Ōarai Misaki Lighthouse

Established in 1949, the Ōarai Misaki lighthouse is a 10-meter white concrete post situated on the beach east of Ōarai harbor, near the Oarai Hotel. The post is attached to a single-story concrete equipment room with a square base. For decades, its light guided vessels into the port. Active service for the lighthouse concluded in 2013, and although the light remains, it no longer functions. The structure is now endangered by sea level rise due to its proximity to the shoreline. The site is accessible to the public, but the tower itself remains closed.

Why it matters: The lighthouse provided a key visual reference for safe entry into Ōarai harbor, helping to prevent groundings. Its current vulnerability to rising sea levels makes it a symbol of environmental challenges facing coastal infrastructure.