The lighthouse was designed and constructed by British engineer Richard Henry Brunton, and is noteworthy in that it is the first concrete structure to have been built in Japan.

The work of cutting away the rock to prepare for the foundations of the tower was commenced in April 1869, and the lighthouse was first illuminated on 1 January 1871.

The tower is accompanied by structures for the lighthouse keeper, and two warehouses, and there are stone walls to serve as windbreaks and for protection against waves.

[3] The lighthouse was first lit on January 1, 1871 in a ceremony attended by British consul-general Sir Harry Smith Parkes, and Japanese officials Prince Sanjō Sanetomi, Ōkubo Toshimichi and Ōkuma Shigenobu.

[3] The island has been recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports a seabird colony of Japanese murrelets.