Yokoshiba Airfield

The primary reason for the closure was the landowner's decision not to renew the lease for the airfield. The land was subsequently repurposed for a different commercial use, specifically the construction of a large-scale solar power plant. This falls under the category of economic and land-use reasons.

The site of the former airfield is no longer used for aviation. The entire length of the former runway and surrounding operational areas have been completely converted into a solar farm, often referred to as the Yokoshiba Hikari Mega Solar Power Plant. Satellite imagery clearly shows the land covered with rows of solar panels. While a few of the original buildings or hangars may remain on the edge of the property, the site is fundamentally a renewable energy facility.

Yokoshiba Airfield was a privately operated airfield that served as a significant hub for the general aviation community in Japan's Kanto region. It was particularly popular for ultralight aircraft, light sport aircraft, and motor gliders. The airfield, operated by entities like the Yokoshiba Sky Club, provided facilities for recreational flying, flight training, and community aviation events. Its paved runway, approximately 500-600 meters in length, made it an accessible and important base for hobbyist pilots located relatively close to the Tokyo metropolitan area.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Yokoshiba Airfield. The complete conversion of the site into a capital-intensive solar farm is a long-term land use change that makes a return to aviation operations virtually impossible. The infrastructure required for an airfield has been permanently removed and replaced.