Lighthouses of Japan: Sasebo Area

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. Nagasaki Prefecture occupies the western side of the island of Kyūshū and includes many islands offshore in the East China Sea and Korea Strait. This page includes lighthouses of the Sasebo and Matsuura areas in the northern half of the prefecture as well as several islands off the coast.There are separate pages for the Nagasaki area to the south, for the island of Tsushima halfway between Kyūshū and South Korea, for Iki Shima in the Tsushima Strait to the northeast, and for the Gotō Islands, an archipelago in the East China Sea west of Sasebo. All these territories are administered by Nagasaki Prefecture.

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. Most of the lighthouses on this page are maintained by the Sasebo Office but the lighthouses of Matsuura are maintained by the Karatsu Office in neighboring Saga Prefecture.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. JCG numbers are the Japanese Coast Guard's light list numbers. Admiralty numbers are from volume M of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 112.

General Sources
Lighthouses in Japan - Nagasaki
This site covers most of the major Japanese lighthouses.
Our Lighthouses of Nagasaki Prefecture
A comprehensive collection of photos of Nagasaki lighthouses.
Form of a Lighthouse - Nagasaki
Another site with many photos of Japanese lighthouses, cited below as FOAL.
Lighthouse Visits
This site has photos for many lighthouses in this area.
Lighthouse-Japan.com - Nagasaki
This site has good photos and background information for more than a dozen Nagasaki area lighthouses.
Misty's Japanese Lighthouse Tour - Nagasaki
This web site has photos of several Nagasaki area lighthouses.
Lighthouses in Nagasaki Prefecture
Photos by various photographers available from Wikimedia.
Online List of Lights - Japan
Photos posted by Alexander Trabas.
Navionics Charts
Navigation chart for western Kyūshū.
Fuku Se Light
Fuku Se Light, Sasebo
Japanese Coast Guard Seventh Region photo
Sasebo City Lighthouses
Sasebo is a port city with a population of about 250,000 residents, located north of Nagasaki. Japan established a naval base at Sasebo in 1886 and it has remained a major naval base ever since. Today the base is shared by the U.S. Navy and Japan's Self-Defense Forces.

Fuku (Huku) Se
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 24 m (79 ft) round tapered concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted with black and red horizontal bands. The Coast Guard's photo is at the top of this page and Trabas has Darlene Chisholm's very distant view, but the lighthouse is not shown in Google's satellite view. Located on an isolated rock 20 km (13 mi) west of Kōgo Saki. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6307; Admiralty M5226; NGA 11908.
Omodaka (Shira Se)
Date unknown (station established 1903). Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); white flash every 4 s; a red flash is shown over dangerous rocks to the east. 7 m (23 ft) round concrete tower with gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard 7th Region has a photo, Trabas has a view from the sea, a small photo is available (#6256, about 1/3 the way down the page), and Google has a satellite view. Located on a small island about 4 km (2.5 mi) west of Kōgo Saki. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2264; JCG-6256; Admiralty M5230; NGA 11912.
Hario Seto (Hario Bentenjima)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white flash every 3 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post rising from a round concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Akira Taniguchi's 2019 photo is at right, a closeup photo (#6292, about 1/3 the way down the page) is available, Trabas has a photo, Osamu Harada has a 2020 photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef in the channel leading to Ōmura Bay, an almost totally-enclosed bay southeast of Sasebo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2171; JCG- 6292; Admiralty M5232.4; NGA 11916.
* Huis ten Bosch
1992 (?). Inactive since 2010 (a decorative light may be displayed). Approx. 8 m (26 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery attached to a 1-story building. Entire lighthouse is white; the attached building is gray. A 2012 photo is available and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This light was formerly on the JCG list but it is now marked as inactive. Huis ten Bosch (Hausu Ten Bosu in Japanese) is a Dutch theme park on the south side of Sasebo, facing Ōmura Bay. The park is named for a Dutch royal residence at The Hague (the name means "house in the woods"), and it commemorates a Dutch trading post established at Sasebo in 1609. The lighthouse is a smaller-scale replica of the well-known Dutch lighthouse at Marken, northeast of Amsterdam. Located at the end of the south breakwater of Huis ten Bosch, on the north shore of Ōmura Bay. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ex-JCG-6292.2.
 

