Old Sakai Lighthouse, Maritime Heritage Site in Sakai-ku, Japan

The Old Sakai Lighthouse is a hexagonal wooden tower standing 11.3 meters tall, built with a wood structure and rubble masonry base. Its design combines a slender upper portion for the light with a sturdy lower section anchored to the ground.

Built in 1877 during the Meiji period, the lighthouse guided ships with a green oil lamp imported from France until it was deactivated in 1968. This marked the end of nearly a century of active service guiding vessels along the coast.

The lighthouse is a city symbol: Sakai's public phone boxes and clock towers copy its shape, and manhole covers across Sakai-ku carry its design. For the 1997 Namihaya National Sports Festival, local confectioners jointly created a 'Sakai Lighthouse monaka' wafer cake modelled on the tower. Around Sea Day, city staff open the interior to visitors for two days.

The lighthouse stands in Ohamakitamachi, Sakai-ku, about 1 km west of Sakai Station on the Nankai Main Line, roughly 12 minutes on foot. The coastal strip around the old port has been laid out as a promenade, and Ohamakitamachi 5-chome is the address to give taxi drivers. Nearby are Ohama Park and the Ohama exit of the Hanshin Expressway Route 4 Bayshore Line.

The lighthouse is a city symbol: Sakai's public phone boxes and clock towers copy its shape, manholes bear its design, and in 1997 local confectioners jointly created a "Sakai Lighthouse monaka" wafer cake modelled on it. Its interior opens to the public for two days around Marine Day, with city staff guiding visitors.