Sunday, December 15, 2024

Lighthouse of the Week, December 8-14, 2024: Motta Misaki (Cape Motta) Lighthouse, Hokkaido, Japan

 

I promised another lighthouse from Japan's island of Hokkaido this week, and this is what I promised. Given the current hype around the movie version of the musical Wicked, I thought this one was quite timely. The Lighthouse Directory calls what it is wearing a dunce cap, but I think of it as a witch's hat.

This is called, apparently, several different names:  Motta Misaki, Motsuta Misaki, or just Cape Motta, which is what Google Maps has it listed as.  Here's where it is located on Hokkaido, and note Sapporo again.

Now the Lighthouse Directory tells us more:

"1937. Active; focal plane 282 m (925 ft); two white flashes every 24 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern, gallery, and a traditional "dunce-cap" roof, attached to a 1-story concrete equipment room. Lighthouse painted white with a broad black horizontal band. 3rd order (?) clamshell Fresnel lens in use." ... "The unusual height of this powerful lighthouse gives a range of more than 65 km (40 mi). The lighthouse was restored in 2001 and the tall dunce-cap roof was apparently added at the time. At the same time the forest road to the light station was opened to the public." ... "The station commands a spectacular view of the Sea of Japan; the island of Okushiri can be seen in fair weather. Located on a high, mountainous promontory about 16 km (10 mi) north of Setana."

Enjoy the pictures below.






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