; NGA 11292.

Shimo Utono Hana Light, Kami-Amakusa, January 2021
Instagram photo by maronkusu
Uryū Saki
1968. Active; focal plane 37 m (121 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 10.5 m (35 ft) round concrete tower attached to a small 1-story equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with a closeup photo, FOAL's page also has closeup photos, Our Lighthouse has a page with photos, Trabas has a distant view, a 2023 photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a sharp promontory on the northeast coast of Amakusa Kami Shima. Site open but not easy to locate; tower closed. ARLHS JPN-723; JCG-6519; Admiralty M5140.4; NGA 11288.

Ryūgatake Lighthouses
#Higo Wada Saki
1962. Inactive since 2008. 7.5 m (25 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower attached to a small 1-story equipment room. Entire lighthouse was white. Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with photos and Google has a satellite view. It appears that the lighthouse was demolished. Located on a promontory marking a narrow passage between Amakusa Kami Shima and Hino Shima, a smaller island. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-113; ex-JCG-6518; ex-Admiralty M5140; ex-NGA 11280.
* Hino Shima Kō
1981. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); two green flashes every 6 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a photo, FOAL has a page for the light and Google has a satellite view and a distant street view. Located at the end of the north (main) breakwater of Hino Shima, on the west end of the island. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6501; Admiralty M5139.5; NGA 11276.5.
* Hino Shima
1959. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); two red flashes every 6 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, FOAL's page has closeup photos, S. Katsuragi has a 2020 closeup photo, and Google has a closeup street view and a satellite view. Located at the tip of a promontory marking the south entrance to the passage between Amakusa Kami Shima and Hino Shima. Site open, tower closed. . ARLHS JPN-2095; JCG-6502; Admiralty M5139; NGA 11276.
* Matsuga Hana
1985. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); continuous white spotlight. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, covered with white tile. Trabas has a photo, FOAL has photos (lower half of the page), Our Lighthouses has a page with excellent photos, S. Katsuragi has a 2020 closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view. The tower carries a white spotlight that illuminates a beacon on a shoal to the southeast. The tower is close to a road and there is parking and a picnic table nearby. Located on a promontory on the east side of east of Ōdo. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6517.5; Admiralty M5138.9; NGA 11269.
Karaziro (Karajiro) Hana
1972. Active; focal plane 32 m (105 ft); white flash every 3 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) round bottle-shaped concrete tower with gallery, attached to a 1-story equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. A photo is at right, the Coast Guard has a photo, Trabas has a photo, FOAL has a good page for the lighthouse, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with an excellent photo, Our Lighthouses also has a page with photos, S. Katsuragi has a 2020 closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a promontory projecting sharply southward from the eastern coast of Amakusa Kami Shima. Accessible but local guidance will be needed. Site open, tower closed. . ARLHS JPN-231; JCG-6517; Admiralty M5138.8; NGA 11268.
* Odō (Daido) Kō
1973. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); red light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is red. Trabas has a photo, FOAL has a page for the light and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located at the end of the south breakwater of Odo harbor, in the lee of Karaziro Hana. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2087; JCG-6516; Admiralty M5138.5; NGA 11260.

Karaziro Hana Light, Kami-Amakusa, May 2021
Instagram photo by snowkingdom0717

Amakusa City and Reihoku Town Lighthouses

The metropolitan city of Amakusa includes the western portion of Kami Shima and most of Shimo Shima. It was created in 2006 by merging the cities of Hondo and Ushibuka with the towns of Amakusa, Ariake, Goshoura, Itsuwa, Kawaura, Kuratake, Shinwa and Sumoto. The town of Reihoku, at the northwestern corner of Shimo Shima, remains outside the city. Amakusa City has a population of about 85,000.

Goshoura Shima Lighthouses
Araguchi (Arakuchi, Goshoura) Kō
1965. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); continuous red light with a more intense flash every 6 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is red. Trabas has a distant view and Google has a satellite view and a distant street view. Located at the end of the breakwater of Araguchi harbor at the north end of Goshoura (Goshonoura) Shima, an island in Yatsushiro Bay off the southeast coast of Amakusa Kami Shima. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2086; JCG-6504; Admiralty M5137.6; NGA 11256.
Gannoshiri (Ganno Shiri, Gannosiri, Nosaba Saki)
1968. Active; focal plane 46 m (151 ft); white flash every 4 s. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower, covered with tiles colored in red and white horizontal bands. (a pattern very unusual for southern Japan). S. Katsuragi's 2020 photo is at right and Google has a sea view and a satellite view. The lighthouse marks a sharp turn in the main ship channel of Yatsushiro Bay. Located on Nosaba Saki, the southwestern tip of Goshoura Shima. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-067; JCG-6507; Admiralty M5137.5; NGA 11244.

