JASDF Kasuga Air Base, Japanese air base
JASDF Kasuga Air Base is a military airfield in Kasuga, Fukuoka, that shares runways with the neighboring civilian airport and experiences regular flight operations. The installation includes command buildings, hangars, and control towers with fighter jets, transport helicopters, and support aircraft of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force on the ground.
The site began in the 1940s as a military equipment factory and was expanded in 1944 with a runway to support air defense during World War II. After the war, U.S. forces took over the facility, but in 1959 Japan regained control and renamed it Kasuga Air Base.
The base carries the name Kasuga and reflects Japan's transition from wartime production to self-defense. The Mitsubishi F-1 jet displayed during public events shows local communities a symbol of Japan's aviation history and remains a visible sign of regional identity.
The base is located near Fukuoka Airport and the city center, easily accessible by train or car, making a visit straightforward. Visitors should know that the installation remains an active military airfield, so access and photography are restricted by security measures.
The base shares runways with civilian Fukuoka Airport, an unusual arrangement that allows military and commercial aircraft to use the same airspace. This coexistence shows how defense and everyday commerce operate side by side in modern Japan.
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