Izumohinomisaki Lighthouse

IALA Heritage Lighthouse of the Year 2020 Nominee

Location: JAPAN - Shimane prefecture. Izumo-shi.

Lighthouse Operator: Japan Coast Guard

Source: (photos as submitted to accompany nomination form submitted by Japan Coast Guard in 2020)

Lighthouse Description and History

(Text extracted from nomination form submitted by Japan Coast Guard in 2020)
History

Japan sea route by Mitsubishi steamship company and Sannin route by Osaka steamship company were established in 1876 and 1884 respectively.
Foreign trade had started and became thriving after Hamada port and Sakai port were designated as an open port in 1899.
The construction of Izumohinomisaki lighthouse as an important place of the maritime routes was start in 1900.
First lit in 1903
To respond to the restriction on lighting for an air raid in war time, using shading board and changing color of the lighthouse tower in camouflage pattern in 1944
Automated in 1974
Designated for Lighthouses of the world in 1998 by IALA
It was designated as a lighthouse for lovers in 2017

 

Feature

It is still the highest stone-built lighthouse in Japan, though it has past more than 100 years since first lit.
Double cylindrical structure; an outer wall is made of stone and an inner wall is made of bricks
The lighthouse also works as a meteorological observation station and Japan Coast Guard send this information to mariners.
The first class Fresnel lens made in France is about 2.6 meters high, and it has about 0.48 million candelas.

Reason For Nomination

(Text extracted from nomination form submitted by Japan Coast Guard in 2020)
Intrinsic Heritage Interest of the Lighthouse

Design and construction are done only by Japanese. It is rated high value as a compiled masterpiece which is mixed stone-made lighthouse construction technology introduced by foreign countries at the early Meiji period with Japanese castle construction technology and stonemason construction.
It is rare structure all over the world. Double cylindrical structure; an outer wall is made of stone and an inner wall is made of bricks is adopted. This structure was designed by Brunton, British engineer
You can see Japan sea from the lighthouse. The area where the lighthouse is located, is a famous sightseeing point with the most famous shrine in Japan, Izumotaisha.
Rank A historical lighthouse of Meiji era(Existing lighthouse which is made in Meiji era (1868-1912) with high historical and cultural value, which was chosen by Japan Coast Guard, and which was given an conservative treatment.
Tangible cultural properties of Japan in 2013(designated by Agency for cultural affairs)
Heritage of Industrial Modernization(designated by the Ministry of Economy and Industry)
Lighthouse of the year in 1998(IALA)
Top 50 Japanese lighthouses(selected by Japan Coast Guard according to a popular vote in 1998)

Conservation

Earthquake-proofing work for lighthouse tower and repainting outer wall for proofing in 1992
conservation work for weathered stone wall in 2009

Public Access and Education

The special opening to the public at the same time of local festival in cooperation with a local government (20th October 2018: 985 visitors/ 23rd March 2019: 264 visitors/ 31st August 2019: 252 visitors)
Lighthouse which is open to the public and there is a lighthouse museum next to the lighthouse
About 60,000visitors in 2018