Gannoshiri Light,Amakusa, February 2020
Google Maps photo by S. Katsuragi

Kami Shima South Coast Lighthouses
* Tanasoko Kō (Akebono Breakwater)
1971. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); green flash every 4 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a photo, FOAL has a page for the light and Google has a distant street view and a satellite view. Located at the end of the south breakwater of Tanasoko harbor. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2111; JCG-6515; Admiralty M5155.4; ex-NGA 11252.
* Miyata Kō
1982. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); green flash every 4 s. 9 m (30 ft) concrete post attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. THe Coast Guard has a photo, Trabas has a photo, FOAL has photos (bottom of the page), and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located at the end of the west breakwater of Miyata harbor. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6512; Admiralty M5155.2.
* Sumoto Kō
1982. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); green flash every 4 s. 9 m (30 ft) concrete post attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a photo, FOAL has a page for the light and Google has a street view and a distant satellite view. Located at the end of the west breakwater of Sumoto harbor. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6509; Admiralty M5138.4; NGA 11412.
Yoko Shima
1969. Active; focal plane 34 m (112 ft); continuous white light with a more intense flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a distant view and Google has a heavily shadowed satellite view. The lighthouse marks the entrance to Takahama Bay, a sheltered sound between Kami-Amakusa and Shimo-Amakusa. Located at the northern tip of the island of Yoko Shima. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-756; JCG-6494; Admiralty M5154; NGA 11438.
Kamichizuka (Kami-Tizuka) Shima
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower mounted on a round concrete pier. Entire lighthouse is red. Trabas has a closeup photo, FOAL has a photo (bottom of the page), S. Katsuragi has a 2020 photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the western tip of a shoal on the approach to the narrow passage between the islands of Kami Shima and Shimo Shima. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6508; Admiralty M5150.8; NGA 11500.
Hondo Seto
1983. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 7.5 m (25 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower supported by three concrete piles. Entire lighthouse is red. S. Katsuragi's photo is at right, Trabas has a photo, FOAL has a good page for the light, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located at a right-angled bend of the narrow passage between the islands of Kami Shima and Shimo Shima. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6457.5; Admiralty M5152.5; NGA 11494.

Hondo Seto Light, Kami-Amakusa, February 2024
Google Maps photo by S. Katsuragi

Shimo Shima East Coast Lighthouses
Goshiki Shima
1963. Active; focal plane 8.5 m (28 ft); green flash every 3 s. 7 m (23 ft) round concrete tower mounted on a concrete pier. Entire lighthouse is green. S. Katsuragi has a 2024 photo, FOAL has a photo (second row on the page), Trabas has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the northeastern end of a shoal on the west side of the entrance to the narrow passage between the islands of Kami Shima and Shimo Shima. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6458; Admiralty M5153; NGA 11496.
* Otao (Shinwa) Kō
1987. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green flash every 3 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a photo, FOAL has a page for the light and Google has a distant street view and a satellite view. Located at the end of the south breakwater of Otao harbor, in the town of Shinwa in northeastern Shimo Shima. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2105; JCG-6495; Admiralty M5129.4; NGA 11404.
Naga Se
1977. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); two red flashes, one short and one long, every 8 s. 7.5 m (25 ft) round concrete tower with double gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Entire lighthouse is red. S. Katsuragi's photo is at right, the Coast Guard has a photo, Trabas has a photo, FOAL has photos (bottom of the page), and Google has a satellite view. Located about 400 m (1/4 mi) off Kyunan harbor, marking the entrance to Miyanokawachi Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6497; Admiralty M5129.3; NGA 11396.
* Nakata Kō
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) tapered square skeletal tower painted white. Our Lighthouses has another page for the light, Trabas has a photo, Wanz Kogata has a view from the sea, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located on the breakwater at Nakata, on the west side of Miyanokawachi Bay. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6498; Admiralty M5129.2; NGA 11400.

