Tamatsukuri Seaplane Base

The seaplane base ceased operations following Japan's surrender at the end of World War II. Its operator, the state-owned Imperial Japanese Airways (Dai Nippon Kōkū), was dissolved. Subsequently, the General Headquarters (GHQ) of the Allied Occupation forces issued a ban on all Japanese aviation activities, leading to the permanent closure of the facility.

There are no visible remnants of the original seaplane base today. The location on the shore of Lake Shinji has been completely redeveloped for public and commercial use. The site is now occupied by a scenic lakeside park, walking paths, and is adjacent to the famous Tamatsukuri Onsen resort area. The area is primarily used for tourism, recreation, and enjoying the natural beauty of the lake.

Tamatsukuri Seaplane Base was a pre-war and WWII-era civilian seaplane base operated by Imperial Japanese Airways (大日本航空 - Dai Nippon Kōkū). Established around 1941 on the southern shore of Lake Shinji (宍道湖), it served as a key transportation link for the San'in region. The base was part of a domestic route connecting major cities, with flights to Osaka (Sakai Port), Tokushima, and Takamatsu. It utilized the calm, expansive surface of Lake Shinji as a natural runway for its passenger seaplanes, providing a vital connection at a time when land-based transportation was less developed. While civilian, its operations under the national airline had strategic importance during the war period.

There are no official or concrete plans to reopen the Tamatsukuri Seaplane Base. However, there is a growing interest in reviving seaplane travel for tourism in Japan. Lake Shinji was the site of a demonstration flight in 2017 to test the feasibility of modern seaplane tourism. While this indicates potential future interest, any new operation would be a modern commercial venture and not a direct reopening of the historical base. Significant challenges, including environmental regulations, noise concerns, and the need for new infrastructure, would need to be addressed.