Izumo Hinomisaki Lighthouse

The Izumo Hinomisaki Lighthouse, located at the tip of Cape Hinomisaki in Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture, is one of the most iconic lighthouses in Japan and has been designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Known for its stone construction, it stands as the tallest stone lighthouse in Japan, rising majestically along the coastline of the Sea of Japan. The surrounding area is part of the scenic Daisen-Oki National Park.

The lighthouse features a double-wall structure, with bricks on the inside and stone on the outside. Designed by architect Ayahiko Ishibashi, it showcases not only robust and practical construction techniques but also a solemn and dignified architectural beauty. Its light source uses a first-order Fresnel lens, one of only five remaining in the entire country, with an exceptionally wide illumination range that has long safeguarded ships navigating the Sea of Japan.

The Izumo Hinomisaki Lighthouse has been selected as one of the World’s Top 100 Lighthouses and one of Japan’s Top 50 Lighthouses, and it is classified as an A-class preserved lighthouse.

Uniquely, it is the only lighthouse in Japan whose name includes the rare kanji character 「碕」.