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Matsumae Town Lighthouses Lighthouse

Fl Red/White 30s🇯🇵Matsumae, JPOperational

Location & Light Range

About Matsumae Town Lighthouses Lighthouse

This concrete lighthouse stands 17 meters tall with a focal height of 37 meters. It features a round cylindrical tower with red and white horizontal bands, topped by a lantern and gallery. The structure is attached to a one-story keeper's house. Its light emits a red and white flash every 30 seconds, visible for 16.6 nautical miles. Located at Cape Shirakami, the southernmost tip of Hokkaido, it marks the western entrance to the Tsugaru Strait. The tower was repainted in late 2008 or early 2009. The lighthouse is situated 5.5 kilometers from the nearest port, Fukushima.

Why it matters: The lighthouse is indispensable for safe passage through the western entrance of the Tsugaru Strait, a critical waterway. Its old-style lantern with a high-peaked roof is a unique and increasingly rare design feature among Japanese lighthouses.

Light & Optic

Characteristic Signature
Fl Red/White 30s
Flash Type
Flashing
Light Color
Red/White
Interval
30s
Raw Code
Fl RW 30s
Focal Height
37m
Geographic Range
16.6NM

Construction & History

Significant events: repainted late 2008 or early 2009

References & Identifiers

Nearest Port
Fukushima (hokkaido)(5.5 km)
ARLHS No.
JPN-576

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
17m
Tower Shape
cylindrical
Tower Color
with red and white horizontal bands
Material
concrete

Structure: round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story keeper's house

Location

City
Matsumae
Country
🇯🇵Japan
Region
Hokkaido Prefecture
Sea Region
Cape Shirakami, at the end of the Matsumae peninsula, the southernmost tip of Hokkaidō and the western entrance to Tsugaru Strait
Latitude
41.3981°
Longitude
140.1974°

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.
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Frequently Asked Questions

How do mariners identify Matsumae Town Lighthouses Lighthouse at night?+
Matsumae Town Lighthouses displays the characteristic Fl Red/White 30s. 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 red/white color may indicate a specific sector or warning zone.
Which ports and harbors does Matsumae Town Lighthouses Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Matsumae Town Lighthouses Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is Matsumae at 5 NM to the WNW. Other ports served include Fukushima (hokkaido) (5.5 NM NNE), Fukushima, Hokkaido (5.6 NM NNE), Shizuura (10 NM NW), Minmaya (11.7 NM SE). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Matsumae Town Lighthouses Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, Matsumae Town Lighthouses 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 Matsumae Town Lighthouses Lighthouse?+
Matsumae Town Lighthouses 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 Matsumae Town Lighthouses Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Matsumae Town Lighthouses 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.