Otsu Seaplane Base

The closure was a direct result of the end of World War II and the subsequent dissolution of the Imperial Japanese military under the Allied occupation. As a facility of the Imperial Japanese Navy, its operations ceased with the demilitarization of Japan.

The former site of the seaplane base has been completely redeveloped and is now a prominent part of Otsu's urban waterfront. The land is occupied by major public and commercial facilities, including the Biwako Hall (a large performing arts center), Yanagasaki Lakeside Park (柳が崎湖畔公園), the Otsu Port, and a marina. There are no physical remnants of the original base, but a stone monument commemorating the Otsu Naval Air Group stands within Yanagasaki Lakeside Park to mark the historical location.

The site was the location of the Otsu Naval Air Group (大津海軍航空隊, Ōtsu Kaigun Kōkūtai), a key training facility for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Established on October 1, 1940, its primary mission was the advanced training of pilots and crew for reconnaissance seaplanes. The base utilized the large, calm surface of Lake Biwa for extensive flight operations. Aircraft commonly operated from the base included reconnaissance floatplanes such as the Mitsubishi F1M 'Pete' and the Yokosuka E13A 'Jake'. The ICAO code JP-2105 is a modern, unofficial designation likely used for flight simulation or non-official databases; it was not in use during the base's operational history, as the ICAO was formed after the base closed.

None. The site is a densely developed urban, cultural, and recreational area. There are no known plans or prospects for reopening a seaplane base at this location, and doing so would be infeasible given the current land use.