Tenpozan Naval Seaplane Base

The Tenpozan Naval Seaplane Base was closed following the end of World War II. With the surrender of Japan in August 1945, the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces were dissolved under the terms of the Allied occupation. All military installations, including this seaplane base, were demilitarized and ceased operations.

The site of the former seaplane base has been completely redeveloped and shows no visible remnants of its military past. The area, located on the Kagoshima waterfront, is now a bustling commercial, tourist, and recreational district. Key landmarks on the former base grounds include the Kagoshima City Aquarium (Io World), the Dolphin Port shopping and restaurant complex, ferry terminals for Sakurajima, and public parks. The entire area has been modernized and is a central point for tourism in Kagoshima City.

The Tenpozan Naval Seaplane Base was an installation of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJN) during World War II. Located strategically within the sheltered Kagoshima Bay, its primary functions were coastal patrol, anti-submarine warfare, and reconnaissance to protect the southern approaches to Japan. It also served as a training facility for seaplane pilots and crews. The base would have operated various floatplanes and flying boats used by the IJN, such as the Mitsubishi F1M 'Pete' reconnaissance floatplane and the Aichi E13A 'Jake' long-range reconnaissance seaplane. It was part of a network of naval bases crucial to the defense of the Japanese home islands. The ICAO code 'JP-1211' is not an official designation assigned by the International Civil Aviation Organization; rather, it is a pseudo-code likely created by users for flight simulator scenery or unofficial aviation databases to mark the historical location.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening the Tenpozan Naval Seaplane Base. The site is now a high-value, densely developed urban area dedicated to commerce and tourism. Re-establishing any form of aviation facility at this location is infeasible due to the extensive modern infrastructure and lack of any military or civilian need.