Lighthouse aficionados in Toyko, Japan recently got together for a three day event to visit a number of Japanese lighthouses. The tour also included a visit with Mr. T. Yamazaki, a well known lighthouse photographer in Hokkaido, Japan. Mr. Yamazaki is about to publish a lighthouse book from his collection of lighthouse photographs which he has been taking for over 20 years.
The eight sided lighthouse shown here is Notoro Lighthouse built in 1916 standing 57 meters high. Since the station is so remote all power is self-generated. It is also one of Japan's few lighthouses which does not stay lit in the winter months due to the ice build up which does not permit ships to traverse the area.
Members of the group came from all ages, including an 87-year-old former lighthouse keeper. The trip was sponsored by ASAP Company, the exclusive cataloger/distributor in Japan for Lighthouse Depot of Wells, Maine, USA.
The group hopes that someday they may travel with an American lighthouse group to visit and tour lighthouses together.
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