Kowadahara Airfield

The primary reason for closure was catastrophic damage sustained during the 2004 Chūetsu earthquake. The airport was located very close to the epicenter. Its single runway suffered from extensive cracking, subsidence, and soil liquefaction. The city of Ojiya, which owned the airfield, was facing widespread devastation and enormous reconstruction costs across the region, making the repair of a recreational airfield economically unfeasible.

The site has been completely redeveloped. The former runway and airfield facilities have been removed and the land has been repurposed as the Ojiya-Kowada Solar Power Plant (小千谷川井発電所), a large-scale photovoltaic power station. The solar farm, which began operations around 2016, now occupies the entire footprint of the former airport.

Opened in 1992 and operated by the city of Ojiya, the airfield was also officially known as Uonuma Airfield (魚沼飛行場). It was a key center for recreational aviation in the Niigata Prefecture, primarily serving glider clubs, sailplane operations, and ultralight aircraft. It featured an 800-meter paved runway and supported local tourism and hobbyist flying. In a final, critical act, the damaged site served as a temporary forward operating base for Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) helicopters in the immediate aftermath of the 2004 earthquake, facilitating disaster relief and rescue operations when local roads were impassable.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening Kowadahara Airfield. The land has been committed to a long-term lease for renewable energy generation with the construction of the major solar farm. The complete removal of aviation infrastructure and the current land use make the restoration of the airfield practically and financially impossible.