Numanohata Airfield

The closure was primarily due to economic reasons. The private operator, Nihon Aerotech Co., Ltd., faced financial difficulties, which were exacerbated by Japan's prolonged economic downturn in the 1990s. Additionally, the airfield's location presented operational challenges, as it was situated very close to the busy and strictly controlled airspace of the much larger New Chitose Airport (RJCC), limiting its potential for expansion and flight activities.

The site of the former airfield has been completely repurposed and is no longer recognizable as an aviation facility. The land is now occupied by a large portion of the 'SoftBank Tomatoh Abira Solar Park,' a massive photovoltaic power station. The entire area, including the former runway and aprons, has been covered with thousands of solar panels. The original aviation infrastructure has been entirely removed to accommodate this large-scale renewable energy project.

Opened in 1979, Numanohata Airfield was a privately owned but publicly accessible airfield (known in Japan as a 'non-public-use airfield'). It was a significant facility for general aviation in the Hokkaido region. The airfield featured a single paved runway, approximately 800 meters long and 25 meters wide, with a 18/36 orientation. During its active years, it primarily handled operations such as flight training for private pilots, sightseeing flights over the local area, private aircraft movements, and other aerial work. It served as a base for the local aviation community, providing essential infrastructure for non-commercial flying for over two decades.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening Numanohata Airfield. The construction of the major, long-term solar park on the site makes any future aviation use physically and economically impossible. The land has been permanently committed to power generation, and there is no strategic or financial incentive to revert it to an airfield, especially given the proximity of New Chitose Airport which serves the region's aviation needs.