Naga Se Light, Amakusa, September 2021
Google Maps photo by S. Katsuragi
* Funatsu Kō (Miyana Kawachi)
1980. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); red 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 red. Trabas has a closeup photo, FOAL has a page for the light and Google has a distant street view and a satellite view. Located at the end of the north breakwater of Funatsu harbor, in the town of Kawaura in eastern Shimo Shima. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6499; Admiralty M5129.25; NGA 11380.
Kajiki Saki
1975. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); white flash every 3 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) round white concrete tower with gallery. Our Lighthouses has a page with good photos, FOAL has a page for the light, Trabas has a drone view, S. Katsuragi has a 2020 photo, and Google has a satellite view of the cape. Located on a promontory on the northeast coast of Shimo-Amakusa. This lighthouse is a sibling of the 1972 Karaziro Hana lighthouse pictured above. The Lighthouse of Japan webmaster says he got lost several times looking for this lighthouse, even though he had been there once before. Located on a prominent cape opposite the island of Ubushima. Site open if you can find it, tower closed. . JCG-6493; Admiralty M5129.1; NGA 11372.
* Kamihira Kō
1987. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green flash every 3 s. 8 m (26 ft) concrete post attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a closeup photo, FOAL has a page for the lighthouse, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located at the end of the south breakwater of Kamihira harbor. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2096; JCG-6492; Admiralty M5129.15; NGA 11376.
Kamimate Shima
1897. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); two flashes every 5 s, white or red depending on direction. 6.5 m (21 ft) round cylindrical stone tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. A platform supported by four posts carrying the solar panels has been attached to the tower. A Coast Guard photo is at right, Chie Ikeda has a 2023 photo, Our Lighthouses has a page with photos, FOAL's page has distant photos, the Coast Guard has an aerial photo, Trabas has a view from the sea, and Google has a satellite view. This is one of five lighthouses built shortly after Japan took control of Taiwan (1895), leading to a great increase in shipping from Kyūshū to Taiwan. Today this light and the Mate Shima light (see above) frame a narrow passage on the east side of Amakusa Shimo Shima. Located on a small island about 10 km (6 mi) northeast of Ushibuka. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2044; JCG-6491; Admiralty M5128; NGA 11384.
Kamimate Shima Light
Kamimate Shima Light, Amakusa
Japanese Coast Guard Tenth Region photo

Ushibuka Lighthouses
These lighthouses are in or near the former city of Ushibuka at the southern end of Shimo Shima.
To Shima
1897. Active; focal plane 47.5 m (156 ft); white flash every 3 s. 6.5 m (21 ft) round cylindrical stone tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a tiny 1-story stone building. Entire lighthouse painted white. A photo is at right, Our Lighthouses has a page with aerial photos, FOAL's page has distant views, Trabas has a view from the sea, and Google has a satellite view. Another in the chain of lighthouses built shortly after Japan took control of Taiwan (see previous entry). Keepers staffed this light until 1959; apparently there was a keeper's cottage next to the lighthouse. Located on the southern point of To Shima, an island in the middle of Nagashima Strait, the entrance to Yatsushiro Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. . ARLHS JPN-829; JCG-6489; Admiralty M5106; NGA 11192.
Ushibuka Kō North (Detached) Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); red flash every 3 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, FOAL's page has photos, and Google has a distant street view and a satellite view. Located at the end of the north breakwater of the eastern harbor of Ushibuka. Accessible only by boat (the breakwater is detached from the shore). Site open, tower closed. JCG-6484; Admiralty M5110.2; NGA 11328.
* Ushibuka Kō (Nagateno)
1950. Active; focal plane 86 m (282 ft); two white flashes every 7 s. 11 m (36 ft) concrete post rising from a semicircular 1-story concrete equipment room. Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with photos, FOAL's page has closeup photos, Our Lighthouses also has a page with photos, Trabas has a distant view, and Google has a satellite view. A March 2022 Instagram photo shows this light under restoration. Located on a woody point at the western entrance to Ushibuka harbor. Accessible by a trail beginning near a tunnel entrance. Site open, tower closed. . JCG-6480; Admiralty M5108; NGA 11356.
* Ushibuka Minato Kō
1986. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 9.5 m (31 ft) concrete post attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is red. Trabas has a photo, FOAL's page has photos and Google has a satellite view and a very distant street view. Located at the end of the south breakwater of the southwestern harbor of Ushibuka, also called the "spring harbor.". Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6478.3; Admiralty M5118; NGA 11344.

