Japan Airshows 2016

[Uni]

Hi, all.

I'll tell you "my own expectation of FY 2016 schedule" for your travel aid.
JSDF usually release their official show schedule(s) by the March-end.
When I get the latest infos. , I'll update this list as soon as possible.

<FY2015, confirmed>
10 Jan., 2016. JGSDF Narashino, 1st. drop training of the year.
Open 0830-1500, Event 1100-1200.
http://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/1abnb/event/
30 Jan., 2016. JASDF Naha, Blue Impulse show.
Open. 0800-1100am, around the base buildings only(Not open the air field).
31 Jan., 2016 JASDF Naha, Blue impulse show, but NOT open tthe public.
They will have a ceremony fot the establishment of the 9th Wing.
http://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/naha/

13 Mar. JASDF Komaki airshow,
http://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/komaki/

26 Mar. JR Hakodate station(Hokkaido), B.I. fly-by to celrbrate the opening of the Shinkansen(High speed train in Japan).

<FY2016, confirmed>
03 Apr. JASDF Kumagaya(Saitama Pref.), No B.I., 0900-1500
http://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/kumagaya/

09 Apr. JGSDF Somagahara(Gunma pref.), 0800-1500
http://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/eae/12b/
10 Apr. JGSDF Takayubaru(Next to the Kumamoto airport, Kumamoto pref.), 0900-1430
http://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/wae/event/kin ... youji.html

16 Apr. F-15 and F-2 of 1 TS static display and engine-run at JASDF museum, Hamamatsu.
<<open, but no flight!>>16 Apr.. JGSDF Metabaru(Saga pref.)
http://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/wae/metabaru/
17 Apr. F-15 and F-2 of 1 TS static display and engine-run at JASDF museum, Hamamatsu.
17 Apr. JGSDF Kasuminome(Near the JR Sendai station, Miyagi pref.), 0900-1430
http://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/neae/neaavn/

<<Cancelled!>>23 Apr. JMSDF Kanoya(Kagoshima pref.) experience flight to the invitee.
<<Cancelled!>>24 Apr. JMSDF Kanoya Airshow
http://www.air-memo.com/
24 Apr. JAXA Chofu Lab. O.H.(Next to the Chofu airport, Tokyo)), 1000-1600.
Static display of their a/c(s).
http://fanfun.jaxa.jp/event/

30 Apr. NAF Atsugi, Kanagawa pref.. (If it will be rain, they will open on 1 May.)
"Spring Festival 2016", open house with static displays.
But they will have "normal training flights".
You(means "Non Japanese") need permission to enter the base. Please ask to the P.R.O..

05 May MCAS Iwakuni(Yamguchi pref.) without B.I..
http://www.mcasiwakunijp.marines.mil/Ne ... fault.aspx
http://friendship-day.net/ja/2016/01/07 ... -air-show/

21 May. JASDF Hofu-South(Yamaguchi pref.) O.H..
No active a/cs, but you can see some gate-guardians.

22 May. JASDF Hofu-North(Yamaguchi pref.) airshow.
http://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/hofukita/
22 May. JMSDF Ohmura(Nagasaki pref.)
http://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/22aw/

29 May. JASDF Miho(Tottori pref.) with B.I..
Only one base where you can see the cargo-drop demo. from C-1.
http://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/miho/

04 Jun. JMSDF Ohminato(Aomori pref.),
"Marin Festa in Ohminato", 0900-1500, Static only(SH-60J, UH60J and AH-1S).
http://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/oominato/info ... index.html
04 May. ADTW C-1 static display at JASDF museum, Hamamtsu
05 May. ADTW C-1 static display at JASDF museum, Hamamatsu.
05 Jun. JGSDF Kasumigaura(Ibaraki pref.)
http://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/eae/eadep/

<19 Jun. JGSDF Kita-Utsunomiya(Tochigi pref.)
http://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/eae/12b/
19 Jun. JGSDF Okadama(Sapporo airport, Hokkaido), 0900-1500.
http://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/nae/11d/jgsdf ... s/okadama/
19 Jun. JGSDF Asahikawa(Hokkaido), with B.I..

