Kannonsaki Lighthouse, First Western-style lighthouse in Yokosuka, Japan.
Kannonsaki Lighthouse is a white octagonal structure located at the entrance of Tokyo Bay and stands 19 meters tall. The tower emits two flashes every 15 seconds to guide passing vessels safely through the waterway.
French engineer Léonce Verny designed the original brick structure in 1869, making it the first Western-style lighthouse in Yokosuka. The structure was later rebuilt in concrete following the destructive 1922 earthquake.
The lighthouse sits at Kannonzaki Point, named after the Goddess of Mercy, and marks Japan's leap into modern maritime navigation during the Meiji era. This location remains meaningful to locals as a symbol of the region's seafaring traditions.
The lighthouse is open to visitors between 9 AM and 5 PM, allowing access to climb the spiral staircase to the observation deck. The location offers clear views across the bay, especially on days with good visibility.
The tower contains a fourth-order Fresnel lens that projects powerful light beams across Tokyo Bay's shipping lanes. This optical technology allows the structure to guide vessels from considerable distances away.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
