[Tosashimizu City, Kochi Prefecture] A guidepost for the ocean, a lighthouse you can see up close Part 1

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Lighthouses have served as "guideposts to the sea" and have continued to ensure the safety of voyages. Tosashimizu City, which juts out into the Pacific Ocean, is home to numerous lighthouses. Among these, we will introduce some large lighthouses that can be seen up close.

Written by

Hata Region Tourism Bureau

The Hata region of Kochi Prefecture is located at the southwestern tip of Shikoku, and is a peninsula that juts out into the Pacific Ocean, facing Tosa Bay to the east and Bungo Channel to the west. It is made up of three cities, two towns, and one village: Hara Village. It is a natural powerhouse rich in blessings, including the nationally famous Shimanto River and Cape Ashizuri, the blessings of the Kuroshio Current that flows along the coast, and the blessings of mountains that boast the largest area of forests in the country.

Introduction

Lighthouses, also known as "signposts of the sea," may not be all that unusual in Japan, a country surrounded by sea on all sides.
However, surprisingly, there may not be that many opportunities to see a lighthouse up close...
When I went there to cover the story, I found its history and unique shape to be quite interesting.
So, we decided to introduce four lighthouses in Tosashimizu City, which is home to Cape Ashizuri, which juts out into the Pacific Ocean.
I will introduce it in two articles.

Table of Contents
Cape Ashizuri Lighthouse: A white lighthouse that stands out against the deep blue sea and sky
Related articles about Cape Ashizuri Lighthouse
Kanaezaki Lighthouse, another spectacular view
Related articles about Kanaezaki Lighthouse

Cape Ashizuri Lighthouse: A white lighthouse that stands out against the deep blue sea and sky

Cape Ashizuri offers a panoramic view of the endless sky and horizon.
Along with Cape Muroto and Cape Shionomisaki at the southern tip of the Kii Peninsula, the area off the coast of Cape Ashizuri has long been one of the key maritime transportation hubs in western Japan, with many ships passing through.

The lighthouse on Cape Ashizuri first came on line in 1914 (Taisho 3).
Since then, as of 2024, it has continued to ensure the safety of navigation off Cape Ashizuri for 110 years.

Overview of Cape Ashizuri Lighthouse

There is no entrance gate to Cape Ashizuri Lighthouse, so it is accessible 24 hours a day.
However, there are no streetlights in the area, so you will need a flashlight to light up your path when it's dark.

There are several points on the path to the lighthouse, like those in the photo below, where there is a risk of hitting your head in the dark.

You can enjoy the view during the day, and on a clear night, you can also see the lighthouse and the starry sky together.

Photo provided by: syuuzou Takeba (Tatsukushi Tourist Ship)

Parking

Ashizurimisaki Parking Lot in front of Kongofukuji Temple (approximately 200m, 5 minutes walk)
If the parking lot is full, you can use the Ashizuri Cape East Parking Lot, located about 500m east (about 700m, 10 minutes walk).

About the toilets

There are no toilets near Cape Ashizuri Lighthouse.
Please use the public toilets in front of the John Manjiro statue or in front of Kongofukuji Temple.

access

Google Maps

Access by car

Approximately 20 minutes (approximately 15km) from downtown Tosashimizu via Prefectural Route 27
From Shimanto City, take National Route 321 and Prefectural Route 27 for about an hour (approximately 45km)

Access by public transport

About 5 minutes walk from Kochi Southwest Bus stop "Ashizuri Misaki"

Please check the Kochi Southwest Bus website for timetables etc.

Kochi Southwest Bus Route Bus Timetable

There are guide signs at various points along the trail.

Kanaezaki Lighthouse, another spectacular view

The light at Ashizuri Cape Lighthouse was first lit in 1914, but the light at Kanaezaki Lighthouse was first lit in 1910, the 44th year of the Meiji era.
Although it is smaller than the Cape Ashizuri Lighthouse, it still retains traces of its Meiji-era architecture.

The light source has been renovated, but the brick structure with white mortar remains almost exactly as it was originally.

Overview of Kanaezaki Lighthouse

There is no entrance gate to Kanaezaki Lighthouse, so it is accessible 24 hours a day.
However, please be aware that there are no streetlights in the vicinity and you will need to walk along a footpath that crosses a ridge along a steep cliff, which can be very dangerous for those who are not accustomed to walking in the dark.

The footpath leading to the lighthouse has almost no railings and is flanked by steep cliffs on both sides, so please be careful even during the day.
Furthermore, when the road surface is wet, such as during or after rain, it becomes very slippery.

Parking

There are no marked parking lots.
However, the tip of Kanaezaki is wide, and except for the space where cars can pass,
There is space for about 4 to 5 cars, so you can use that.

About the toilets

There are public toilets along the road to Kanaezaki Lighthouse, but the facilities are very old and we do not recommend using them.
If you are coming from Matsuyama or Sukumo, please use the roadside station in Otsuki Town.
If you are coming from Tosashimizu City, please use Tatsukushi West Park or Mejika no Sato Roadside Station.

Access

Google Maps

Access by car

From Tosashimizu city center, take National Route 321 for about 30 minutes (about 20 km)
From Tatsukushi, take National Route 321 for about 15 minutes (about 8 km)
Whether you are coming from the east or west, Kanaezaki Tunnel is the landmark.

The old road to the tip of Kanaezaki is short, but it is very narrow, so please be careful of oncoming vehicles. (There are no guardrails.)

Access by public transport

About 5 minutes walk (about 300m) from Kochi Southwest Bus "Kanaezaki" stop
Or, walk for about 10 minutes (approximately 650m) from the "Otsu" bus stop.

From Tosashimizu city, go to "Sukumo Station (Sukumo)" From Sukumo and Otsukicho, go to "Shimizu Bus Center" or "Shimizu Plaza Pal Front"

Please check the Kochi Southwest Bus website for timetables etc.

Kochi Southwest Bus Route Bus