<Cancelled>02 Jul. USAF Kadena(Okinawa pref.).<Cancelled>
(Usually opens late Jun. or Jul.. )
DoD ID holder and Japanese only.
No flights, static displays only(F-15, KC-135, E-3, HH-60 an some JASDF a/cs.)
You(means "Non Japanese") need permission to enter the base. Please ask to the P.R.O.
16 Jul. JMSDF Maizuru, "Summer Festa" O.H..
http://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/tateyama/hs23/index.html
16 Jul. JMSDF Komatsujima
24 Jul. JMSDF Ozuki(Yamaguchi pref.)
"Kids Festa" O.H., 4*T-5ｓ will fly 1220-1245 and T-5 static display only.
http://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/oz-atg/
24 Jul. Civil Sapporo(JGSDF Okadama) , Hokkaido. 29th Air Pageant, 0900-1500. with B.I..
30 Jul. JMSDF Tateyama(Chiba pref.) "Helicopter Festival 2016" O.H..(No airshows on October in this year)
http://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/tateyama/

07 Aug. JASDF Chitose airshow(Hokkaido) with B.I..
http://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/chitose/
20 Aug. Civil Helicopter air show at "Kurosurando-Oyabe", 1000-1600.
(A park named "Cross-Land " at Oyabe,Toyama pref.)
21 Aug. Civil Helicopter air show at "Kurosurando-Oyabe", 1000-1600.
24-26 JASDF museum(Hamamatsu) T-4 display.

04 Sep. JMSDF Hachinohe airshow(Aomori pref.)
http://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/hatinohe/
10 Sep. JGSDF Obihiro(Hokkaido).
http://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/nae/5d/04_event.html
11 Sep. JASDF/USAF Misawa, with B.I..
http://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/misawa/
17 Sep. Ibaraki airport(Next to the HASD Hyakuri) festival, F-15 static show.
17 Sep. USAF Yokota(Tokyo)
http://www.yokota.af.mil/
18 Sep. USAF Yokota(Tokyo)
http://www.yokota.af.mil/
19 Sep. JASDF Komatsu(Ishikawa pref.) with B.I..
http://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/komatsu/
(19 Sep. is the holiday this year)
22 Sep., Yonago airport(next to the JASDF Miho) festival, YS-11 static show.
24 Sep. MCAS Futenma(Okinawa pref.), Flight line Fair. Static display only.
http://www.okinawa.marines.mil/
25 Sep. MCAS Futenma(Okinawa pref.), Flight line Fair. Static display only.
You(means "Non Japanese") need permission to enter the base. Please ask to the P.R.O..
25 Sep. JASDF Shizuhama(Shizuoka pref.) with B.I.(from Hamamatsu), 0900-1500
http://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/shizuhama/shizuhama.html
25 Sep. JMSDF Tokushima airshow(Tokushima pref.)
http://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/tokusima/
25 Sep JASDF Akita, 0900-1500, UH-60J FLT 1340-1420.

01 Oct. JGSDF Tachikawa
http://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/eae/eaavn/
02 Oct. JGSDF Akeno
http://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/akeno/
02 Oct. JASDF Nyutabaru, "F-4EJ Final Demo" open 1200-1500 with F-4EJ demo-flight and static show.
02 Oct. JAXA Chofu Labo. O.H., Tokyo
http://fanfun.jaxa.jp/event/
09 Oct. JASDF Ashiya with B.I.
http://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/ashiya/
16 Oct. JASDF Hamamatsu with B.I.
http://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/hamamatsu/
16 Oct. JGSDF Yao
http://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/mae/3d/yao/
16 Oct. JMSDF Ozuki(Yamaguchi pref.), "Swell Festa 2015",
http://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/oz-atg/
23 Oct. Military Reveiw at JGSDF Asaka(Saitama).
29 Oct. JMSDF Shimofusa airshow(Chiba pref.), 0900-1500.
http://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/simohusa/
30 Oct. JASDF Gifu, no B.I.. Static X-2.
http://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/gifu/