Hario Seto Light, Sasebo, Aptil 2019
Google Maps phoito by Akira Taniguchi
 
Hanare Se
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); nine quick white flashes every 15 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical tower with two galleries, painted yellow with a black horizontal band. Lighthouse Visits has a distant photo (bottom of the page), Trabas also has a distant view, and Google has a satellite view. This looks like a conventional lighthouse, but it is actually floating, though anchored securely to the bottom. It is the first of its kind to be installed in Japan. Located on a shoal in the southern part of Sasebo harbor, about 6 km (3.5 mi) south of the Benten Shima light (next entry). Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6290; Admiralty M5236.5; NGA 11924.
Sasebo Benten Shima
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); white flash every 3 s. 15 m (49 ft) square skeletal tower mounted on a huge square pyramidal concrete base. Sasebo's protected harbor is a traditional naval base for Japan and (since World War II) for the U.S. Navy as well. Lighthouse painted white. Located on an islet in the center of Sasebo harbor. Trabas has a good photo, FOAL's Sasebo page has photos, a view from the sea is available, Lighthouse Visits has a small photo, and Google has a satellite view. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2165; JCG- 6276; Admiralty M5236; NGA 11928.
Kōgo Saki (Sasebo Bay)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 64 m (210 ft); white flash every 6 s. 15 m (49 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story concrete equipment building. Entire lighthouse is white. The Japan Sea Cadets have a page with photos from a 2021 visit, including the photo at right, Yukihiro Matsumura has a 2020 photo, FOAL's page has closeup photos, Our Lighthouses has a page with excellent photos, Trabas has a drone view, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a promontory marking the north side of the entrance to Sasebo Bay, about 10 km (6 mi) southwest of the city. The location is not easy to find and is usually closed to the public. Lighthouse Visits has an account in Japanese. Site and tower closed. . ARLHS JPN-271; JCG- 6261; Admiralty M5232; NGA 11920.

Kōgo Saki Light, Sasebo, August 2021
photo by Japan Sea Cadets Sasebo corps
Hizen Ohira Se
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); quick-flashing white light. 12 m (39 ft) round concrete tower, upper half painted black and lower half painted yellow. FOAL has a photo (bottom of the page), Lighthouse Visits has a small photo, Trabas has a photo, Yuji Sawai has a 2022 view, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef about 1.6 km (1 mi) east of Taka Shima. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6247; Admiralty M5240.48; NGA 11956.
Ushigakubi
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); white light, 3 s on, 4 s off, 3 s on, 3 s off. 12m (39 ft) round tapered tower with a small equipment shelter in the base. Entire lighthouse is white. Kenichiro Asai 's 2022 view is at right, Coast Guard has a photo, another view from the sea is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the southwestern tip of Hashira Iwa, a 5 km (3 mi) long, S-shaped island about 12 km (7.5 mi) west of Sasebo. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2291; JCG-6243; Admiralty M5240.4; NGA 11960.
Shimokareki (Simo-Kareki) Shima
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 37 m (121 ft); white flash every 3 s. 16 m (52 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. FOAL has a distant view (bottom of the page), Trabas has a distant view, and Google has a satellite view. Shimokareki Shima is a narrow, 700 m (0.44 mi) long island in the middle of the southern entrance to Hirado Bay. Located at the southern tip of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-565; JCG-6237; Admiralty M5241; NGA 11972.

Ushigakubi Light, Sasebo, January 2022
Google Maps photo by Kenichiro Asai

Hirado City: Mainland and Hirado Shima Area Lighthouses
Hirado Shima is an island about 27 km (17 mi) long, separated from the mainland of Kyūshū by Hirado Bay. At its northern end the bay shrinks to the narrow Hirado Strait. The island is accessible by the Hirado Bridge, completed in 1977, crossing the strait. Hirado City includes Hirado Island, several other islands, and a section of the mainland opposite the island.

