Inubōsaki Lighthouse, Brick lighthouse in Choshi, Japan
Inubōsaki Lighthouse is a 31.30-meter brick structure in Chōshi standing on a cliff at the easternmost point of the Bōsō Peninsula. The white building is surrounded on three sides by the Pacific Ocean and now also serves as a museum.
British engineer Richard Henry Brunton designed the structure in 1874 to protect merchant vessels traveling between Yokohama and North America. The building is among the few remaining examples of Western engineering from the early Meiji period.
The construction marks Japan's first successful attempt by local engineers to produce salt-resistant bricks matching British standards. This local innovation allowed the building to be erected without imported materials.
Visitors can climb 99 spiral steps to reach the viewing platform, which offers broad views over the ocean. Access is possible throughout the year, though strong winds occasionally limit entry to the outdoor gallery.
The tower houses a first-order Fresnel lens that ranks among the largest in Japan and sends white light across the Pacific every 15 seconds. This lens remains from the original equipment and continues to operate today.
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