To Shima Light, Amakusa, January 2023
Instagram photo by hana_88_1022
Ushibuka Kuroshima Breakwater (Suguchi Ura)
1983. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); two red flashes every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower, flared at the top. Entire lighthouse is red. Trabas has a photo, FOAL's page has photos and Google has a satellite view and a very distant street view. Located at the end of the south breakwater of the main western harbor of Ushibuka. Accessible only by boat (the breakwater is detached from the shore). Site open, tower closed. JCG-6478.5; Admiralty M5117; NGA 11352.
Ushibuka West Outer Breakwater
1983. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); two green flashes every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower, flared at the top. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a photo, FOAL's page has photos and Google has a satellite view. Located at the south end of the detached outer breakwater of the main western harbor of Ushibuka. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6478.4; Admiralty M5119; NGA 11354.
Ushibuka Ōshima
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 69 m (226 ft); white flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post rising from a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. FOAL's page has a distant view, Trabas has a very distant view, and Google has a satellite view. Located atop a forested island about 4 km (2.5 mi) west of the Ushibuka west harbor entrance. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. JCG-6475; Admiralty M5143.6; NGA 11340.

Shimo Shima West Coast Lighthouses
* Sakitsu Ura (Sakitsu Kō)
1970. Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 9.5 m (31 ft) concrete post rising from a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Jun Matsumoto's 2018 photo is at right, Katsuhiko Fujita has a 2021 photo, Our Lighthouses has a page with photos, Trabas has a photo, FOAL has a page for the light, and Google has a closeup street view and a satellite view. Located on the north side of Sakitsu Sound, a fjord-like bay on the west side of Shimo Shima. Accessible by road, but no parking provided. Site open, tower closed. . ARLHS JPN-017; JCG-6473; Admiralty M5143.8; NGA 11416.
Ōe (Ōye) Kō
1956. Active; focal plane 80 m (262 ft); white light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 6.5 m (21 ft) 2-story square concrete tower with gallery. The light is displayed from a short mast atop the gallery; a spotlight (JCG-6470) is shown on a nearby reef through a square 2nd-story window. FOAL's page has closeup photos, Lighthouse of Japan has a page with photos, Our Lighthouses also has a page with photos, Trabas has a drone view, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a promontory on the west side of the entrance to Ōe Kō, about 1.5 km (1 mi) north of the entrance to Sakitsu Sound. Not easy to find; local guidance is probably required. Site open, tower closed. . ARLHS JPN-450; JCG-6469; Admiralty M5144; NGA 11424.

Sakitsu Ura Light, Amakusa, March 2018
Google Maps photo by Jun Matsumoto
* Takahama
1971. Active; focal plane 65 m (213 ft); white flash every 4 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) round concrete tower attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard has a page for the lighthouse, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with photos, Our Lighthouses also has a page with photos, FOAL has a page for the light, Trabas has a photo, Hisashi Fukuda has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a headland on the north side of the entrance to Takahama harbor, on the west coast of Shimo Shima. The lighthouse is behind a Buddhist shrine at the top of the headland in Jyusanbutsu Park; parking is provided nearby. Site open, tower closed. . ARLHS JPN-614; JCG-6467; Admiralty M5144.5; NGA 11436.
* Higo Shimoda Kō
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); continuous red light with a more intense flash every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) concrete post attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is red. Trabas has a photo, FOAL has a page for the light and Google has a satellite view and a distant street view. Located at the end of the main breakwater of Shimoda, a small harbor on the west coast of Shimo Shima. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6466; Admiralty M5145; NGA 11440.