03 Nov. JASDF Iruma with B.I..
More than 250,000 people come to the base every year.
http://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/iruma/
26 Nov. JASDF Hyakuri pre-open for the invitee, with B.I..
27 Nov. JASDF Hyakuri with B.I..
http://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/hyakuri/
27 Nov. JASDF Tsuiki without B.I..
http://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/tsuiki/

03 Dec. JASDF Nyutabaru pre-open for the invitee, with B.I..
04 Dec. JASDF Nyutabaru with B.I..
http://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/nyutabaru/
10 Dec. JASDF Naha, with B.I..
http://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/naha/
11 Dec. JASDF Naha, with B.I..
http://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/naha/

08 Jan. 2017 JGSDF Narashino, 1st. drop training of the year.
Gate open 0830, Event 1100-1200, Gate close 1500.
Some helicopters will arrive at the training area at around 0800-0900.
http://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/1abnb/event/index.html

25 Feb. JGSDF Kisarazu
http://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/crf/heridan/

5 Mar. JASDF Komaki, 0900-1500

****Follows are only my own expectation****
<FY2016>(01 Apr.2016 - 31 Mar. 2017)
?? Apr. JMSDF Ozuki, fly-by for the new commer's ceremony.

05 Jun. JMSDF Tokushima O.H.(Tokushima pref.).
Static display only. Air show will held in autumn.
http://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/tokusima/

16 Jul. JMSDF Shimofusa(Chiba pref.), "Summer festival" O.H., 0900-1600.
static displays only(P-3C, SH-60Js of 3MSS, and P-2J of 3MSS as groud handling trainer).
http://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/simohusa/

< Events of the JASDF Museum at Hamamatsu >
?? UH-60J and U-125A display

That's all today.
Uni

[Uni]

Some infos. for 2016.

<General>
1. Usually, the JASDF release their open house schedule at around 20th March every year.

2. Usually, the JGSDF release their open house schedule at early March, because they open their camps at the season of the cherry blossoms(early April).

3. Usually, the JMSDF release their open house schedule about 1-2 month before the event.

4. JASDF/JGSDF/JMSDF are "holiday" on Sat. and Sun. and the National holidays in Japan(Please check the holidays of this year).
There are no activities except routine maritime patrol, exercise, emergency and /or some special missions.

5. There are also no activities on these days;
1) The day of the local school examinations.
2) The day of the Flying Safety which is usually 1st. Jul..
3) The year-end and 1st week of the new year(usually, around 25 Dec to 6 Jan.)
4) "O-bon" period, usually around 12 Aug. to 16 Aug..
5) The next day of the airshow or the open house day, except the transportation flight.

6. There are quite less flight from the 3nd. week of March to the The 1st. week of April(around 15 March to 3-4 April).
The end of March marks the end of the financial year in Japan. They used up their budget for the year, and maybe busy to write up /close their paper-works. They are also busy for the first few days of April, because new finacial year starts 1 Apr. in Japan
This means a lot of "old" organaization close on 31 Mar. and establish "new" organization on 1 Apr.. There are a lot of personnel movements, and relative ceremonies at this season.

7. Please check the NOTAM at this site before you visit to the airbase;
https://aisjapan.mlit.go.jp/Login.do
You' ll be able to get the time schedule of the mass flight, para-drop, and aerobatic
flights etc., for the airshow training.

8. Step ladder regulations
The number of the airshow visitor are increasing recently, so almost all the JASDF base made regulations for the step ladders at the airshow.
They are different from each airbases and changing year by year.
1) You CAN NOT bring it into the base : Iruma and Tsuiki.
2) You can bring it into the base, but prohibit to use during the airshow(especially B.I. show); Chiose, Hyakuri, Komatsu and Hamamamtsu.(Komatsu makes "Step ladder area" during the show)
3) You can bring it into the base, but requested minimum use; Other JASDF base.

<JASDF>
1. One fighter squadron usually has 3 training periods in one day from 0800am to 1700pm.
And they sometimes has "night" training at the 4th period(1700pm or later).

