Kyoto Airfield / Kyoto Aircraft Training Crew Center

The airport was closed due to a combination of factors driven by increasing urbanization. Key reasons include: persistent noise complaints from the rapidly developing residential areas surrounding the airfield, growing safety concerns about operating aircraft in a densely populated environment, and a decline in the number of users. The Ministry of Transport (now MLIT) determined that ensuring future operational safety was becoming untenable, leading to the decision to permanently abolish the airfield.

The site of the former airport has been completely redeveloped into an industrial and commercial zone. The long, straight layout of the main runway is still visible in the form of a wide road, part of which is designated as Kyoto Prefectural Route 801. The area is now occupied by numerous factories, logistics centers, and corporate headquarters, including the main office of Kyoto Tool Co., Ltd. (KTC). The land has been entirely repurposed, and no physical remnants of the airport infrastructure, such as hangars or a control tower, remain.

Established in 1940 by the Imperial Japanese Army, Kyoto Airfield was a significant military base during World War II. Its primary missions were the air defense of the Keihanshin (Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe) metropolitan area and serving as a training center for army pilots. After the war, it was requisitioned by the U.S. Army during the occupation of Japan. The airfield was returned to Japanese control and designated as a public-use airport in 1958. For the remainder of its operational life, it was the only airport within Kyoto Prefecture. It primarily served general aviation and was a major hub for pilot training, operating as the 'Kyoto Aircraft Training Crew Center'. Flight schools used light aircraft, such as Cessnas, for training future pilots.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening Kyoto Airfield. The land has been permanently and densely redeveloped for industrial use, making any return to aviation activities physically impossible. Furthermore, the Kyoto region is well-served by two major international airports: Osaka International Airport (Itami/ITM) and Kansai International Airport (KIX), negating any practical need for a smaller airport at this location.