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Hiro Se Lighthouse

Fl White 5s🇯🇵Hirado, JPOperational

Location & Light Range

About Hiro Se Lighthouse

The Hiro Se lighthouse is a 7-meter-tall cylindrical concrete tower, painted white and topped with a lantern and gallery. Its focal height reaches 14 meters above sea level, emitting a white flash every 5 seconds. This light has a geographic range of 11.6 nautical miles. The lighthouse is situated on the northern tip of an island at the north entrance to Hirado Strait, near Hirado city. The site is open to the public, but the tower itself is closed to visitors. It is located 0.8 km from the nearest port.

Why it matters: This lighthouse is essential for safe passage through the northern entrance of the Hirado Strait, a critical shipping lane. It warns mariners of the island's northernmost point, preventing groundings.

Light & Optic

Characteristic Signature
Fl White 5s
Flash Type
Flashing
Light Color
White
Interval
5s
Raw Code
Fl W 5s
Focal Height
14m
Geographic Range
11.6NM

Location

City
Hirado
Country
🇯🇵Japan
Region
Nagasaki Prefecture
Sea Region
northern tip of an island in the north entrance to Hirado Strait
Latitude
33.3814°
Longitude
129.5692°

References & Identifiers

Nearest Port
Hirado(0.8 km)
Admiralty No.
M5248.2
NGA No.
12044
ARLHS No.
JPN-2176

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
7m
Tower Shape
cylindrical
Tower Color
white
Material
concrete

Structure: round concrete tower with lantern and gallery

Visiting

Open to public
Site open, tower closed

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.
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Frequently Asked Questions

How do mariners identify Hiro Se Lighthouse at night?+
Hiro Se displays the characteristic Fl White 5s. Each lighthouse has a unique flash pattern published in the List of Lights, allowing mariners to positively identify it and distinguish it from other navigation aids in the area. The white color may indicate a specific sector or warning zone.
Which ports and harbors does Hiro Se Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Hiro Se Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is Hirado at 1 NM to the SW. Other ports served include Tabira (1.2 NM SSE), Kawachi, Nagasaki (4.1 NM SW), Emukae (4.5 NM SSE), Shikamachi (6.6 NM S). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Hiro Se Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, Hiro Se Lighthouse is currently operational. It is actively maintained and continues to emit its characteristic light signal for marine navigation. Most modern lighthouses are automated and monitored remotely by the national maritime authority.
What shipping routes pass near Hiro Se Lighthouse?+
Hiro Se Lighthouse is located within the Japan / Korea shipping lane — a busy shipping corridor linking the major ports of Japan and South Korea. This makes it an important navigation reference for commercial shipping traffic in the region.
How can I track vessels near Hiro Se Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Hiro Se Lighthouse in real time using MarineRadar. The platform shows live AIS positions of ships in the area, including vessel name, type, flag, speed, and course. Use the "Track Vessels Nearby" button on this page to open the live map centered on this lighthouse.