Shiriyazaki Lighthouse, Brick lighthouse at Cape Shiriyazaki, Japan
Shiriyazaki Lighthouse is a white brick structure standing at the northeasternmost point of Honshu island, surrounded by ocean water on three sides of the Shimokita Peninsula. The building combines Western architectural design with Japanese construction methods and dominates the landscape of this remote cape.
The lighthouse was designed and built by British engineer Richard Henry Brunton in 1876, marking the first Western-style lighthouse in the Tohoku region. Its construction represented a turning point in Japan's modernization of coastal safety systems.
The lighthouse serves as a landmark for the Shimokita Peninsula and represents the region's connection to maritime trade and safety. Its position at the northeasternmost point makes it a symbol of Japan's opening to Western technology and seafaring practices.
The site is accessible by bus from Mutsu; the Shimokita Kotsu line runs directly to the Shiriyazaki-kuchi stop. The journey takes about 40 minutes and offers coastal views along the way.
The lighthouse was the site of several technical innovations: Japan's first fog bell was installed here in 1877, and the country's first electric generator for lighthouses followed in 1901. These advances made the site a pioneer in maritime technology development.
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