Can I go inside Jogashima Lighthouse?

No. The interior is generally not open to public climbing. Visitors can view the lighthouse from exterior observation areas and surrounding Jogashima Park.

What else can I see at Jogashima?

Jogashima Park with coastal walking trails, Umiu Observatory with panoramic views of Sagami Bay and Mount Fuji on clear days, tide pools with marine life, rocky cliffs, and coastal rock formations. Seafood restaurants and Jogashima Aquarium are nearby.

When is the best time to visit Jogashima Lighthouse?

Sunrise and sunset offer excellent photography conditions. Low tide allows tide pool exploration. Clear days provide views of Mount Fuji from the Umiu Observatory. The area is accessible year-round.

How long should I spend at Jogashima?

Most visitors spend 2-3 hours exploring the lighthouse area, coastal walking trails, tide pools, and observatories. Allow additional time for dining at seafood restaurants or visiting the aquarium.

What marine life can I see in the tide pools?

Tide pools accessible during low tide contain crabs, sea anemones, small fish, and other coastal marine life along the rocky shoreline.

Jogashima Lighthouse

3.9 (2517)Scenic SpotTourist AttractionPoint Of InterestEstablishment

Jogashima Lighthouse is located on Jogashima Island at the southern tip of the Miura Peninsula in Kanagawa Prefecture, overlooking Sagami Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The lighthouse was first constructed in 1870 during the Meiji era, making it one of Japan's oldest Western-style lighthouses. The original structure was designed by French engineer Léonce Verny. The current lighthouse, standing approximately 11.5 meters tall, was rebuilt in 1926 after the original was damaged. The lighthouse has guided ships navigating between Tokyo Bay and Sagami Bay for over 150 years.

The lighthouse holds significance as part of Japan's Meiji period modernization when Western technology was adopted for maritime navigation safety. Jogashima Island's strategic position at the entrance to Tokyo Bay made the lighthouse essential for maritime traffic. The lighthouse is designated as a registered tangible cultural property. The surrounding area features dramatic coastal scenery with rocky cliffs, tide pools, and coastal walking paths.

Visitors view the lighthouse from exterior observation areas; the interior is generally not open. The surrounding Jogashima Park includes walking trails along the coastline. The Umiu Observatory provides panoramic views across Sagami Bay and, on clear days, Mount Fuji. The rocky shoreline features tide pools accessible during low tide with marine life including crabs, sea anemones, and small fish. Coastal paths connect viewpoints and rock formations. The area is popular for photography during sunrise and sunset. Rest areas, souvenir shops, and seafood restaurants are available.

Access from Misakiguchi Station on the Keikyu Line, approximately 15 minutes by bus to Jogashima. From Tokyo, take Keikyu Main Line from Shinagawa Station to Misakiguchi (about 70 minutes), then transfer to bus. From Yokohama, approximately 50 minutes on Keikyu Line. By car, drive via Miura Peninsula coastal roads with parking near Jogashima Park. Lighthouse and park area have free admission. Located approximately 80 kilometers south of central Tokyo.

What other travelers are saying about Jogashima Lighthouse

Visited yesterday. Nice one day trip from Tokyo. Its located in the Miura peninsula in Kanagawa. Board a train heading towards Misakiguchi in the Asakusa line and then remain on boarded. It's the terminal station. Then take a bus to Jogashima and there are couple of other places as well. There is a trail of 2.5 Km in which the Jogashima lighthouse is part of. There is another lighthouse located in the park - Awazaki lighthouse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Check out the beautiful views of Tokyo Bay and Sagami Bay from the shores of Jogashima Island at the tip of the Miura Peninsula in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Located only about 76 km south of Tokyo, visitors can easily access the island by train, bus, taxi, and private vehicle. On a clear day, photographers and tourists can enjoy a clear views of Mt. Fuji to the east, Oshima Island to the south, and Chiba Prefecture to the east. Located at the western end of Jogashima Island, the Jogashima Lighthouse was designed by Francois Leonce Verny, a French engineer, and completed in 1870 with a brick structure. As was the case with so many structures, the lighthouse collapsed during the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. The current structure is a concrete reconstruction dating back to 1926. Even with the advent of modern technologies for Tokyo Bay maritime traffic (VTS in 1977 and DGPS in 1997), the lighthouse is still in operation. If you visit the eastern end of the island, there is a nice, well-maintained park and the recently constructed Awasaki Lighthouse. Below the lighthouse, the exposed coastal rocks of Jogashima Island reveal alternating layers of pyroclastic sandstone and mudstone that were deposited on the seafloor about 10 to 4 million years ago. Throughout the island’s shoreline visitors can see a low coastal terrace that was formed by uplift during the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. The western end of the island has been a popular destination not only for tourists, but also for many high school and college students who use the island for geological field trips. Various deformations in the sedimentary record can be seen with the naked eye including imbricate thrusts, slumps, and flow folds. Check out the Pix4Japan YouTube channel for a video shot at this lighthouse and surrounding areas.

Daisei Iketani

Mar 20, 2022

Jogashima Lighthouse

What other travelers are saying about Jogashima Lighthouse

Frequently Asked Questions

The area

Phone

Website