Anorisaki Lighthouse
A beacon was first lit at this spot in 1681 to guide the Tokugawa Shogunate’s ships as they navigated their way along the coast of Japan carrying rice to Edo (now Tokyo). In 1873, it was replaced by a wooden lighthouse. Designed by British engineer Richard Henry Brunton (1841–1901), this was the first lighthouse in Japan to use the Fresnel lens—a lens that projects light long distances, and is vital for guiding ships. One of these lenses can be examined in detail at Anorisaki’s Lighthouse History Museum.
The current concrete lighthouse dates from 1948. In 1998, it was selected as one of the best fifty lighthouses in Japan due to its unusual square shape. Climbing to the top of the lighthouse, one can see a dramatic view of the quiet seas of Matoya Bay on one side and the rough Pacific on the other. Visitors can sometimes view Mt. Fuji from here on a clear winter’s day.
As the midway point between Edo and Osaka, Anori became an area where various cultural aspects merged. Bunraku, Japanese puppet theater, was one such cultural development. The tradition continues in Anori, with annual Bunraku performances at Anori Shrine in mid-September.