description Kannonzaki Lighthouse Overview
Kannonzaki Lighthouse is Japan's first Western-style lighthouse, first lit on February 11, 1869, at the entrance to Tokyo Bay on the Miura Peninsula in Kanagawa Prefecture. The original lighthouse was designed by French engineer François Léons Verny during the Meiji modernization period. The current structure is a reconstruction built after the original was damaged by earthquake.
help Kannonzaki Lighthouse FAQ
Why is Kannonzaki Lighthouse considered Japan's first modern lighthouse?
It was the first Western-style lighthouse built in Japan and was designed with foreign engineering expertise during the country's early modernization. It first showed its light on February 11, 1869, at the entrance to Tokyo Bay.
Is the present Kannonzaki Lighthouse the original 1869 building?
No. The original structure was replaced after damage, and the present lighthouse is a later reconstruction rather than the first stone tower. Earthquakes played a major role in the succession of buildings at the site.
What waters does Kannonzaki Lighthouse protect?
It overlooks the Uraga Channel, the narrow maritime approach connecting the Pacific side of the Miura Peninsula with Tokyo Bay. The channel remains a heavily used route for vessels traveling to ports around Tokyo and Yokohama.
Can visitors go inside Kannonzaki Lighthouse?
The lighthouse has traditionally been one of Japan's publicly accessible climbing lighthouses, subject to opening hours and weather restrictions. It stands within Kannonzaki Park in Yokosuka, making it reachable as part of a coastal visit.
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