Atsugi Gliderfield

The primary reason for closure was a large-scale flood control project initiated by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). The project involved reinforcing the river levees and excavating the riverbed (channel dredging) of the Sagami River. These construction activities made the site physically unsuitable and unsafe for continued use as an airfield.

The site is now part of the natural Sagami River flood plain. The area has been physically altered by the flood control projects that led to the airfield's closure. There are no remaining traces or infrastructure of the former glider field. The land serves its primary purpose for river management and flood control and is also used by the public for recreation such as walking, fishing, and enjoying the natural river environment.

Atsugi Gliderfield, known locally as the Sagami River Riverbed Gliderfield (相模川河川敷滑空場, Sagamigawa Kassenjiki Kakkūjō), was a non-paved airfield situated on the wide, flat gravel beds of the Sagami River. It was a significant site for recreational soaring in the Kanagawa Prefecture. Its primary user was the Shonan Glider Club (湘南グライダークラブ), and it was also utilized by several university aviation clubs for training. Operations were typical for Japanese riverbed airfields, involving winch-launches to get the gliders airborne. For decades, it served as a vital and accessible training ground for glider pilots in the greater Tokyo and Kanagawa area.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening the Atsugi Gliderfield. The closure was definitive, resulting from permanent changes to land use policy and the physical alteration of the landscape for critical infrastructure (flood control). The regulatory environment for using riverbeds as airfields in Japan has become more stringent, and the former operators, like the Shonan Glider Club, have long since relocated their activities to other airfields, such as the one on the Fuji River. Re-establishing an airfield at this location is considered infeasible.