Omaesaki Lighthouse

Omaesaki Lighthouse rises on a hill at the outermost point of Cape Omae, just south of Omaezaki Port in Omaezaki City, Shizuoka Prefecture. Perched on this promontory overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the beacon marks a stretch of coastline that has long been hazardous to navigation.

The structure is a tapered cylindrical brick tower standing on a brick and concrete foundation, equipped with a balcony and lantern. The tower and its lantern are painted white, giving the light a distinctive silhouette against the sky. It rises 22.47 m above the ground, and its lantern sits 50.4 m above sea level. A third‑order Fresnel lens concentrates the beam, which flashes a white light every 4 seconds (Fl W 4 s) and can be seen for 36 km. The lamp produces an intensity of 1,300,000 candela.

Construction began on 26 May 1872 under the direction of British engineer Richard Henry Brunton and was completed on 1 May 1874, making it the first Japanese lighthouse to use a Fresnel lens. The light was upgraded in 1917, and during World War II the tower suffered damage that cracked the lens. After the war the lantern was repaired, the lens replaced with another third‑order Fresnel, and the beacon resumed service on 24 March 1949.

Today the lighthouse remains an active aid to navigation, operated by the Japan Coast Guard. It is listed as an A‑grade historic lighthouse and is one of the “50 Lighthouses of Japan.” Visitors may climb the tower for panoramic views of the Pacific, and the site is open to the public.

Light and tower

Its light characteristic is Fl W 4s. The Admiralty list of lights numbers it M6234.5.

Videos

【海の道標】真夜中の御前崎灯台（Omaesaki Lighthouse at night）