The role of the Fresnel lens, an essential part of the lighthouse mechanism, and Takezaki Lighthouse
About the location of Takesaki Lighthouse
On Google Maps, search for "Tanegashima Lighthouse" instead of "Takesaki Lighthouse.
It can be reached from the Tanegashima Space Center grounds, but there is no parking lot.
What is Sankan Lighthouse?
Lighthouses protect the safety of the sea, but not all lighthouses are open to visitors.
There are 16 lighthouses in Japan that can be visited, but the lighthouse on Tanegashima Island is not included in this list.
The following is a quote from the Japan Coast Guard's article on visiting lighthouses.
Can we see the inside of the lighthouse on Tanegashima Island?
Of course, the interior of the lighthouse is not usually open to the public, but on rare occasions, it is opened to the public.
This is a rare opportunity to see the inside of the lighthouse, but when the Tanegashima Takesaki Lighthouse was open to the public, we were allowed to take pictures.
The signboard at the entrance of the lighthouse.
Overview of Takesaki Lighthouse (from local sign)
Jurisdiction: Tenth Regional Coast Guard
Type: White tower type concrete structure
Luminous intensity: 800,000 candela
Reaching distance: 26 nautical miles ( 48Km )
Height: 18.4m from the ground, 106m from the sea level
Since it was a special open house day for the lighthouse, the exterior of Takezaki Lighthouse is a little different from the usual.
Let's take a look at it from a different angle. The Japan Coast Guard is also decorating the lighthouse for a special open house, so it is decorated in a way that is not usual.
Large reefs in the vicinity of Tanegashima Island that are a major obstacle to ship traffic
Takezaki Lighthouse on Tanegashima Island has numerous hazards, including "Genzaburo Se," a typical reef about 8 km offshore to the south of the lighthouse. Local fishermen and fishing boat captains are well aware of this, and the lighthouse was established because the area has been plagued by maritime accidents in the past, including tankers running aground.
Special Open House Day at Takesaki Lighthouse
This is a rare special open house of the Takesaki Lighthouse. Local families and children gather.
The climb up to this lighthouse is quite steep, although Japan Coast Guard personnel drive up in their cars, so the public participates on foot.
There is also a Coast Guard official at the bottom of the road.
There is a lighthouse at the end of this slope, but it is a very tough slope for me.
This is a beautiful woman guiding us on the bus.
She was guiding the tourists on the bus, so she was looking up and waiting for them to return.
The sightseeing time was about 30 minutes, and we waited for everyone to return according to the bus time.
The Fresnel lens is essential to the lighthouse mechanism, and the inside of the lighthouse was amazing
Now it's time to go inside the lighthouse
The interior is a spiral staircase that leads up to the observation deck above.
This is directly below the lighthouse (the room with the flunnel lens) of the Takesaki Lighthouse. There is an observation terrace here.
I would like to visit the light room (the room with the flunnel lens) at Takesaki Lighthouse
If you are a photographer, you would love to visit a lighthouse lighthouse. Everyone thinks, "I'd love to go to the lighthouse lighthouse!
For safety reasons, there are several Japan Coast Guard officials there, and I was afraid they would get angry if I climbed up there without permission.
After a few minutes of staring at the top with my camera in my hand, one of the Coast Guard officers asked me, "Would you like to see the lighthouse? He asked me, "Are you sure?
He said, "What? May I take a picture?"
We had to wear helmets and climb up a ladder to get to the lighthouse, but we were allowed to take pictures and spread the word on social media. There was no reason for the photographer not to go.
The lens in the lighthouse's lighthouse was amazing
The lighthouse at Takezaki Lighthouse on Tanegashima Island, where I was told that children are not allowed because of the ladder, but I was able to climb up.
There was a big, green, complicated flunnel lens. It was a sight to behold.
The lens of Takezaki Lighthouse is a rather complicated lens.
I wanted to take as many pictures as I could, but there was not enough foothold inside the lighthouse to do so.
I tried to take as many pictures as I could, but I remember I was a little scared because of the scaffolding underneath.
This is a photo of the ceiling of the lighthouse. You cannot go any higher.
Fresnel lens, an essential part of the lighthouse system, special open house day at the Japan Coast Guard
The service provided by the Tenth District Coast Guard was amazing.
A helicopter flew in and even showed the inside of the ship to the public.
The helicopter would look like it was in the process of crashing if you didn't use slow shutter speeds to photograph it
Helicopters move relatively slowly, so it is easy to take pictures of them with a smartphone, but in fact, if you take pictures normally, the propeller will stop.
If the propeller is stopped, the photo will look like a helicopter in the process of crashing, and many photos on the Internet are like that.
In this photo, the shutter speed was as low as possible so that the propeller would not appear to be stationary; the ISO was lowered to 50 and the shutter speed was set at 1/40 second.
Shooting with slow shutter speeds tends to cause camera shake
If you shoot a helicopter at a shutter speed of 1/40 to get the rotor to move, the helicopter itself will be blurred.
I hold the camera firmly and shoot in a light streaming style so that the helicopter itself is not blurred.
After landing, the helicopter was already a prey for the children. But thanks to the Japan Coast Guard personnel who were very attentive to the children.
The helicopter was especially popular with the boys.
Tenth Regional Coast Guard Headquarters Special Open House of the Patrol Vessel Takachiho
The Japan Coast Guard also opens its patrol vessels to the public. Tanegashima Island is also open to the public for Self-Defense Forces exercises, making it a must-see for enthusiasts.
On the day of the special open house, Umimaru and Tomin, the mascot of the Japan Coast Guard, also participate.
Photo Description
First, check the reception desk and reservation postcard.
- Waiting for the patrol boat "Takachiho" to come ashore
- The Takachiho has come ashore. Finally, it is time to board
- This is the view from the patrol boat
- The patrol boat is full of antennas
Inside the Japan Coast Guard's Takachiho5
You can even enter the cockpit. The children were delighted.
We took a serious look at the radar screen and other instruments, but I won't take pictures of the instruments just to be safe.
Instrumentation of the Patrol Vessel Takachiho
It is a boat equipped with a patrol boat, but it has ferocious maneuverability and speed, not unlike a jet bike. If pursued by one of these boats, no one would be able to escape.
The Japan Coast Guard's "Umitsubame" also flew overhead many times, providing a great service.
Summary of Fresnel lenses, an essential part of the lighthouse mechanism
The special public viewing of the Takesaki Lighthouse and helicopter by the Tenth District Coast Guard was quite satisfying in a state of great service.
It is rarely regretted unless there is an opportunity to visit, but it is fun to go to a special open house because you can see things that you normally cannot see.
The lighthouse lighthouse room (the room where the lens is located) is often not open to the public, even during special open house events, because it is necessary to wear helmets or other protective gear to avoid hitting your head.
However, if you want to see the full Nerlens, it is worth negotiating with the local authorities.
In my case, I was lucky enough to be lent a helmet and given permission to enter the light room.
Thank you for reading to the end.