Susaki Shiohama Airfield

A combination of factors led to its closure. Primarily: 1) It was functionally obsolete almost immediately after opening, as the superior Haneda Airport opened the same year on more suitable land. 2) The airfield was built on soft, reclaimed land, making it prone to flooding and unsuitable for heavier aircraft. 3) It was destroyed during World War II. 4) The land was critically needed for post-war industrial and residential redevelopment in Tokyo.

The site has been completely redeveloped and bears no trace of the former airfield. It is now the location of the modern Shinsuna and Shiomi districts in Koto Ward. The land is densely occupied by a mix of residential high-rises, schools, commercial facilities, large-scale logistics centers (including the Sagawa Express Tokyo Head Office), and public parks like parts of Tatsumi no Mori Seaside Park.

Susaki Shiohama Airfield, also known as Susaki Airfield, was opened in 1931 with the ambitious goal of becoming Tokyo's primary international airport. For a very brief period, it handled civilian flights for Japan Air Transport Corporation (a precursor to modern Japan Airlines). However, due to its significant operational flaws, its role was quickly usurped by Haneda Airport. Subsequently, the airfield was taken over by the Imperial Japanese Navy and converted into a naval air station used for pilot training and the air defense of Tokyo before its destruction in WWII. The ICAO code JP-1697 is a non-official identifier used in some third-party databases for historical or closed airfields and was not its official designation.

Zero. The area is a fully integrated and vital part of urban Tokyo's infrastructure. The land is among the most developed and valuable in the city. There are no plans, and it is logistically, economically, and politically impossible to re-establish an airport at this location.