Name and Location

The Kyogamisaki Lighthouse stands at Cape Kyoga on the Sea of Japan coast of Kyotango City in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Its official name is 経ヶ岬灯台 (Kyōgisaki tōdai) or Kyogamisaki Lighthouse.

Construction and History

The lighthouse was first lit in March 1927, with an architectural style suggesting a Taishō–early Shōwa era concrete build. It is managed by the Japan Coast Guard's Second Regional Headquarters (Kobe). Although not currently listed as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property, it is recorded in the Japanese Coast Guard's "50 Lighthouses of Japan" guide.

Architecture and Materials

The tower is a cylindrical concrete lighthouse with an integral equipment room at its base. The entire structure is uniformly painted white for maximum daytime conspicuity against dark rocky headlands. The tower height is approximately 12-15 meters above the base, and the focal height is estimated to be around 80 meters above sea level.

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse features a traditional Fresnel rotating lens housed beneath a hemispherical dome, with an internal steel ladder providing access to the lens room. The light characteristic is reported by local boating guides to be a group-flash pattern (e.g., Fl (3) W 15 s), although the precise period has not been confirmed.

Accessibility and Visiting

The grounds are open year-round, free of charge. However, the lantern room is normally closed to visitors, with no internal public tour available. The lighthouse can be accessed by car or on foot from central Kyotango. A short uphill walk (approximately 10 minutes) leads to the lighthouse.

Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse offers unobstructed 180-degree views north and west over the Sea of Japan, with visitors able to see the silhouette of Sado Island on clear days. Sunrise and late-afternoon light highlight the white tower against orange skies, making these times ideal for viewing.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Local fishermen tell stories of a "white-haired kami" (spirit) said to guard ships in rough winter seas off Cape Kyoga. This legend adds a touch of mystique to the already scenic location.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is fully automated, with an electric lamp powered by a backup battery system. No AIS or radar transponder is installed on-site. The Admiralty number and NGA (US) number are not publicly available.

Further Information

For more information about the Kyogamisaki Lighthouse, readers can consult the Japan Coast Guard's "Lighthouse Directory" (in Japanese), Japanese Wikipedia: ja:経ヶ岬灯台, or OpenStreetMap "way/44279930".