2. There are about 48 F-4EJ kais at 301sqn.(Hyakuri), 302sqn.(Hyakuri) and ADTW(Gifu).
6 original F-4EJs are also flying at Gifu(TPC use).
You can see them at least FY2020-end(March of the 2021, source: MINDEF purchase program 2015)

3. There are 8 RF-4Es and 5 RF-4EJs at 501sqn.(Hyakuri).
The 501sqn. will change to a fighter sqn. by FY2020(-end).
Three RF-4Es(901,905 and 913) are now painted in blue.
You can see them at least FY2020-end(March of the 2021, source: MINDEF purchase program 2015)

4. 13 F-2Bs which were washed by the Tsunami on 11 Mar., 2011 are under repairing.
They will fly again by FY2016-end.(6th F-2B had flown already)

5. There are two XC-2s and two C-2 at Gifu.
08-1201 had replaced its fuselage(main body), because its strength is weaker than they planned.
08-1202 is replacing its fuselage and will modify to the ELINT version.
68-1203 and 68-1204 are now at Gifu, but will go to Miho by March 2017.
Further 4 more C-2s will deliver to the JASDF on FY2017.
(This program was prolonged two years since their original announcement)

6. No infos. for the "Senkyo(*)" by now.
* Senkyo : Shortend term of the "Sengi-Kyougikai" in Japanese, meaning "The ACM meet in JASDF".

8. 8 sqn.(Misawa A.B.) has moved to Tsuiki by 29 Jul., 2016.

9. 301 sqn.(Nyutabaru) has moved to Hyakuri by end of the October.

10. 305 sqn.(Hyakuri) had moved to Nyutabaru by 31 Aug., 2016.

11. The Aggressor Sqn. changed its home-base from Nyutabaru to the Komatsu A.B.. by 10 Jun. 2016.

12. 3rd. sqn. will change its home-base to Hyakuri in 2020.

13. TRDI's X-2(51-0001, former ATD-X(Advanced Technology Demonstrator)) is now at Gifu A.B..
It will start to fly from late-November.

14. Kawasaki C-1s
Retired: 38-1003(16 Mar. 2016), 48-1005(04 Apr. 2012), 68-1016(28 May. 2014), 68-1017(27 Jan. 2015)
and 78-1022(11 May. 2015).
Crashed: 58-1009(19 Apr. 1983), 58-1010(18 Feb. 1986), 68-1015(19 Apr. 1983) and 88-1027(28 Jun.2000)

15. 11sqn.(Blue Impulse) has got one T-4 06-5787 for acro.

16. 2 YS-11s(52-1152 and 02-1158) remain at the 403sqn., Miho A.B..
Some sources say they will be retired by May 2017.
(1153 reitred on Mar., 2015 and 1156 retired on 16 Oct., 2015)

17. Two U-125A are painted in dark blue and flying at Komatsu.

<JMSDF>
1. Five "second-hand" C-130Rs for 61FS(9051-9055) can be seen at JMSDF Atsugi.

2. Kawasaki P-1s ;
5501 was modified to UP-1(Flying test bed) .
5502 is modifying to the production type.
5510 was delivered to the JMSDF on Mar. 2015.

Delivery schedules are as follows;
FY2015(by Mar. 2016) 5511 and 5512.
FY2016(by Mar. 2017) No new P-1s
FY2017(by Mar. 2018) 5513 and 5514.
FY2018(by Mar. 2019) 5515, 5516 and 5517.
Some P-1s are now belong to the VP-3, JMSDF Atsugi.

3. Two US-1As(9089 and 9090) are still in action.
　　But 9089 will replace to the US-2 9906 soon.(I think by Mar. 2015).
9090 will fly two more years at least.

<JGSDF>
1. The last LR-1(22019) made its last flight on 15 Feb.. at JGSDF Kisarazu.

<USN in Japan>
1. The CVW-5 usually leave Atsugi for its six month cruise in mid May and return late November.

