Contents of this page
Overview
Obtaining Information
What to bring
How to get there
Shopping
Useful Japanese Conversation
Links to website on Japanese Airshows
Japanese Airshow Data

This is the most popular style airshow in Japan.
Show is normally held on Sunday only.
Aircraft from JASDF, JGSDF, JMSDF will be displayed, civilian aerobatics (normally just one) may perform, US military aircraft (Stationed in Japan and sometimes Korea) may be displayed.
Most of the JASDF airshows, the T-4 Blue Impulse will give the flight demonstration.
The local squadron normally will do a formation fly-by, in massive number of 6, 9 or sometimes 16 aircraft.
The show program normally ends with the Blue Impulse, but you may remain at the base to see static display aircraft start the engine and depart to its home base.
This is a free event.

2. Open house of U.S. Military Forces in Japan

U.S. air base in Japan will hold an open house once a year and U.S. military aircraft (stationed in Japan and Korea) as well as Japan Self Defense Force aircraft will be displayed.
With the exception of MCAS Iwakuni, all U.S. air base do NOT have any flight display.
Misawa AFB is used by both U.S. and JASDF, and the airshow is hosted by JASDF.
This is a free event.

3. Civilian Aviation events

Several aviation events are hosted by non-military groups in a fairly small airfield.
Aerobatics, General Aviation aircraft, Glider aircraft, Helicopter fly-by and demonstration can be seen
A special event with Warbirds (invited from U.S.) may be held with few years interval.
Japan Self Defense Force aircraft may or may not participate.
Some events are free, while others charge an entrance fee (around 3000Yen per adult)

Obtaining Information

Information on open house of U.S. Military Forces in Japan can be found in U.S. military website and is in English.
If you plan to go to Japan Self Defense Force Airshow or civilian airshow, getting information will be quite a challenge as most, if not all, of the source of information is written in Japanese.

If you have a friend that is Japanese or can read Japanese, Buy him a lunch (Soba noodle would be fine! No need for Sushi !) and ask him to check the Japan Self Defense Force Website for schedule of events.


What to bring:

There are no restrictions on video and photography in Japanese Airshows.
(Also there are no restrictions to video and photography from outside the base during regular training)
You may also use a scanner to monitor radio communications between tower and aircraft.

Japan is a crowded, small area country and airshow site is no exception.
This makes distance between spectators and the aircraft fairly close.
Generally a 200mm lens is enough to shoot full frame side view of large size planes and 300mm for fighters.

Lots of people take photos in Japan. You will surely be surprised so many people carry expensive camera and lens. You will see few people with notepads writing serial numbers as Europeans do, or see few people just drinking can of Bud as the Americans do.
The number of photographers has actually caused problem, as some people bring and climb on an A-frame ladder and this greatly blocks the view of general audience.
To cope with this you may arrive early to secure a good spot.
However, if you are an average European or American you must be taller than average Japanese and therefore have no problem for viewing.
Usually there is no Grandstand or premium seating. (unless you are invited by Japan Self Defense Force)

Electricity outlet in Japan is AC100V 50Hz (East) or 60Hz (West).
You will need an adapter as there is no ground line and no polarity on the socket.
If you are from U.S. you do not need to worry about the voltage as the difference is small.
If you are from Europe or anywhere over 200V, you need to double check if your appliance (camcorder battery charger etc) works in Japan.

Food and drinks can be purchased at the site, however you may buy them at a convenience store near the train station and bring them in.
(Usually there is a lunch break time between noon-13:00 where there is no flight display)





How to get there

Unless you have lived and drove in Japan for a while, do not even think about driving to airshows in Japan.
（Some airshows like Atsugi, Iruma and Yokota have No parking space at all)
All airshows can be reached via train (and connecting bus, if necessary)
Train is the most convenient, accurate and safe means of transportation in Japan.

