5 Lighthouses in Ishikawa worth your time

A rare square-shaped lighthouse in Kanazawa Port recognized as one of the top fifty lighthouses in Japan.

What it is

• A landmark for Kanazawa Port originally established as a light pole in 1878.
• One of Japan's Top 50 Lighthouses managed by the Japan Coast Guard.
• A rare square pillar shaped structure rebuilt at its current location in 1953.
• A maritime facility located near the Ono River in Ishikawa Prefecture.

What to see

• The distinct square pillar architectural design of the main tower.
• Views of the surrounding Kanazawa Port and the Ono River.
• The nearby Ono Karakuri Museum located in the immediate area.

Getting there

• Local buses run from Kanazawa Station to the Ono bus stop.
• The site is a fifteen minute drive from the Kanazawa Nishi Interchange.

Official site

www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp

Read more about Ōno Lighthouse

A historic stone lighthouse on the Noto Peninsula offering maritime heritage and scenic views from a preserved 1883 structure.

What it is

• A white cylindrical stone structure first lit on July 10, 1883
• Designated as an A-rank preserved lighthouse and Modernization Industrial Heritage site
• Known locally as the Noroshi Lighthouse and listed among Japan's Top 50 Lighthouses
• Automated in 1963 and restored with LED lights in 2025 after earthquake damage

What to see

• The historic white stone exterior of the cylindrical tower
• A decorative plate featuring a chrysanthemum crest on the structure
• Modern LED light source installed after the original Fresnel lens was destroyed

Getting there

• Located a seven-minute walk from the Noroshi bus stop

Read more about Rokkōsaki Lighthouse

A white square lighthouse on a cliff offering coastal views within the Echizen-Kaga Kaigan Quasi-National Park.

What it is

• A white square-shaped medium-sized tower established in 1950 on a cliff.
• A navigational landmark for ships traveling along the Ishikawa Prefecture coastline.
• A facility located within the protected Echizen-Kaga Kaigan Quasi-National Park.
• A structure managed by the Japan Coast Guard since 1952.

What to see

• The distinct square architecture of the white lighthouse tower.
• Coastal views from the cliffside location in Kaga City.
• The surrounding natural landscape of the Quasi-National Park.
• The nearby Katano Kamoike pond located in the surrounding area.

Read more about Kasamisaki Lighthouse

Japan's oldest Western-style wooden lighthouse, built in 1876, marks a historic site where bonfires once guided ships since 1608.

What it is

• The oldest Western-style wooden lighthouse remaining in Japan, built in 1876.
• A designated historic site of Ishikawa Prefecture located in Shika Town.
• A site where bonfires were first lit to guide ships starting in 1608.
• An active maritime navigation aid that served the region until 1952.

What to see

• A historic wooden structure standing approximately five meters tall.
• The interior of the lighthouse which consists of three distinct levels.
• A building constructed by Hino Yoshisaburo using Western architectural influences.

Read more about Former Fukura Lighthouse

A functional white concrete lighthouse built in 1952 that guides ships along the Shika coastline with a powerful rotating light.

What it is

• A white concrete tower standing 15.2 meters tall in Shika Town.
• Known by local residents as the New Lighthouse.
• First lit in 1952 to replace the Old Fukura Lighthouse.
• Managed by the 9th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters.

What to see

• A modern concrete structure reaching 28 meters above sea level.
• A rotating lighting device that flashes white every twelve seconds.
• A beacon with a luminous range of 15.5 nautical miles.

Read more about Fukura Lighthouse