Cape Irizaki

Overview

Cape Irizaki is the promontory at the western tip of Yonaguni Island, in the town of Yonaguni, Yaeyama District, Okinawa. Long regarded as the westernmost point of Japan, it is topped by the Irizaki Lighthouse and equipped with an observation platform and a 'Monument of the Westernmost Point of Japan.' On clear days one can glimpse Taiwan some 107.5 km away, and travelers gather here to watch the last sunset in the country.

Highlights

• ●The Irizaki Lighthouse on the cliff and its sweeping ocean-view deck
• ●A photo at the 'Monument of the Westernmost Point of Japan'
• ●The distant silhouette of Taiwan, about 107.5 km away on clear days
• ●The spectacular 'last sunset' that sets latest in the country

History

The name Irizaki derives from 'iri,' the Yaeyama word for west, marking the island's western edge. For a long time this cape was considered Japan's westernmost point, but in 2019 the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan recognized Tuishi, a rocky formation about 120 m to the northwest, as the true westernmost point. A monument marking the westernmost land still stands on the cape, a signature scenic spot of the island.

Map

24.4503, 122.9342 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Travel to Yonaguni by air or ferry and head for the island's western tip
2. 2Take in the East China Sea from the lighthouse and observation deck
3. 3Visit the westernmost-point monument and feel the sense of the far edge
4. 4Wait until evening to watch Japan's last sunset sink into the sea

Did you know?

💡 From the observation deck, under the right conditions, Taiwan can be seen roughly 107.5 km away. The cape is known as one of the places where the sun sets last in Japan, drawing visitors seeking the 'last sunset in Japan.' Even after the 2019 recognition of Tuishi, the cape remains beloved as the symbol of the westernmost edge.

Nearby spots