First, go to the Major Train Station.
This site is not a generic travel guidebook, so you need to buy travel books on Japan and get directions to the nearest major train station, You should be able to find plenty of accommodations around major train station.
From this major train station, take a local train and go to the nearest station.(See Airshow Data section on this page)
By the time you reach the nearest station, you should see at least several people whom look like an aviation buff.
An average aviation buff would wear ballcap with Blue Impulse or flight squadron marking, Carry a Camera with telephoto lens or camcorder, have a scanner, wear jacket with squadron patches and may even carry an A-frame ladder.
If you follow these people, they will surely take you to the airshow site !
This may sound like a joke, but I am serious and is a very good way to reach an airshow site especially if you are a first time visitor to the site.
If you cannot find these people, you may ask the train station staff or policeman in police box (Koban) for the direction to Airshow site.

If possible, plan to get there at least 30-60 min. before the gate opens.
This way you can secure a good spot (via compact folding chair or vinyl sheet) and take photos/record serial number of static display aircraft before it gets too crowded.
Remember, many of the static display aircraft will fly out of the base by the time the show is over and morning may be the only time you get to see them close.


Shopping

Here are some of the souvenirs you can find at the Japanese airshow site.

Squadron cap/T-shirt/patch
Calendar/poster/models/books/videos/DVDs of Japanese aircraft
Autograph of Blue Impulse Pilots (free)

Food, snacks and beverages are available at the site, of course.
Only cash in Japanese Yen can be used.
(In US forces base open house, US$ may be used in some shops)
Few, if not none, shops take credit cards.
There are usually no ATM at the airshow site so you need to make sure you bring enough money to survive.


Useful Japanese Conversation

Getting to the airshow site
How do I get to the airshow site?	Ko-ku Show e no iki kata o oshi-ete kuda-sai.
Is this the right bus to the airshow?	Kou-ku show ni iku ni wa kono bus de ii desu ka.
Is this the right train to the airshow?	Kou-ku show ni iku ni wa kono den-sya de ii desu ka
At the airshow
Which unit does this aircraft belong to?	Kono Hiko-ki no syo-zo-ku butai wa doko desu ka.
What time does this aircraft fly ?	Kono Hiko-ki wa itsu tobi masu ka?
Where can I buy film/battery/blank videotape?	film/den-chi/nama-videotape wa doko de kae masu ka
Will the Blue Impulse fly?	Blue Impulse wa tobi masu ka
Where can I get autograph of Blue Impulse pilots?	Blue Impulse no pilot no sa-i-n wa doko de morae masu ka
Leaving the airshow
Where is the exit?	De-gu-chi wa doko desu ka?
How do I get to the bus stop?	Bus tei wa doko desu ka?
How do I get to the train station?	Eki wa doko desu ka?

Links to Website on Japanese Airshows
(Sorry most of them are in Japanese.)

Japan Self Defense Force official site
Japan Air Self Defense Force official site
Japan Ground Self Defense Force official site
Japan Maritime Self Defense Force official site
MCAS Iwakuni
Misawa AFB (Note: airshow at Misawa is hosted by JASDF)
Yokota AFB
Kadena AFB
NAS Atsugi
AIRock aerobatic team
Airshow schedule in Japan (One stop shopping page although in Japanese)


Japanese Airshow Data
(Only airshows featured in this website is listed below)

