Kinkasan Lighthouse, Maritime navigation tower in Ayukawahama, Japan
Kinkasan Lighthouse is a granite navigation tower on Kinkasan Island standing about 55 meters tall and equipped with a second-order Fresnel lens. The cylindrical structure features a balcony and lantern room from which light beams across the water.
The structure was designed in 1876 by British engineer Richard Henry Brunton during Japan's infrastructure modernization. It was destroyed in World War II but was completely rebuilt and returned to operation in 1946.
The lighthouse holds status as a registered cultural property that reflects Japan's maritime heritage. Visitors come to see how this structure represents the country's relationship with seafaring tradition.
The lighthouse is located on an island and requires boat access to reach. Visitors should plan around weather conditions and tidal patterns, which can affect when the site is accessible.
The structure sends alternating white and red light flashes that help ships recognize it from a distance. These signal patterns follow a specific rhythm designed for safe navigation in these waters.
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