About
Standing in a corner of Tsukuda Park by the Sumida River, the Ishikawajima Lighthouse is a quiet witness that conveys the atmosphere of Edo to the present day. This hexagonal, two-story lighthouse was originally built as a night light to ensure the safety of ships navigating the Sumida River and off the coast of Shinagawa. Its appearance continues to leave a deep impression on visitors, transcending eras.
This area was named Ishikawajima after being granted by the shogunate in Kan’ei 3 (1626) to Ishikawa Hachizaemon Masatsugu, a naval commander. Later, in Kansei 2 (1790), at the suggestion of Hasegawa Heizo, chief of the fire and theft prevention office, a laborers’ asylum was established here. This facility housed vagrants and minor offenders, providing them with vocational training to support their reintegration into society—a groundbreaking initiative for its time.
In Keio 2 (1866), Shimizu Junki, magistrate of the laborers’ asylum, used the profits from oil pressing produced at the asylum to build this lighthouse at its southern end. The completion of the lighthouse brought great joy to local fishermen and played an important role in ensuring the safety of navigation.
Today, the Ishikawajima Lighthouse has been restored as a monument, and its interior is used as a public restroom. However, its presence strongly retains the atmosphere of the past, quietly telling visitors about the history and culture of Edo.
As you walk through Tsukuda Park, you will feel the history of Ishikawajima alive along with the flow of the Sumida River. Amid the modern landscape lined with high-rise buildings, this lighthouse continues to watch over the changing times as a quiet witness.