Shirasu Lighthouse

What it is

• A maritime beacon standing on a reef in the Hibiki-nada Sea
• Construction began in 1862 by local headman Iwamatsu Sukesaemon
• The Japanese government completed the first wooden structure in 1873
• The current steel and stone lighthouse was built in 1900

What to see

• Distinctive black and white stripes used for ship navigation since 1876
• A structure featuring a steel upper section and a stone lower section
• The surrounding waters north of the Kanmon Straits
• A historic site selected as one of Japan's Top 50 Lighthouses

Notes written by Japan Gems from facts in Japanese Wikipedia.