Aosa Saki
1944. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); white flash every 4 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post rising from a 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a photo, a 2021 photo is available, Our Lighthouses has a page with good photos, FOAL's page has photos, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the tip of a promontory of the mainland at the southern entrance to the Hirado Strait. Difficult to reach by land. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2157; JCG-6232; Admiralty M5242.4; NGA 12020.
Ogami Shima
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 76 m (249 ft); white flash every 4 s. 12 m (39 ft) round concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. A Coast Guard photo is at right, Trabas has Darlene Chisholm's photo, Ikitsuki Gure has a 2021 view from the sea, FOAL has distant views (halfway down the page), and Google has a satellite view. Perched spectacularly atop a small island off the southwestern tip of Hirado Shima. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. . ARLHS JPN-473; JCG-6219; Admiralty M5240; NGA 11984.
* Hirado Hayahuku Se
1988. Active; focal plane 23 m (75 ft); continuous white light. 11 m (36 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. FOAL has photos, Trabas has a closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view and a street view from across the harbor. The lighthouse illuminates a reef about 800 m (1/2 mi) offshore. Located on the south side of the entrance to Haifukucho harbor on the west coast of Hirado Shima. Accessible by road but some local guidance may be needed. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6216.8; Admiralty M5239.65; NGA 11994.5.
* Nagase Hana
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 109 m (358 ft); white flash every 4 s. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower with gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. LED lamp installed. Our Lighthouses has a page with excellent photos, FOAL also has photos, a 2018 photo is available, Chie Ikeda has a 2019 closeup, Trabas has a drone view, and Google has a satellite view. Located atop a cliff at the southwestern point of Ikitsuki Shima, a smaller island off the northeastern corner of Hirado Shima. The island is accessible from Hirado by a bridge. Accessible by road but parking is limited and the entrance to the access road is unmarked. Site open, tower closed. . ARLHS JPN-2234; JCG-6208.5; Admiralty M5239.55; NGA 12014.
Ogami Shima Light
Ogami Shima Light, Hirado
Japanese Coast Guard Sasebo Office photo
** Ōbae Hana
1958. Active; focal plane 101 m (331 ft); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off; also a continuous white spotlight (JCG-6209.2) illuminates a nearby reef. 10.5 m (35 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with gallery and an external stairway. Entire lighthouse is white. A 2021 photo is at right, the Coast Guard has a similar photo, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a good page for the lighthouse, Our Lighthouses has a page with good photos, FOAL's page also has photos, Mike Beale has a 2007 photo, Paul Latimer has a view of the site, Trabas has a photo, Jun Kino has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. Located atop a spectacular vertical cliff on the northern tip of Ikitsuki Shima, a smaller island off the northeastern corner of Hirado Shima. Accessible by road (parking provided) and a short trail popular for its sweeping views of the East China Sea. Site open, and visitors can climb the stairs to the gallery. . ARLHS JPN-448; JCG- 6209; Admiralty M5239.5; NGA 12012.
Yoko Shima
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); white flash every 4 s, 12 m (39 ft) concrete post rising from a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a photo, another photo is available (#6208, about 1/6 the way down the page), Lighthouse Visits has a small photo, and Bing has a satellite view. Located on the southern tip of Yoko Shima, a small island about 3 km (2 mi) northeast of Ōbae Hana. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6208; Admiralty M5250.4; NGA 12064.
* Ikitsuki Ichibuura Kō
1964. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); continuous red light with a more intense flash every 5 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is red. FOAL's page has photos, Trabas has a closeup photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located at the end of the north breakwater of the Ichibuura harbor on the east side of Ikitsuki Shima. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6210; Admiralty M5239.2; NGA 12008.
* Tachiura (Ikitsuki Shima)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 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, FOAL has photos, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the north breakwater of Tachiura, a short distance north of the bridge. Probably accessible by walking the pier (although it's a long walk). Site open, tower closed. JCG-6211.1; Admiralty M5239.05; NGA 12002.

