Funabashi Airfield (1958)

Military-to-civilian land conversion. The airfield was a former Imperial Japanese Army base occupied by the U.S. Army after World War II. Upon its return to Japan, the government redeveloped the large, valuable tract of land to meet pressing post-war needs for housing and public infrastructure. It was not closed for economic or safety reasons related to aviation, but as part of a planned urban development project.

The site has been completely redeveloped and is unrecognizable as an airfield. The former grounds are now a densely populated area spanning parts of Funabashi, Matsudo, and Kamagaya cities. The land is occupied by a mix of residential complexes (e.g., Kirigaoka Danchi), public schools, parks, commercial areas, and a portion of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) Narashino Garrison. No runways or original airfield structures remain.

The facility was originally the Imperial Japanese Army Funabashi Airfield (船橋陸軍飛行場), established around 1938. During World War II, it was a crucial airbase for the defense of Tokyo, housing flight training schools and fighter squadrons. It played a significant role in attempting to intercept Allied bombing raids. After Japan's surrender in 1945, it was taken over by the U.S. Army and operated as 'Funabashi Air Base'. The unofficial ICAO code 'JP-1623' is a modern catalog identifier for this historical site.

None. The land has been fully and permanently repurposed into a vital part of the urban fabric of the Tokyo metropolitan area. There are no plans or possibilities for it to ever be converted back into an airfield.