Former Wadamisaki Lighthouse

The Red Lighthouse of Suma

The Former Wadamisaki Lighthouse (旧和田岬灯台) is the oldest surviving iron lighthouse in Japan of 1884 in Sumauradori, Suma Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on September 2, 1998 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The Agency records a steel-frame structure 7.5 metres across and 17 metres high; registration number 28-0025.

A Wooden Light Rebuilt in Iron

The former Wadamisaki Lighthouse is the oldest surviving iron lighthouse in Japan (Agency for Cultural Affairs). When first lit in Brunton's time, in 1872, it was of timber, but in 1884 it was rebuilt in iron pipe; it is thought to have been designed by Ishibashi Ayahiko on his return from study in Britain, and it became the model for later iron lighthouses. In 1964 it was moved to its present site in Suma Beach Park.

According to Kobe City, the first tower was an octagonal three-tier timber structure, lit in January 1872. Because timber was weak against decay and fire, it was rebuilt in March 1884 as a hexagonal three-tier steel frame, with a gas light. After land reclamation around Wada Point led to a new lighthouse to the east, it was moved to Suma, where it is affectionately called the Red Lighthouse of Suma.

Why It Was Registered

The Agency notes it as the oldest surviving iron lighthouse, the model for those that followed, and registered it as difficult to reproduce.

What to Look For

Look for the hexagonal three-tier steel frame and its red paint (Kobe City).

Visiting

It is owned by Kobe City and stands in Suma Beach Park (Agency for Cultural Affairs). According to Kobe City, the ground-floor interior is normally closed and is sometimes opened, for example on Lighthouse Day (November 1).