Japan Shows - Autumn 2024

[Tommy]

Given how my Twitter algorithms are still quite Japan-focused, and it’s approaching their big airshow season; I thought I’d flag airshows taking place there. Who knows, it might help anyone planning on going. Some of them can fly a bit under the radar.

They’re not worth separate threads, but I’ll stick them in here as I see them.

[Tommy]

JASDF Komatsu - home to three F-15 squadrons including the TFTG aggressors plus a SAR detachment. Located on the central west coast:



Inside the show you’ll likely have the sun to your back for a part of the day at least. Perhaps 3pm will be iffy, but still decent.

[Tommy]

JGSDF Camp Tachikawa, in Tokyo, not far from Yokota/Iruma. A week after Komatsu at the end of September.

A north/south runway, so shooting into the sun for much of the day, but I lovely light at the end of there are any interesting guests to depart.

Home to JGSDF UH-1Js, plus a bunch of police/air ambulance/fire dept aircraft.

You can park a car in the nearby park.

[Tommy]

JGSDF Camp Akeno. 10th November.



JGSDF “schoolhouse”, and also home to attack helicopter and transport residents.

Other than AH-64DJPs, now all based down south, with a few lucky guests like CH-47JAs and V-22s, you can probably see almost all JGSDF rotary types. Sun’s at your back all day, but can suffer from foggy sea air.

Review: https://www.airshows.co.uk/reports/over ... -festival/

[Tommy]

https://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/iruma/kouhou ... x2024.html

Iruma AFB Air Festival. 3/11/24 09.00 - 15.00.

Home to C-2s, C-1s, the EC-1, YS-11s, lovely SAR Chinooks, and other goodies.

Possibly last chance for the C-1/YS-11s(?).

[Tommy]

Gifu AB festival - 17th November. One of the big hitters in the calendar. Worth it for all the test and development specials, but shooting into the sun all day.

Worth keeping an eye on their Twitter if you’re ever in the area, as they advertise pre-show practices which can be watched live side from the excellent Gifu museum. (the flight test demos also support other shows throughout the year too)

[Tommy]

JASDF Tsuiki, an F-2 base down in the south of the mainland:

https://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/tsuiki/

Few details yet, but a news item confirms the show 24th November 2020 (presume a typo to mean 2024).

[Tommy]

Naha AFB festival - December 8th.

[Tommy]

Chitose, 15th Sept (a bit close!)

[Tommy]

Can’t find any info online but the Blue Impulse Schedule (as far as I can tell this is the most updated version: https://seawaves.com/blue-impulse-2024- ... -schedule/) lists Hamamatsu Air Festival on 27th October in its usual slot (T-4s, Hawker 400s, E-767s plus a SAR detachment).

[Tommy]

Same again for Hyakuri: https://seawaves.com/blue-impulse-2024- ... -schedule/

8th December (again, its usual slot, or thereabouts).

Keep an eye on their Twitter closer to the time:

[Tommy]

Missed this, but Camp Kisarazu’s show is on 5th October. Located in southeast of Tokyo, just across Tokyo bay.

Home to JGSDF OH-1s, AH-1s, CH-47s, V-22s etc.

[Tommy]

JGSDF Camp Tachikawa, in Tokyo, not far from Yokota/Iruma. A week after Komatsu at the end of September.

A north/south runway, so shooting into the sun for much of the day, but I lovely light at the end of there are any interesting guests to depart.

Home to JGSDF UH-1Js, plus a bunch of police/air ambulance/fire dept aircraft.

You can park a car in the nearby park.

Tachikawa participants:

[Tommy]

JMSDF Shimofusa AB (eastern Tokyo) confirmed for Saturday 26th October.

[Tommy]

Can’t find any info online but the Blue Impulse Schedule (as far as I can tell this is the most updated version: https://seawaves.com/blue-impulse-2024- ... -schedule/) lists Hamamatsu Air Festival on 27th October in its usual slot (T-4s, Hawker 400s, E-767s plus a SAR detachment).

Now confirmed:

[Tommy]

https://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/iruma/kouhou ... x2024.html

Iruma AFB Air Festival. 3/11/24 09.00 - 15.00.

Home to C-2s, C-1s, the EC-1, YS-11s, lovely SAR Chinooks, and other goodies.

Possibly last chance for the C-1/YS-11s(?).

Featuring a debut of the EC-1 (amazed how it’s debuted in the very winter of its service life!)

A new viewing space has been created where you can see aircraft up close! The nearest one is Sayamamon, a 10-minute walk from Sayamashi Station! Helicopters, aircraft made in Japan, and of course the Blue Impulse will also be flying, as well as a ceremony for a retired C-1, a security dog ​​training demonstration, and many other events. Details will be gradually released on our website and social media, so please look forward to it