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Tsurugisaki Lighthouse

Fl (3) Alt 30s🇯🇵Honshu-South Coast-Tokyo Wan, JPOperational

Location & Light Range

About Tsurugisaki Lighthouse

Completed in 1871, Tsurugisaki Lighthouse is a white, octagonal metal tower standing 16.9 meters tall. Its focal height reaches 41 meters above sea level, casting a light with a geographic range of 17 nautical miles. The light displays two white and one green flash every 30 seconds. The structure also has a white occulting light on a 6-second cycle, obscuring its beam in specific sectors to guide vessels.

Why it matters: This lighthouse was one of eight constructed in Japan during the Meiji period under an Anglo-Japanese treaty and was designed to safeguard vessels entering Tokyo Bay through the Uraga Channel.

Background
Tsurugisaki Lighthouse (剱埼灯台, Tsurugisaki tōdai) is a lighthouse located on Cape Tsurugi on the southeastern extremity of the city of Miura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan on the southernmost and eastern tip of Miura Peninsula. (On the southernmost western tip of Miura Peninsula stands the Jōgashima Lighthouse.) The Tsurugisaki Lighthouse was one of eight lighthouses to be built in Meiji period Japan under the provisions of the Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Amity and Commerce of 1858, signed by the Bakumatsu period Tokugawa Shogunate. The lighthouse was designed and constructed by British engineer Richard Henry Brunton. Brunton constructed another 25 lighthouses from far northern Hokkaidō to southern Kyūshū during his career in Japan. Work began in March 1870. The Tsurugisaki Lighthouse was completed on March 1, 1871, and was designed to protect shipping entering Tokyo Bay via the Uraga Channel, with its light visible as far as the Bōsō Peninsula on the eastern shore of the bay. The original structure was destroyed during the Great Kantō earthquake on September 1, 1923, and was replaced with the current reinforced-concrete structure on July 4, 1925. The lighthouse has been unmanned since 1991. It is currently maintained by the Japan Coast Guard.

Light & Optic

Characteristic Signature
Fl (3) Alt 30s
Flash Type
Flashing
Light Color
Alt
Flash Count
3 flashes
Interval
30s
Raw Code
Fl.(2+1)W.G. period 30s
Focal Height
41m
Light Range
17NM (31.5 km)
Geographic Range
17NM

Construction & History

Year Built
1871

References & Identifiers

Admiralty No.
M6354
NGA No.
5044
Wikipedia
Read on Wikipedia →
Wikidata
Q7850274 →

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
16.9m
Tower Shape
octagonal
Tower Color
white
Material
metal

Structure: White metal tower; 49. W. 054°-350°, W.Obscured 350°-054°. Fl.W. period 6s

Location

City
Honshu-South Coast-Tokyo Wan
Country
🇯🇵JP
Latitude
35.1412°
Longitude
139.6770°

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.
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Frequently Asked Questions

How far offshore can Tsurugisaki Lighthouse be seen?+
With a focal height of 41 meters and a nominal range of 17 nautical miles (approximately 31.5 km), Tsurugisaki is visible from well offshore under standard atmospheric conditions. Actual visibility depends on observer height, weather, and sea state. Lights of this range are typically used as landfall lights by vessels approaching from the open sea.
How do mariners identify Tsurugisaki Lighthouse at night?+
Tsurugisaki displays the characteristic Fl (3) Alt 30s — 3 alt flashes every 30 seconds. 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 alt color may indicate a specific sector or warning zone.
Which ports and harbors does Tsurugisaki Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Tsurugisaki Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is Maguchi at 0.2 NM to the NNE. Other ports served include Kurihama (5.4 NM NNE), Hamakanaya (5.9 NM NNE), Uraga (6.5 NM NNE), Hayama (8.5 NM N). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Tsurugisaki Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, Tsurugisaki 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 Tsurugisaki Lighthouse?+
Tsurugisaki 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 Tsurugisaki Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Tsurugisaki 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.