That's all today.
Uni

[Uni]

Hi, all.

This is not the Air show schedule, but I think it maybe useful info. when you visit Japan.

***Aircrafts Gallery of the Tokyo Metropolitan College of Industrial Technology（TMCIT）***
(former F.A.M.E. Gallery)
*Collections: More than 10 A/Cs, including one F-86D and some civil-prop. planes made in Japan.
*Open Day to the public, 1000am-1600pm, Admission Free.
25 Mar.,2016, ?? Apr., ?? May.,　?? Jun., ?? Sep., ?? Oct., ?? Oct., ?? Nov., ?? Dec., ?? Dec., ?? Mar.(2017)
(Open day for the FY2017 is not released yet.)
*URL(Japanese only);
https://www.metro-cit.ac.jp/information/pavilion/

*Location and Access to the Arakawa Campus;
https://www.metro-cit.ac.jp/english/inf ... ccess.html

***Museums where the WWII planes displayed in Japan***
1) Misawa Aviation Museum, Aomori pref., near the airport. Tachikawa Ki-54.
2) Yasukuni Shrine, Tokyo. Mitsubishi A6M5, Yokosuka D4Y1.
3) Science Museum, Tokyo. Mitsubishi A6M2.
4) JASDF Iruma, Saitama pref..Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka-11.
Research Accessible.
5) Kawaguchiko Motor Museum, Yamanashi pref.. Mitsubishi A6M2 and some.
Open Summer period only.
6) JASDF Museum, Shizuoka pref. Hamamatsu A.B.. Mitsubishi A6M5.
7) Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Komaki plant. Aichi pref., next to the komaki A.B.. Mitsubishi A6M5 and J8M1
8)Kakamigahara Aerospace Museum, Gifu pref., Kawasaki Ki-61.(coming soon)
9) Battle ship "Yamato" Museum. Hirosima pref.. Mitsubishi A6M.
10) Shiden-kai Museum, Ehime pref.. Kawanishi NiK2-J.
11) Tachiarai Aviation Museum, Fkuoka pref.. Mitsubishi A6M3 and Nakajima Ki-27.
12) Peace museum for Kamikaze Pilots, Kagoshima pref.. Nakajima Ki-84-1-Ko.
13) Kaseda Peace Museum, kagoshima pref.. Aichi E13A1.
14) JMSDF Kaonoya Museum, kagoshima pref. Kawasaki H8K2.

* others are parts, fragments and/or replicas(FSM).

That's all.

Uni

[DeanW]

Thanks for the information Uni, it's incredibly useful. Of the September/October events, what shows would you think will be the biggest with the best variety of types on display?

[Uni]

The biggest airshow for the variety of types on display is the Misawa air show.
They usually open at the 1st. or the 2nd. weekend of September.

Uni

[Stilwell]

Misawa plan a good show, but unfortunately the quality of the weather doesn't always match the quality of the participation. (Typhoon season in Japan runs from early September to mid October).

The base with most comprehensive participation by JASDF types will be Gifu (Misawa will have USAF, USN, JMSDF and JGSDF participation, primarily in static, as well as JASDF and USAF).

Air shows in Japan are open house events, with the based aircraft flying and types from bases nearby on static display. Sometimes the visitors fly displays as well, or at least depart after the show.
As Gifu has several examples of each combat type and "light" trainer in service, plus C-1s and the C-2s; and they like to fly (both solo and formation), it tends to be the show with most different JASDF types in the air. Plus they can get visitors in from nearby Komaki in the form of a KC-767 tanker demo, C-130 tac. demo and / or U-125A & UH-60J Search and Rescue demo.
The problem with Gifu is it has a south facing crowd, with a ridgeline running along the southern side of the base, so photography from up-sun of the aircraft can be tricky - I understand the favoured location is in the fields near the Kagamigahara aircraft museum to the south of the base.

