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

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.

Related articles about Cape Ashizuri Lighthouse

Cape Ashizuri

1349 Cape Ashizuri, Tosashimizu City, Kochi Prefecture 787-0315

Cape Ashizuri, the southernmost tip of Shikoku You can enjoy the observatory, promenade, rare plants, topography, etc. while walking. From the observatory, you can see a 270° panorama of the Pacific Ocean and powerful waves. On the promenade, you can enjoy the tunnels of trees, rock walls, and spectacular views while visiting the Seven Wonders of Kobo Daishi (Kukai), a monk who had a great influence on Japanese Buddhism. The symbolic lighthouse has been watching over the safety of ships for over 100 years. The bronze statue standing at the entrance is of John Manjiro, a great man of Tosa, and is said to face America, which is closely related to him. Sunrise in the early morning Pacific Ocean shining in the daytime Sunset in the evening Starry sky at night If you have come all the way to Kochi, it is also recommended to walk through the southernmost point.

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

Related articles about Kanaezaki Lighthouse

Kanaezaki Lighthouse

〒787-0562 Otsu Kanaesaki Lighthouse, Tosashimizu City, Kochi Prefectu...

This is the lighthouse in Kanaezaki, which haiku poet Hekigo Kiri said, "You can't say you've seen the landscape of Tosa without seeing the Kanaezaki coast." As the name suggests, it is said that if you come to Kanaezaki, your love will come true. The coastal road along the way is also perfect for a drive.

Tatsukushi coast

787-0452 Tatsukushi, Tosashimizu City, Kochi Prefecture

A place of spectacular scenery created by water and wind over eternity. Dynamic rocks that jut out into the sea like bamboo You can enjoy the complex and bizarre formations of the rocks, which are just like Gaudi's architecture in Barcelona. It is also sometimes compared to Mars because of its scenery. There is a tourist route that goes halfway around the peninsula, which is said to be the origin of the name Tatsukushi. Adults can tour the area in about 20 minutes. Some areas can be dangerous on days when the waves are high, so please be careful.

Around Tatsukushi West Park

4124-1 Misaki, Tosashimizu City, Kochi Prefecture 787-0450

"Gurutto Tatsukushi West Park" has been completed on the west side of SATOUMI in the Tatsukushi district of Tosashimizu City. ● Parking for 50 cars (1 barrier-free, 2 for large buses) ●Large playground equipment ●Observatory ●Dog run ●Toilet (with nursing room)