Nagano Airfield

The closure was due to a combination of operational limitations and strategic replacement. Key factors include: a short runway (approximately 1,200 meters) that could not accommodate modern jet aircraft, frequent fog from the nearby Chikuma River which disrupted operations, and significant urban encroachment that made expansion impossible and raised safety concerns. The development and expansion of Matsumoto Airport (RJAF) as the new primary air gateway for the Nagano Prefecture, especially in preparation for the 1998 Winter Olympics, rendered the old Nagano Airfield obsolete.

The site has been completely redeveloped and no longer functions as an airport. The majority of the former airport grounds is now the Mamejima Sports Park (大豆島総合公園), a large public recreational area with baseball fields, tennis courts, and green spaces. A portion of the site operates as the Nagano City Mamejima Heliport, which serves as a crucial base for emergency services, including the Nagano Prefectural Police Air Corps and medical transport helicopters ('Doctor-Heli'). There are no visible remnants of the original runways or terminal buildings.

The airfield was originally established during World War II as the Nagano Army Airfield (陸軍長野飛行場) for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service, intended for training and homeland defense. After the war, it was converted into a civilian airport and became the primary air link to Nagano City for several decades. It handled regional commercial flights, most notably operated by All Nippon Airways (ANA), connecting Nagano to major hubs like Tokyo (Haneda) and Osaka (Itami). Operations were limited to smaller propeller aircraft, such as the Fokker F27 Friendship and the NAMC YS-11, due to the short runway.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening the airport. The land has been permanently and fully repurposed for public recreation and critical emergency services. The surrounding area is now a densely populated urban and industrial zone, making any future airport development unfeasible. Air services for Nagano City and the wider prefecture are handled by Matsumoto Airport (IATA: MMJ, ICAO: RJAF).