Onahama Helipad

Natural Disaster. The helipad was located at the Onahama Port, which was directly in the path of the 2011 tsunami. The catastrophic wave destroyed the port's infrastructure, including the building on which the helipad was likely situated.

The site has been completely redeveloped as part of a major post-tsunami reconstruction project. A new, modern, and tsunami-resilient Iwaki City Onahama Fish Market was constructed and officially opened in September 2019. The new building features a modern helipad on its roof at the exact same coordinates (36.977341, 140.946972). This new facility is officially designated as an emergency-only helipad ('kinkyū richakuriku-jō'). Its sole purpose is to serve as a landing site for disaster relief, search and rescue (SAR), and emergency medical service helicopters (such as 'Doctor Heli') in the event of a future disaster that isolates the area.

The ICAO code JP-0594 refers to the pre-2011 helipad. Given its location at the heart of the Onahama Port and Fish Market, it was an integral part of the region's critical maritime and fishing industry infrastructure. Its operations would have likely supported business transport for the fishing cooperatives, served as a potential landing zone for the Japan Coast Guard for maritime rescue operations, or been used for emergency medical services in the bustling port area.

The original helipad (JP-0594) is permanently closed and will not reopen. A new, more advanced emergency helipad has been operational at the location since 2019. There are no known plans or prospects to open this new facility for commercial, private, or general aviation use; its function is strictly limited to emergency and disaster response.