Reihoku Town Lighthouse
* Sikizaki (Shikizaki) Misaki
1951. Active; focal plane 56 m (184 ft); white flash every 4 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) round concrete tower attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Tomokazu Yasuda has the 2022 photo seen at right, the Coast Guard has a page for the lighthouse including a closeup, FOAL has a page for the light, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a page with good photos, Our Lighthouses also has a page with photos, Trabas has a drone view, Hiroyuki Yamaguchi has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. Sikizaki, a club-shaped peninsula projecting from the northwest corner of Shimo Shima, is included in Unzen-Amakusa National Park. A popular observation platform is next to the lighthouse. Located at the western tip of the peninsula. Accessible by a short walk; parking is provided. Site open, tower closed. . ARLHS JPN-557; JCG-6463; Admiralty M5146; NGA 11448.

Sikizaki Misaki Light, Reihoku, October 2022
Google Maps photo by Tomokazu Yasuda

Shimo Shima North Coast Lighthouses
Nanatsu Se
1967. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); one short and one long green flash every 8 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower mounted on a round stone pier. Entire lighthouse is green. Trabas has a photo, FOAL has a page for the light and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located just off the west end of Tsūji Shima, an island off the central north coast of Shimo Shima. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6367; Admiralty M5147; NGA 11452.
Kogame Iwa
1949. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); one long and two short red flashes every 8 s. 13 m (43 ft) round concrete tower with double gallery, mounted on a concrete pier. Entire lighthouse is red. Trabas has a photo, FOAL's page has photos and Google has a satellite view. Located on a shoal about 2 km (1.2 mi) off the north coast of Shimo Shima. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6364; Admiralty M5147.4; NGA 11456.
Gotsu Sho (Goto Syo)
Date unknown (station established 1904). Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); quick-flashing white light. 12 m (39 ft) round concrete tower with double gallery, mounted on a concrete pier. Upper half of the lighthouse painted black, lower half yellow. A Coast Guard photo is at right, Trabas has a photo, and FOAL's page has photos, but the light is not shown in Google's satellite view. Located on a shoal about 1.5 km (1 mi) north of the Kogame Iwa Light and 3.5 km (2.2 mi) off the north coast of Shimo Shima. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6363; Admiralty M5148; NGA 11460.
* Futae Kō (#2 Breakwater)
1944. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); green flash every 5 s. 9.5 m (31 ft) concrete post attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a photo, FOAL has a page for the light and Google has a good street view and a satellite view. Located on one of numerous breakwaters of Futae, a fishing port on the north coast of Shimo Shima. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2090; JCG-6365; Admiralty M5149.4; NGA 11468.
* Goryō (Gorio) Kō
1967. 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 attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is red. Trabas has a photo, FOAL's page has photos and Google has a satellite view and a distant street view. Located at the end of the north breakwater of Goryō harbor, a fishing port on the northeast coast of Shimo Shima. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2091; JCG-6460; Admiralty M5150.4; NGA 11476.
Gotsu Sho Light
Gotsu Sho Light, Amakusa
Japanese Coast Guard Kumamoto Office photo
* Saitsu (Saitu) Kō
1967. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); continuous red light with a more intense flash every 3 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is red. Trabas has a photo, FOAL's page has photos and Google has a satellite view and a distant street view. Located at the end of the north breakwater of Saitsu harbor, about 1.6 km (1 mi) south of Goryō. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2108; JCG-6459; Admiralty M5150.6; NGA 11480.
Hondo Kō Groin
1929. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); red flash every 4 s. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room and mounted on a round concrete pier. Entire lighthouse is red. Trabas has a photo, FOAL's page has photos (right side of the page), and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of submerged breakwater on the west side of the entrance to the passage between Shimo Shima and Kami Shima. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6456; Admiralty M5151; NGA 11484.

Kami Shima North Coast Lighthouses
Hondo Kō
1963. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); one short and one long green flash every 8 s. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower with double gallery mounted on a round stone pier. Entire lighthouse is green. Trabas has a photo, FOAL's page has photos (left side of the page) and Google has a satellite view and a distant street view. Located in Hondo harbor, on a shoal on the east side of the entrance to the passage between Shimo Shima and Kami Shima. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6457; Admiralty M5152; NGA 11488.
* Akasaki Kō
1977. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); green light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a photo, FOAL has a page for the light and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located at the end of the east breakwater of Akasaki, on the north coast of Kami Shima. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6453; Admiralty M5154.7; NGA 11536.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Kumamoto Mainland | Northwest: Nagasaki Area

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Posted July 23, 2007. Checked and revised April 23, 2024. Lighthouses: 53. Site copyright 2024 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.