Ōbae Hana Light, Hirado, May 2021
Instagraam photo by todai_oshiro
* Usuka Wan (Usukawan) Kō
1976. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); continuous red light with a more intense flash every 5 s. 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's page has photos, and Google has a satellite view. Usuka Wan is a bay on the northwestern coast of Hirado Shima. Located at the end of the west breakwater of the Usuka Wan harbor. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6216; Admiralty M5250.6; NGA 12040.
Tasuke Kō Outer Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 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 closeup photo, Kenji Suzuki has a distant street view, FOAL's page has photos, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the main breakwater of Tasuke harbor, on the northeast coast of Hirado Shima. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-2280; JCG-6220; Admiralty M5250; NGA 12052.
Futame (2)
1970 (station established 1945). Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); continuous white light. 10 m (33 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower with lantern; the light is shown through a square window. Entire lighthouse is white. Our Lighthouses has a page with excellent photos, FOAL has closeup photos (top of the page), Trabas has a closeup photo, Hiroyuki Amimoto has a street view at the base of the tower, and Google has a satellite view. This light is on the northeastern end of Hirado Island about 600 m (0.38 mi) west of the Hiro Se lighthouse. The site is gated but is probably accessible to walkers; tower closed. JCG-6221; Admiralty M5249.
Hiro Se
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); white flash every 5 s. 7 m (23 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. Yuki Nakano's 2022 photo is at right, Trabas has a photo, FOAL has a good photo (just over halfway down the page), Kenichiro Asai has a 2022 photo, and Google has a satellite view. Chunsaki Chong has a photo of this light and the next one. Located at the northern tip of an island in the north entrance to Hirado Strait. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2176; JCG-6222; Admiralty M5248.2; NGA 12044.
Hiro Se Southwest (Hiro Se Training Wall)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); white flash every 3 s. 11 m (36 ft) concrete post attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. The lighthouse is white with one black horizontal band on the post. Trabas has a photo, FOAL has a good photo (3/4 the way down the page), this light is on the right in Chunsaki Chong's photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of a breakwater extending southwestward from Hiro Se. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2177; JCG-6223; Admiralty M5248; NGA 12048.
Kodasuke Se (Ko-Dasukese)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 8.5 m (28 ft); one long and three short red flashes every 8 s. 7 m (23 ft) round concrete tower with gallery mounted on a round concrete pier. Entire lighthouse is red. Trabas has a closeup photo, FOAL's page has a good photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef in the Hirado Strait about 800 m (1/2 mi) northwest of the Hirado Bridge and the same distance southeast of Hirado Shima harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. JCG-6227; Admiralty M5244; NGA 12032.

Hiro Se Light, Hirado, February 2022
Instagrams photo by Yuki Nakano

Hirado City: Azuchi (Azuti) Ō Shima Lighthouses
Azuchi Ō Shima, one of many Ō Shimas ("Big Island") in Japan, is an island about 8 km (5 mi) long and about 9 km (5.5 mi) north of Hirado Shima. The island has a population of about 1500 and is accessible by passenger ferry from Hirado. The island is governed as part of Hirado City.

Sesaki Hana
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); two white flashes every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower with gallery and a square equipment enclosure. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a photo, another photo is available (#6206, about 1/8 the way down the page), and Google has a satellite view. NGA mangles the name of the light as Sakise Hana. Located on a reef off the northeastern tip of Taka Shima, an island between Hirado Shima and Azuchi Ō Shima. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2257; JCG-6206; Admiralty M5250.8; NGA 12056.
#Azuchi Ō Shima Kō (1)
Date unknown. Replaced in 2020. This was an 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse was red. Trabas has a distant view and Justin Paul Tan has a 2018 street view. The breakwater was extended and in 2020 the lighthouse was replaced by a light on a post (focal plane 13 m (43 ft); red flash every 3 s). Google's satellite view confirms the removal of the original lighthouse. Located at the end of the outer breakwater protecting the harbor of Azuchi Ō Shima. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-2252. Active light: JCG-6203; Admiralty M5252; NGA 12072.
Magari Hana (Magari Bana)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); white flash every 4 s. 9 m (29 ft) round concrete tower rising from a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. A photo is available, Trabas has a very distant view, and Google has a satellite view. The name magari hana means "bent nose" and describes its location on a hook-shaped spit on the southwestern coast of Azuchi Ō Shima. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-2218; JCG-6204; Admiralty M5253; NGA 12068.
* Umano Kashira (Umanokasira) Saki
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 45 m (148 ft); white light occulting once every 8 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower rising from a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. Several photos and a closeup 2023 photo are available, Trabas has a very distant view, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the west end of Azuchi Ō Shima; accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-715(=2288); JCG-6205; Admiralty M5253.4; NGA 12080.
Azuchi Nagasaki Hana (Azuti Nagasaki Bana)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); white light occulting twice every 12 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower rising from a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Entire lighthouse is white. A 2023 photo and another photo are available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the northern tip of Azuchi Ō Shima. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-2231; JCG-6202; Admiralty M5251; NGA 12076.
Futagami (Hutagami) Shima (Nikamishima)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 99 m (325 ft); flash every 10 s, alternately green and white. 14 m (46 ft) octagonal concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story concrete keeper's house. Entire lighthouse is white. The Coast Guard's photo is at right and Google has a satellite view. Futagami Shima is an isolated rock island about 10 km (6 mi) north of Azuchi Ō Shima. Located at the highest point of the island, near the southwestern end. Accessible only by boat or helicopter. Site and tower closed. JCG-6201; Admiralty M5258; NGA 12704.
Hutagami Lighthouse
Futagami Light, Futagami Shima, Hirado
Japanese Coast Guard Seventh Region photo