If you want JGSDF helicopter types, the show at Akeno is a good option. I'm not sure if they still have OH-6s based there, but they have OH-1s, UH-1s, AH-1s, AH-64s, UH-60s, CH-47s and TH-480Bs. Akeno isn't too far from Gifu, but Uni is expecting Gifu and Akeno to hold their shows on the same day. However, most JASDF bases tend to do a dress rehearsal the day before the show (I've been told that Gifu do); I'm not sure if the JGSDF do as well. The rehearsals give the opportunity to see some of the show, but not necessarily all. Also useful if the weather is bad on the day, like Nyutabaru last year.

If the show at Hyakuri is the weekend after Gifu, with Iruma likely to be on the following Thursday (the 3rd, a public holiday), that will be three big shows, relatively close to each other, within two weeks. At the moment this is the basis of my travel plans for this year.

For JMSDF types, Atsugi is near Tokyo, not too far away from Hyakuri and Iruma, with P-3s, P-1s, C-130s, SH-60s and sometimes a US-1A or US-2.

Jonathan.

[DeanW]

Thanks very much for the information, no doubt it'll come in really useful. Appreciate it!

[Uni]

Hi all,

There will be the Blue Implse show at JASDF Naha A.B..

30 Jan., 2016. JASDF Naha, Blue Impulse show.
Open. 0800-1100am, you will be able to enter the base but around the base-buildings only.
They will NOT open the air field.

31 Jan., 2016 JASDF Naha, Blue Impulse show, but NOT open to the public.
They will have a ceremony fot the establishment of the 9th Wing on this day.
http://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/naha/

Uni

[marcosommacal]

Hi everybody,
I'm planning to visit Japan next march. Sadly a one week only trip, it would be my first visit in the country so can some kind soul give me any suggestions? Due to the short time avaiable I was thinking to go to Atsugi (Hoping that the US Navy is in town), Iruma and Hyakuri (these should be the best place for pictures around Tokyo) then take a flight to Nyutabaru, but I do not know if that it's the right way to move around. I read that almost everywhere the stairs are really suggested, so any tip on where to buy them, or any other logistic info, advise is really appreciated!
Many thanks in advance,
Best Regards
Marco

[Stilwell]

Marco,
The exam question is: what exactly are you after?

The end of March marks the end of the financial year in Japan. My experience (from 2007/8) is that, if the JASDF squadrons have used up their budget for the year, flying can be limited at this time. Less so for USAF / USN.

Beyond that, the bases you listed are good choices for the Tokyo area. You also have the USAF transports at Yokota, JGSDF helicopters at Tachikawa and the JMSDF at Shimofusa, but they are all likely to have fewer movements. The JGSDF have Kisarazu as well, but that can be tricky to do from outside.

I would recommend you use Google to familiarise yourself with:
The SUICA pre-paid travel card
The online rail timetable at Hyperdia.com
The bus timetables linked from the Ibaraki International Airport (Hyakuri's civil side) website
The Japanese Meteorological Agency
The Toyoko Inn hotel chain
Other hotels are available, but they have an English language website, a good hotel for Atsugi at Yamato Station, a reasonable hotel for Hyakuri at Tsuchiura Station and a reasonable hotel for Nyutabaru at Miyazaki Station.

But for Nyutabaru my preferred hotel is Hotel AZ Shintomi. If you get rooms 510, 511 or 512 (Put "Room 511 please" in the "Any special requirements" box at the end of the on-line booking process) they look out on the point where the base leg turns onto finals for Runway 28 (you can photograph from the roof as well). Their website is in Japanese only, but enough of it can be copied into Bing Translator that I have managed to book it successfully three times.
The hotel is ~40 minutes walk up the hill to the east end of the runway, or ~1 minute walk from the garage of the Hinomaru Taxi Company - The road junction at the eastern end of the runway is called "Choshudai" (as you can see on Google Street View), and the taxi drivers have seen enough camera laden gaijin to know where to take you. Just avoid the peak time of staff going to the base for 08:00.

