Oura Naval Seaplane Base

The base was closed following the surrender of Japan at the end of World War II. As part of the post-war demilitarization of Japan under the Allied occupation, the Imperial Japanese Navy and all its facilities, including the Oura Naval Seaplane Base, were officially disbanded.

The site of the former seaplane base has been completely redeveloped and bears no resemblance to its wartime appearance. The area is now part of the modern, industrial Port of Nagato. The land is occupied by commercial and industrial facilities, including factories (notably a large plant for Yoshino Gypsum Co., Ltd.), warehouses, and shipping infrastructure. All original military structures, such as hangars, barracks, and the seaplane slipways, have been demolished and the land reclaimed for its current use.

The Oura Naval Seaplane Base (大浦海軍航空隊, Ōura Kaigun Kōkūtai) was an air base of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service, established on October 1, 1940. Located on the sheltered waters of Fukagawa Bay, it was strategically positioned for seaplane operations. Its primary role was as a training facility, specifically for seaplane reconnaissance pilots. The base was responsible for the practical flight training phase for pilots who would go on to serve in reconnaissance and observation roles across the Pacific theater. Aircraft commonly used for such training, and likely operated from Oura, included the Mitsubishi F1M ('Pete') and the Aichi E13A ('Jake'). The base was a key part of the IJN's pilot development pipeline until its operations ceased at the war's end.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening the Oura Naval Seaplane Base. The original military purpose is obsolete, the site has been entirely repurposed for heavy industrial and port activities, and all necessary aviation infrastructure has been removed for decades. The location is now a vital part of the local industrial economy.