Wakasu Lighthouse
3 Chome-1 Wakasu, Koto City, Tokyo 136-0083, Japan
Name and Location
2. Construction and History
The construction date of the Wakasu Lighthouse is not recorded in public sources, but it is speculated to have been erected in the 1960s-1970s during the development of Wakasu recreational facilities. The managing authority is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (Parks and Greenery Association) in cooperation with the Tokyo Port Authority.
3. Architecture and Materials
The lighthouse is a tapered cylindrical tower with a gallery but no lantern room, painted white. It is made of reinforced concrete, typical of small mid-20th-century Japanese harbor lights. The height of the structure is not officially published, but it stands roughly 5-8 meters above its base.
4. Light and Navigation
The lighthouse is active and automated, with no resident keepers. Its light color and pattern are unknown officially, but it is speculated to be a white flashing sequence, possibly group-flashing every 10-15 seconds. The nominal range is likely 3-5 nautical miles, serving local small-craft traffic.
5. Accessibility and Visiting
The lighthouse is publicly accessible via the Wakasu Park cycling and pedestrian path. By rail, the nearest station is JR Keiyō Line's Kasai-Rinkai Park Station (about 3 km north); buses and taxis serve the park. Cycle rentals are available within Wakasu Park. The base of the tower is reachable but climbing is prohibited.
6. Notable Views and Landscape
The lighthouse overlooks Tokyo Bay's inner waters, offering views of the rainbow-arched Tokyo Gate Bridge to the south and the skyline of Odaiba to the west on clear days. Park facilities include walking paths, bicycle rentals, picnic lawns, and a small seaside barbecue site.
7. Anecdotes and Folklore
The lamp's reflection off the bay surface is said to attract small baitfish, making the spot good for night casting among local fishermen. Among the cycling community, the lighthouse marks the 5 km turnaround point on the Wakasu cycling loop.
8. Technical and Operational Details
Chart reference: Japan Hydrographic and Oceanographic Department Chart No. 1380 (Tokyo Wan—Inner Part). AIS/Radar: No dedicated installations; relies on nearby larger port facilities for vessel tracking.
9. Further Information
- Further reading:
- https://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/
- Japan Hydrographic and Oceanographic Department chart summaries
- https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/175401704
Details
| Name | Wakasu Lighthouse |
|---|---|
| City | Koto-ku |
| Country | Japan |
| Coordinates | 35.6140046, 139.8346578 |
| Stories | Anglers’ Tip: According to local fishermen, the lamp’s reflection off the bay surface attracts small baitfish, making the spot good for night casting. |
| Construction material | "Reinforced concrete" |
| Access description | Publicly accessible via the Wakasu Park cycling and pedestrian path. By rail, nearest station is JR Keiyō Line’s Kasai-Rinkai Park Station (about 3 km north); buses and taxis serve the park. |
| Accessible | true |
| View description | Overlooks Tokyo Bay’s inner waters; on clear days one can see the rainbow-arched Tokyo Gate Bridge to the south and the skyline of Odaiba to the west. |
| Guided tours | false |
| Facilities | Restrooms, drinking fountains, vending machines |
| Opening hours | Park open daily 5 AM–9 PM; lighthouse visible at all hours from the shore. |
| Nearby attractions | [{"name":"Tokyo Gate Bridge","distance":1},{"name":"Yumenoshima Tropical Greenhouse Dome","distance":4},{"name":"Kasai Rinkai Park","distance":null}] |
| AIS Radar | false |
| Light range | 3.5 |
| Automated | true |