When I have done your Tokyo itinerary previously, I have stayed at one of the Toyoko Inn branches at Ikebukuro - They are around 10 minutes walk from Ikebukuro station, then 1 hour train travel time from Atsugi and Iruma (there will be up to 30 minutes walking time from Yamato or Kozashibuya to Atsugi, and from Sayamashi, Inariyama-Koen or Musashifujisawa stations for Iruma) and ~1 hour 40 minutes train ride from Ishioka, the station closest for the taxi or bus ride to Hyakuri.

You could hire a car and drive, but I wouldn't recommend it. It does have the bonuses of flexibility and being somewhere to shelter if it rains, but it will be expensive for one person, the traffic around Tokyo can be a nightmare and most of the bases in Japan have relatively easy access from public transport. The worst base used to be Hyakuri, but that has improved considerably with Ibaraki International Airport and the bus services.

For the trip you are proposing, a JR Rail Pass is not worth the investment - Atsugi and Iruma are not on JR lines, and the trip prices from Tokyo to Ishioka or from Miyazaki Airport to Miyazaki or HyugaShintomi (the closest station to Nyutabaru) are less than the per-day cost of a JR Pass.
The combined Narita Express (NEx) and SUICA deal is worth researching, but there are cheaper (if slower) ways of getting from Narita Airport (assuming that is your arrival point) to Tokyo than NEx. And I'm not sure it covers getting back out again.
Flying from Tokyo Haneda to Miyazaki is the correct option - the train takes a minimum of 10 hours (during the daytime) compared to under 2 for the flight. A rail pass is cheaper than return flights, but not much if you book early, and the saved time is worth the difference for your itinerary (less so if you were stopping off at Iwakuni on the way).

Also it is worth considering that the larger railway stations (including Miyazaki and Yamato) feature luggage lockers (some coin operated, some SUICA operated) if you need somewhere to leave your bags while you photograph aeroplanes. Hotels are usually happy to hold on to your bags on the day you check out for later collection, but that doesn't help if you aren't planning on coming back there at the end of the day. Although the station lockers can fill up quickly at the start of the day.

If you have an airband receiver, all operational radio traffic is in English.

Hope this helps,
Jonathan.

[Uni]

Jonathan, you wrote very nice explanation, I think.
Indeed there will be less flights in March.

Uni

[marcosommacal]

Hi,

Thank You very much for the info, that was what I was looking for, couldn't ask for better intel!
Sadly, I didn't know about the fiscal year. That's really a shame.
Now I'm not sure anymore about what to do. I'm going to be close to Japan due to work, well at least considering that I live in Italy, and I was thinking to extended the stay. But with lower flying activities and the difficulties of being by myself I'm afraid that it's not worthing the expenses...

So many thanks for the infos!
Best Regards
Marco

[Stilwell]

Hi Marco,
If you are going to be in Hong Kong or Taiwan, you may want to consider spending your extra time in Okinawa.

It will not be the budget JSDF trip of your original itinerary, and you are unlikely to see any F-4s, but with three bases less than 15 miles apart, there are worse places to spend the week.

While the JASDF F-15s at Naha are still potentially at risk of staying on the ground due to budget issues, the creation of 9th Air Wing at the end of January may have provided them with a larger training budget, and the proximity to areas of friction with China make the chance of QRA launches more likely. Plus Naha also has T-4s, E-2CJs, P-3s, UH-60s, CH-47s and an LR-2 based, plus regular military transport visitors and airline traffic.
The USMC base at Futenma has MV-22s, CH-53s, UH-1s, AH-1s, Citations and the occasional KC-130, and the USAF base at Kadena has F-15s, C-130s, HH-60s, KC-135s, E-3s, P-3s, P-8s, RC-135s and regular visitors. And less of the budget issues that affect the JASDF.

Plus there are direct flights from HKG and TPE to Naha, and a reasonable bus service (let down by mainly by the congestion of other road traffic):

http://www.routefinder-okinawa.com/route_search?Lang=en

Jonathan.

[DeanW]

Does anyone know whether any of the 2016 Japanese show dates have been confirmed yet? Particularly interested in Komatsu.

[Uni]

Hi, DeanW,
A rumour says the JASDF Komatsu airshow will be on 19 Sep.(Japanese holiday).