JGSDF Camp Higashichitose Third Airfield

Military operational change and consolidation. The 'airfield' was a small training strip within a larger military complex. Its closure as a designated airfield was likely due to a shift in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) training doctrines, a change in the types of aircraft operated by the stationed units, or the consolidation of aviation activities at the main, better-equipped heliport within Camp Higashichitose. The strip became redundant for its original purpose.

The site is located deep within the active and restricted JGSDF Camp Higashichitose. Satellite imagery confirms the paved surface, resembling a very short runway or a large pad, remains intact. The area is part of a vast military maneuver ground and is actively used for various exercises. Its current use likely includes helicopter landing practice, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) or drone operations, or as a staging area for ground vehicle and troop exercises. The site is not abandoned but has been repurposed for general military training.

The airfield was a small but integral part of the JGSDF Higashichitose Maneuver Area (東千歳演習場), one of the largest and most important military training grounds in Japan. It primarily served as a training facility for the 7th Aviation Group, the air component of the JGSDF 7th Division. The 7th Division is Japan's only armored division and a key element in the defense of Hokkaido. Operations at this strip would have involved helicopters and potentially Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) aircraft practicing landings and takeoffs in a simulated forward combat environment. It should be noted that the ICAO code 'JP-0025' was an unofficial identifier, likely assigned by and used in non-governmental aviation databases and flight simulators, not an official code assigned by the JCAB or ICAO.

There are no known or publicly discussed plans to reopen the site as a formal, designated airfield. Its future is determined entirely by the internal operational and training requirements of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. Any decision to re-designate it for specific aviation use would be an internal military matter. There are no prospects for it to be opened for any public or civilian use.