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Suga Shima Lighthouse

Fl White 4s🇯🇵Toba, JPOperational

Location & Light Range

About Suga Shima Lighthouse

Completed in 1873, Suga Shima Lighthouse marks the northeastern tip of Suga Shima island, an island that obstructs the western entrance to Ise Bay. The cylindrical brick tower stands 10 meters tall and exhibits a white light with one flash every 4 seconds. It replaced an earlier wooden lighthouse from the Edo period. This structure was the first Western-style brick lighthouse built in Japan. In October 2013, a modern LED light was installed, ensuring its continued operation. The site is open to the public, but access to the tower is restricted.

Why it matters: As Japan's first Western-style brick lighthouse, its construction signifies the nation's adoption of modern maritime technology. It serves as a key navigational aid for vessels entering and exiting the busy shipping lane of Ise Bay.

Light & Optic

Characteristic Signature
Fl White 4s
Flash Type
Flashing
Light Color
White
Interval
4s
Raw Code
Fl W 4s
Focal Height
55m
Geographic Range
19.4NM

Construction & History

Year Built
1873

Significant events: first brick Western-style lighthouse built in Japan, replaced a wooden Edo-era lighthouse, modern LED light installed in October 2013, original 1-story brick keeper's house dismantled and rebuilt at Meiji Mura

Visiting

Open to public
Site open, tower closed

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
10m
Tower Shape
cylindrical
Tower Color
white
Material
brick

Structure: round old-style brick tower with lantern and gallery, painted white

Location

City
Toba
Country
🇯🇵Japan
Region
Mie Prefecture
Sea Region
Located at the northeastern tip of Suga Shima, an island obstructing the western entrance to Ise Bay.
Latitude
34.4999°
Longitude
136.9088°

References & Identifiers

Nearest Port
Suga(0.6 km)
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Frequently Asked Questions

How do mariners identify Suga Shima Lighthouse at night?+
Suga Shima displays the characteristic Fl White 4s. 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 Suga Shima Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Suga Shima Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is Suga at 0.5 NM to the W. Other ports served include Toba (3.2 NM WSW), Matoya (8.2 NM S), Toyohama, Aichi (12.4 NM N), Morozaki (12.5 NM NNE). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Suga Shima Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, Suga Shima 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 Suga Shima Lighthouse?+
Suga Shima 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 Suga Shima Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Suga Shima 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.