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 structure shows how Japanese builders and Western architectural ideas came together under British direction, creating something that belonged to neither tradition alone. Walking around it, you notice how local craftsmanship adapted foreign design principles to fit the coastal setting.
The lighthouse sits about 15 minutes on foot from Sakai Station on the Nankai Electric Railway, accessible via Ohamakitamachi in Sakai-ku. The waterfront location makes walking there straightforward, and the area has clear landmarks to help you find it.
This is one of only three wooden Western-style lighthouses still standing in Japan, making it a rare survivor from an earlier period. Its preservation offers a glimpse into a building tradition that has nearly disappeared.
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