Matsuura City Lighthouses
Matsuura is is a town of about 25,000 residents on Matsuura Bay, a mountain-ringed bay at the northern edge of Nagasaki Prefecture. The lighthouses of Matsuura are maintained by the Karatsu Coast Guard Office in neighboring Saga Prefecture.

*
Tsu (Tu) Saki
1950. Active; focal plane 49 m (161 ft); white light occulting once every 8 s. 12 m (39 ft) square concrete tower with gallery and an external stairway that spirals around the tower. Entire lighthouse is white. Shuichi Fuchikami's 2023 photo is at right, Our Lighthouses has a page with excellent photos, Lighthouse-Japan.com has a good page for the lighthouse, FOAL's page has photos, Trabas has a good closeup, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located at the end of a long peninsula about 8 km (5 mi) northwest of Matsuura. Accessible by road but no parking is provided. Site open, tower closed. . ARLHS JPN-683; JCG-5926; Admiralty M5254; NGA 12084.
* Tsukinokawa Kō
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); red flash every 3 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post attached to a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Entire lighthouse is red. FOAL has photos, Trabas has a closeup, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located at the east end of the detached inner breakwater of Tsukinokawa harbor in Matsuura. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. JCG-5920; Admiralty M5254.95; NGA 12088.
Kanai Saki
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); white flash every 3 s. 7.5 m (25 ft) concrete tower attached to a square concrete equipment shelter and standing on a square pier. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a drone view, a closeup photo (halfway down the page, #5919) is available, FOAL has distant views, and Google has a satellite view. Located off Kanai Saki in the western entrance to Imari Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-224; JCG-5919; Admiralty M5255; NGA 12108.

Tsu Saki Light, Matsuura, January 2023
Google Maps photo by Shuichi Fuchikami
Imari Fukushima
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); white flash every 3 s. 9 m (30 ft) round concrete tower mounted on a round stone pier. 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 on a reef off the harbor on the south side of Fukushima, opposite the city of Imari in Saga Prefecture. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2187; JCG-5908; Admiralty M5255.24; NGA 12116.
Oteisi Hana
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); white flash every 4 s. 6.5 m (21 ft) round concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. Trabas has a good photo, another photo is available (#5922, over halfway down the page), there is a third photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the tip of a promontory on the south side of Takashima, a large island in northeastern Matsuura. The island is accessible by a bridge on highway 190. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS JPN-2254; JCG-5922; Admiralty M5254.86; NGA 12104.
Ogono (Uokono) Shima
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 69 m (226 ft); white flash every 5 s. 13 m (43 ft) concrete post rising from a square 1-story concrete equipment room. Trabas has a photo, a distant view is available (#5923, over halfway down the page), and Google has a satellite view. Located on an island off the western tip of the larger island of Takeshima, in the entrance to Matsuura Bay about 10 km (6 mi) north of Matsuura. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-2289; JCG-5923; Admiralty M5254.5; NGA 12092.
Kai Se
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 3 s. 12 m (39 ft) round barbell-shaped concrete tower. Entire lighthouse is white. A Coast Guard photo is at right, FOAL has a good photo (bottom of the page), Trabas has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef off the harbor of Takashima. Lighthouse accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS JPN-2193; JCG-5902; Admiralty M5254.8; NGA 12100.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:


Kai Se Light, Matsuura
Japanese Coast Guard Karatsu Office photo

Adjoining pages: North: Tsushima | Northeast: Iki Shima | East: Saga | South: Nagasaki Area | West: Gotō Islands

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Posted August 6, 2007. Checked and revised May 7, 2024. Lighthouses: 37. Site copyright 2024 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.