Nosappumisaki Lighthouse

Overview

Nosappumisaki Lighthouse is a mid-sized white tower-shaped lighthouse standing at the tip of Cape Nosappu in Nemuro, Hokkaido. Excluding the Northern Territories and Minamitorishima, it stands at the easternmost point of Japan and has been selected as one of the "50 Lighthouses of Japan" and a Civil Engineering Heritage of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers. The surrounding area is a scenic spot overlooking the Northern Four Islands and the Shiretoko Peninsula.

Highlights

• ●A mid-sized white tower-shaped lighthouse at Japan's easternmost point, excluding the Northern Territories and Minamitorishima
• ●Hokkaido's first Western-style lighthouse, designed by Richard Henry Brunton, the "father of lighthouses"
• ●Selected both as one of the "50 Lighthouses of Japan" and as a Civil Engineering Heritage site
• ●A scenic location overlooking the Northern Four Islands and the Shiretoko Peninsula

History

The lighthouse was built in 1872 to a design by Richard Henry Brunton, who worked on lighthouses across Japan during the Meiji era. Originally an octagonal wooden structure, it was the first Western-style lighthouse in Hokkaido. The Goyomai Channel between this cape and Suishojima was feared as a difficult stretch for navigation because of its many reefs and shoals, which prompted the demand for a lighthouse.

Map

43.3853, 145.8169 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Arrive at the tip of Cape Nosappu and view the white tower-shaped lighthouse
2. 2Learn about its designation as one of the "50 Lighthouses of Japan" and a Civil Engineering Heritage site
3. 3Enjoy the scenic views over the Northern Four Islands and the Shiretoko Peninsula
4. 4Explore the cape at Japan's easternmost point and stroll around the area

Did you know?

💡 It is a mid-sized lighthouse standing about 13.5 meters tall.

Nearby spots