These are the remains of the first lighthouse built in Okinawa, with the lighthouse built in Tsuken island in Nakagusuku Bay.

Basic information

Address

901-0142 334 Kagamizu Naha Okinawa Near the entrance to the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Station Naha Airport Traffic Control Center

Business hours

Nothing in particular

Close day

Nothing in particular

Charge

Free

Parking

None

Access information

A 12-minute walk from the ”Yui Rail" Naha Airport station.

Additional Information

Academic information

These are the remains of the first lighthouse built in Okinawa, with the lighthouse built in Tsuken island in Nakagusuku Bay.

In 1896 (the 29th year of Meiji era), the Ministry of Army Temporary Taiwan Lighthouse Construction Squadron built a 12m high, brick lighthouse; it later became the site of an official residence and warehouse of Sachibaru reef point, located in Orokumagiri-Ashimine village, Shimajiri county. (Construction started on the 10th of January and completed on the 15th of September of the same year.) On 25th November 1896, the first light was illuminated. Since then, it indicated the location of a shallow area, by using green and red lights to warn sships and ensure safe sailing for the ships in and out at Naha Port.　Two specialists from the Ministry of Communication were assigned to the lighthouse and worked day and night shifts. In April 1900 (the 33rd year of Meiji era), an unmanned lighthouse was built on Mi-migusuku, which was located at the entrance of Naha Port and also Sakibaru lighthouse's staff was in charge of Mi-gusuku lighthouse's periodic inspection. In 1945 (the 20th year of Showa era) the lighthouse was destroyed during the Battle of Okinawa; a beacon tower was built at there by U.S. military. Today, the land is being utilized by the Naha Air Traffic Control Department, but the brick foundation of the lighthouse reamains. As well, the U.S. military's beacon tower also still is visible at the reef point. A party of Virgil Hall, when visited Ryukyu in 1816, described the reef rock which protrudes from the ocean, as appearing like an abbey's wall, then called the rock "Abbey point" (Cape abbey). A party of commandore Perry, visited Ryukyu in 1853, also recorded the reef point as "The cape covered by green and the rock located in edge covered by moss、it is suggested the cape's name."

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Naha City Museum of History