Ochiishi Misaki Lighthouse, White and red lighthouse on Cape Ochiishi, Hokkaido, Japan.
Ochiishi Misaki Lighthouse is a red and white striped structure standing on a cliff at the southern end of Cape Ochiishi in Hokkaido. A wooden boardwalk leads through a coniferous forest to this exposed viewpoint with clear views across open ocean.
The site holds a long human history, as the region was inhabited in prehistoric times. Archaeological findings show that people lived here thousands of years before the modern lighthouse was built.
The lighthouse draws visitors who seek connection with the remote northeast coast and its relationship to traditional maritime life in Hokkaido. People come to experience the solitude of this exposed headland and how it has shaped settlement patterns over centuries.
The walk to the lighthouse takes around 30 minutes along a marked path where you may encounter sika deer in their natural habitat. The path is accessible year-round, though conditions are more challenging during colder months.
The name comes from the Ainu language and refers to the shape of the cape, which resembles a specific human body contour. This linguistic connection reveals how indigenous observers once understood and named the landscape around them.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
