A Round Tower of Coursed Granite
The Cape Tateishi Lighthouse (立石岬灯台, Tateishimisaki Todai) is a stone lighthouse built in 1881 at the northern tip of the Tsuruga Peninsula in Tateishi, Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture, which in 2017 was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records a stone structure 6.0 metres in diameter and 8.0 metres high, altered in 1930, owned by the national government (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) and registered as a structure that would not be easy to reproduce.
The Agency describes it as a harbour mark for Tsuruga and one of the earliest Western-style lighthouses built by Japanese engineers. A former sundial and two stone walls are registered with it.
Structure
According to the Agency, a round tower of granite laid in level courses, 6.0 metres across at the base, carries a lamp room 2.5 metres across, topped by a domed steel lantern.
The coursed stone tower, lamp room and lantern form three stages that give the lighthouse its outline.
What to Look For
Look at the level joints of the coursed granite and the domed lantern crowning the tower.
At the foot of the lighthouse survive the former sundial and stone walls registered with it, traces of the keepers' work and daily life.
Visiting the Lighthouse
The Cape Tateishi Lighthouse is a working navigation aid, and no information on access to the interior could be found. It can be seen from around the site.
Directions and information on the whole site, including the enclosure, are on the Cape Tateishi Lighthouse group page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Fukui
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Cape Tateishi Lighthouse
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Q&A
- When was the Cape Tateishi Lighthouse built?
- In 1881; it was altered in 1930.
- How big is the Cape Tateishi Lighthouse?
- 6.0 metres in diameter and 8.0 metres high.
- What is special about the Cape Tateishi Lighthouse?
- A coursed granite tower with lamp room and domed steel lantern, one of the earliest Western-style lighthouses built by Japanese engineers.
- What else is registered with the lighthouse?
- A former sundial and two stone walls.
- Can I go inside the Cape Tateishi Lighthouse?
- It is a working navigation aid, and no information on interior access was found.
Basic Information
| Name | Cape Tateishi Lighthouse (立石岬灯台) |
|---|---|
| Location | Tateishi Erigasaki, Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2017/5/2 (Heisei 29) |
| Quantity | One structure (with a former sundial and two stone walls) |
| Dimensions | Stone, 6.0 metres in diameter, 8.0 metres high |
| Owner | National government (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) |
| Public Access | Exterior viewable; no interior access information |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Cape Tateishi Lighthouse (Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00011489
- Cultural Heritage Online: Cape Tateishi Lighthouse (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/294270
- Agency for Cultural Affairs: Cape Tateishi Lighthouse, Modern Heritage (Japanese)
- https://www.bunka.go.jp/kindai/todai/028/index.html
Last verified: 2026.09.28
