Kokura Airport

The airport was closed and replaced due to severe operational limitations that hindered its growth and reliability. Key reasons include:
1. **Short Runway:** Its single runway was only 1,600 meters (5,249 feet) long, which was too short to accommodate larger, wide-body aircraft used on high-demand routes or for long-haul international flights.
2. **Urban Encroachment and Noise:** Being located inland and surrounded by residential areas, the airport faced strict noise abatement regulations and a nighttime operating curfew.
3. **Weather Issues:** The airport's location was prone to dense fog, leading to an exceptionally high rate of flight cancellations and diversions. This earned it the unfortunate nickname 'Kekkō Kūkō' (欠航空港), a pun meaning 'Cancelled Airport'.
4. **Replacement:** A new, modern offshore airport (New Kitakyushu Airport) was constructed on an artificial island with a longer 2,500-meter runway and 24-hour operational capability, making the old airport redundant.

The former airport site has been completely redeveloped and integrated into the urban fabric of Kokura Minami Ward. The land is now home to a variety of public and private facilities, including the Kitakyushu City Medical Center, a large public space called 'Kokura Airport Site Park' (小倉空港跡地公園), commercial businesses, and extensive residential housing developments. There are no visible remnants of the runway or airport infrastructure.

The airport, originally known as Kokura Army Airfield, was established in 1944 for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service during World War II. After the war, it was briefly controlled by US forces before being returned to Japan for civilian use, with scheduled services beginning in the 1960s. Its official codes during operation were ICAO: RJFO and IATA: KKJ (the codes were transferred to the new airport).

Its most profound historical significance is that the city of Kokura was the primary target for the second atomic bomb on August 9, 1945. However, a combination of heavy cloud cover and smoke from nearby conventional bombing raids obscured the aiming point. After three failed passes, the B-29 bomber 'Bockscar' diverted to its secondary target, Nagasaki. This event gave rise to the Japanese phrase 'Kokura's luck' (小倉の幸運), referring to escaping a disaster without being aware of it.

During its operational years, the airport served as the main air gateway for the industrial hub of Kitakyushu, handling domestic flights primarily to Tokyo (Haneda) and Osaka (Itami) with airlines like Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA). Note: The ICAO code JP-0006 provided in the query is a non-standard identifier used in some databases for closed airfields; its official ICAO was RJFO.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening the site as an airport. The land has been permanently repurposed, and all regional aviation needs are fully served by the superior New Kitakyushu Airport. The redevelopment is complete and irreversible.