A Meiji-era stone lighthouse overlooking the Sea of Japan and the Oki Islands, listed among the World's 100 Great Lighthouses.
Mihonoseki Lighthouse stands on Cape Jizo at the eastern tip of the Shimane Peninsula. Built in 1898 (Meiji 31) under the guidance of a French engineer, it is known as the oldest stone lighthouse in the San'in region. The tower stands 14 meters tall, and from its lantern height of approximately 83 meters above sea level, visitors can look out over the Sea of Japan and the Oki Islands.
It is one of only five Japanese lighthouses selected by the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) as one of the '100 Great Lighthouses of the World.' In 2007 it became the first active lighthouse in Japan to be registered as a Nationally Registered Tangible Cultural Property, and in 2022 it was further designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
The former lighthouse keeper's quarters adjacent to the lighthouse now operate as an observation buffet restaurant, where guests can enjoy a meal and spectacular views alongside a display of historic Fresnel lenses. A visit pairs well with a stroll through the port town of Mihonoseki.