Introduction
The history of Japanese lighthouses, guideposts of the ocean, goes back 1200 years. It is said that their beginnings lie in the signal fires (‘Noroshi’) lit in the daytime and the bonfires (‘Kagaribi’) burnt at night as a signal to ships in the capes and islands of Kyushu.
Throughout the country there are 67 lighthouses still functioning and in active use that were built in the Meiji era (1868-1912), the time of the founding of modern Japan. These lighthouses have both historic and cultural value, and are firmly established as symbols of the area in which they stand. Many are cultural assets.
The Japanese Maritime Safety Agency established a committee consisting of experts who have assessed the value of each of these 67 lighthouses. It is feared that, because of their long history, the lighthouses may not have the strength to survive. We are striving to preserve them in suitable ways based on the evaluations of the committee.
Here we introduce the 23 lighthouses which have been ranked ‘A’, lighthouses assessed to be of especially high value.
Map
No. | Lighthouse | Year | Material | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mikomoto Shima | 1870 | Stone | A |
2 | Esaki | 1871 | Stone | A |
3 | Tomoga Shima | 1872 | Stone | A |
4 | Nabe Shima | 1872 | Stone | A |
5 | Hesaki | 1872 | Stone | A |
6 | Suga Shima | 1873 | Brick | A |
7 | Tsuru Shima | 1873 | Stone | A |
8 | Inubo Saki | 1874 | Brick | A |
9 | Omae Saki | 1874 | Brick | A |
10 | Kinka San | 1876 | Stone | A |
11 | Shiriya Saki | 1876 | Brick | A |
12 | Tsuno Shima | 1876 | Stone | A |
13 | Shiono Misaki | 1878 | Stone | A |
14 | Rokko Saki | 1883 | Stone | A |
15 | Kura Saki | 1884 | Concrete | A |
16 | Ogi Shima | 1895 | Stone | A |
17 | Hime Saki | 1896 | Iron | A |
18 | Mihono Seki | 1898 | Stone | A |
19 | Kyoga Misaki | 1898 | Stone | A |
20 | Muroto Misaki | 1899 | Iron | A |
21 | Izumo Hino Misaki | 1903 | Stone | A |
22 | Mizunoko Shima | 1904 | Stone | A |
23 | Shimizu | 1912 | R.Concrete | A |