Shionomisaki Lighthouse

Shionomisaki Lighthouse is a white lighthouse standing as a symbol of the southern tip of the Kii Peninsula, and it has been selected as one of the "Top 50 Lighthouses of Japan." Since it was first lit in 1873 (Meiji 6), it has continued to illuminate ships from a 30-meter cliff for over a century. It is one of eight Western-style lighthouses built under early Meiji treaties, and due to its high historical and cultural value, it is designated as an A-rank preserved lighthouse. In 2018, it was also certified as a "Lighthouse to Fall in Love With" by the Japan Romanticist Association, leaving a legacy of many achievements. As a visitable lighthouse, it has an attached "Lighthouse Materials Exhibition Room," where you can learn about the lighthouse’s history, functions, and roles, and see many valuable exhibits including the second-generation Shionomisaki Lighthouse lens—making it well worth a visit. From the lighthouse, you can look out over the vast grasslands and ocean of Cape Shionomisaki, the southernmost point of Honshu. Access: take the JR Kisei Main Line to "Kushimoto Station," transfer to the Kushimoto Town Community Bus, and get off at "Shionomisaki Todai-mae"—it’s right in front of you.