Maizuru Emergency Runway

Military reorganization. The closure was part of a broader restructuring of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). The resident aviation unit, the 23rd Fleet Air Squadron, was disbanded, and its anti-submarine helicopter operations were consolidated with other units at different bases, primarily Tateyama Air Base.

The site has been significantly repurposed. A large portion of the former runway and adjacent land is now occupied by a large-scale solar power plant known as 'Mega Solar Maizuru'. While the long runway is defunct, a part of the original base remains active as the JMSDF Maizuru Heliport (ICAO: RJBM), which provides helicopter support for the Maizuru naval base.

The airfield was originally constructed during World War II as the Maizuru Naval Airfield for the Imperial Japanese Navy, serving as a key base on the Sea of Japan. After the war, it was transferred to Japanese control and became the JMSDF Maizuru Air Station (海上自衛隊舞鶴航空基地). For decades, it was a vital base for maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and search and rescue operations. It was home to various JMSDF helicopter squadrons, most recently the 23rd Fleet Air Squadron, which operated SH-60J Seahawk helicopters in support of the JMSDF's Maizuru District fleet.

None. There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the runway for fixed-wing aircraft. The construction of the large solar farm directly on the former runway surface makes its restoration for aviation purposes practically impossible.