Kagoshima Naval Airfield

The site, which had been converted to a civilian airport after WWII, was closed due to relocation. The new Kagoshima Airport was opened in a less urbanized area (Kirishima) to accommodate larger jet aircraft, mitigate noise pollution in the city, and address safety concerns arising from urban encroachment around the old airfield.

The former airfield site has been completely redeveloped and is now a major administrative, commercial, and residential district of Kagoshima City known as Kamoike-Shinmachi. Key landmarks on the site include the Kagoshima Prefectural Government Office, the Kagoshima Prefectural Police Headquarters, broadcasting stations, schools, and the large Aeon Kagoshima Shopping Center. There are no visible remnants of the runway or any airfield infrastructure.

The site was originally established in 1943 as the Kagoshima Naval Airfield for the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service during World War II. It primarily served as a training base for pilots. The base was a target of Allied bombing raids in March and April of 1945. Following Japan's surrender and the dissolution of the military, the site ceased its naval operations in 1945. In 1957, it was repurposed and opened as the civilian Kagoshima Airport (often called 'Kamoike Airport'). It served as the main air gateway to the city for 15 years, handling domestic flights, until its relocation and closure in 1972.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening the airport. The site is now a densely populated and highly developed urban center, making any such project physically and economically impossible. The region is effectively served by the current Kagoshima Airport (KOJ / RJFK).