Airshow site (Prefecture)	Hosted by:	General airshow date (Check host's website for specific date)	Major train station (Major train line)	Next Airshow date	Direction from Major train station to the Nearest train station (See Note)	How to get to the show site fromnearest train station
Ashiya (Fukuoka)	JASDF	Nov	Kokura or Hakata (Sanyo bullet train)	Sep 29, 2002	Kokura or Hakata - (Kagoshima Honsen line) - Kurosaki	Bus
Atsugi (Kanagawa)	US Navy	Apr-Aug (Depend on CVW-5 cruise schedule)	Yokohama (Tokaido Honsen line)	TBD	Yokohama - (Sotetsu line, Ebina destination) - Sagamino	Walk (15 min)
Gifu (Gifu)	JASDF	Nov	Nagoya (Tokaido bullet train)	Dec 1, 2002	Nagoya - (walk) - Shin Nagoya - (Meitetsu Inuyama line) - Inuyama - (Meitetsu Kagamihara line) - Mikakino	Walk (5 min)
Hamamatsu (Shizuoka)	JASDF	Nov	Hamamatsu (Tokaido bullet train)	Nov 24, 2002	Hamamatsu	Bus
Hyakuri (Ibaraki)	JASDF	Oct	Ueno (Yamanote line)	(No show in 2002)	Ueno - (jyoban line) - Ishioka	Bus (Expect crowds! Arrive early!)
Iruma (Saitama)	JASDF	Nov 3 ("Culture day" National Holiday)	Ikebukuro (Yamanote line)	Nov 3, 2002	Ikebukuro - (Seibu Ikebukuro line) - Inariyama Koen	Walk (0 min) Train station = gate!
Iwakuni (Yamaguchi)	USMC	May 5 ("Children's day" National Holiday)	Hiroshima (Sanyo bullet train)	May 5, 2002	Hiroshima - (Sanyo Honsen line) - Iwakuni	Walk (30 min) or Taxi or Bus
Kisarazu (Chiba)	JGSDF	Fall	Chiba (Sobu Honsen line	TBD	Chiba - (Uchibo line) - Kisarazu	Free shuttle bus or walk (30min)
Kita Utsunomiya (Tochigi)	JGSDF	May	Tokyo (Yamanote line)	TBD	Tokyo - (Tohoku bullet train) - Utsunomiya	Bus (30min, get off at "Koku Gakko")
Komaki (Aichi)	JASDF	Nov	Nagoya (Tokaido bullet train)	TBD	Nagoya - (Meitetsu Inuyama line) - Inuyama - (Meitetsu Komaki line) - Ushiyama [You may fly into Nagoya Int'l airport]	Walk (5min)
Komatsu (Ishikawa)	JASDF	Sept	Kanazawa (Hokuriku Honsen line)	Sep 22, 2002	Kanazawa - (Hokuriku Honsen line) - Komatsu [You may fly into Komatsu airport]	Bus
Matsushima (Miyagi)	JASDF	Aug	Sendai (Tohoku bullet train)	July 28, 2002	Sendai - (senseki line) - Yamoto	Walk (15min)
Misawa (Aomori)	JASDF	Sept	Aomori (Tohoku Honsen line)	Sept 8, 2002	Aomori - (Tohoku Honsen) - Misawa [You may fly into Misawa airport]	Bus, Taxi or walk (40min)
Narashino (Chiba)	JGSDF	Jan	Tokyo (Yamanote line)	Year 2003 TBD (Jan 19, 2002 show is over)	Tokyo - (Sobu Honsen line) - Tsudanuma - (Shin Keisei line) - Narashino	Walk (30min)
Nyutabaru (Miyazaki)	JASDF	Nov-Dec	Miyazaki	Dec 8, 2002	Miyazaki - (Nippo Honsen line) - Takanabe	Bus or taxi
Shimofusa (Chiba)	JMSDF	May	Tokyo (Yamanote line)	TBD	Tokyo - (Sobu Honsen line) - Funabashi - (Tobu Noda line) Takayanagi	Free shuttle bus or walk (30min)
Shizuhama (Shizuoka)	JASDF	May	Shizuoka (Tokaido bullet train)	May 26, 2002	Shizuoka - (Tokaido Honsen line) - Fujieda	Bus
Tachikawa (Tokyo)	JGSDF	Nov	Shinjyuku (Yamanote line etc.)	TBD	Shinjyuku - (Chuo Honsen line) - Tachikawa	Walk (15 min)
Tateyama (Chiba)	JMSDF	Fall	Chiba (Sobu Honsen line)	TBD	Chiba - (Uchibo line) - Tateyama	Bus to Tateyama air base (20 min)
Tsuiki (Fukuoka)	JASDF	Nov.	Kokura (Sanyo bullet train)	Nov 9, 2002	Kokura - (Nippo Honsen line) - Tsuiki	Walk (5 min)
Yokota (Tokyo)	USAF	Summer	Shinjyuku (Yamanote line etc.)	TBD	Shinjyuku - (Chuo Honsen line) - Tachikawa - (Ohme line) - Ushihama	Walk (20min)

Note:
For example, "Shinjyuku - (Chuo line) - Tachikawa - (Ohme line) - Ushihama" means
"from Shinjyuku station, take Chuo line to Tachikawa station, change train to Ohme line and get off at Ushihama."