📜 Content
The Izumo Hinomisaki Lighthouse stands on the cliffs of Hinomisaki at the western end of Shimane Prefecture. It has a height of 43 meters from the ground to the top of the tower, and approximately 63 meters from the sea level to the top of the lighthouse, making it the tallest stone lighthouse in Japan. It is also a representative large Western-style stone lighthouse in Japan, listed among the "100 Great Lighthouses of the World" and "50 Great Lighthouses of Japan."
The tower features a dual structure with a stone exterior and a brick interior. The stone used for the outer wall was quarried from the mountains in Mihonoseki, Matsue City. The interior of the tower is open to the public, and by climbing the 163-step spiral staircase to the observation deck at the top of the lighthouse, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the Sea of Japan and the Shimane Peninsula. On clear days, the Oki Islands can be seen to the north, while the mountains of the Chugoku region can be viewed to the south.
In the adjacent lighthouse information room, various blueprints and three-dimensional models related to the history and structure of the lighthouse are displayed, along with valuable materials associated with the lighthouse.
The area surrounding the lighthouse is composed of lava, featuring rugged coastal erosion terrain that is quite spectacular. On the west side of the lighthouse, there is a walking path called Kashirakuen that runs along a pine forest, where visitors can enjoy rare coastal plants such as bracken and Araucaria heterophylla while taking a stroll.
