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October 25, 2017Gifu Air Field – Spotting Guide
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- last modified on January 15, 2021
The Gifu military air base (IATA: QGU / ICAO: RJNG) is located in the city of Kakamigahara. This base is one of the most important in Japan and therefore one of the most active in the country. The air base is in the center of the Japanese archipelago is home to the Japanese Air Force (JASDF) Koku Kaihatsu Jikken Shudan (JASDF) and one of its four deports military. There is also an aeronautical factory of Kawasaki Heavy Industries which provides maintenance and upgrading of Japanese military aircraft manufactured by the aircraft manufacturer.
In addition some foreign military aircraft are possible but quite rare. It is very important to point out that this air base is a spotter friendly and specific places have been laid out for us, such as the park which is the most famous spotting location most used by local spotters. Night flight took place once a week.
IMPORTANT: The spotting locations are very clean, so please take all your waste with you, because there is no public waste bin in Japan.
Written by Jérôme Bonniel (last update September 2018)
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| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 10/28 | 2.700m (8,860 ft) |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | A 2 steps is required at point number 1. |
| Car/Public Transport | Not necessary as you can get easily around with public transport. |
| Restrooms | Available at spot 4. |
| Drinks/Food | Available at spot 4 and 5. |
| Hotels | Few Hotels nearby the airport. |
| Season | The best season is in spring and early summer. |
| Runway Usage | |
| 10/28 | Nothing special. Depends on the wind. |
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Spot #1 – Holding Point runway 28 |
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| WHERE | Located on a stone path along the base in a corner close to the threshold of 28. There is no official street name so you have to rely on GPS data, 35.394655, 136.888535. You can park directly at the spot on the side of the road. By public transport exit at Nijikken Station and walk just a few minutes southward. |
| WHAT | 90 degree side shots for aircraft line up on on runway 28, but pay attention to the heat haze. Otherwise you can photograph the taxiway too. |
| TIME | From sunrise till noon for line up, taxiway almost all day long. The airbase opens at 8:00. Arrival photos are backlit all day long. |
| MISC. | Few steps are helpful to shoot over the fence but its also possible to shoot through the mesh. Its possible that the grass is not cut proper so parst of the aircraft can be cut off. Nothing nearby, please bring with you what you need. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | A simple 300mm will be enough. |
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Spot #2 – The Garden – Arrivals 28 |
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| WHERE | Drive to the Kunomoriundo Park, spot #4, and park here. The spot is on the opposite side, on a small dirt road. By foot just continue on the small road from #1 along the perimeter for a few minutes and cross the main road. |
| WHAT | Ideal for front arrivals on runway 28. |
| TIME | The best light conditions are in the evening till sunset. |
| MISC. | Toilets, beverage dispenser as well as a LAWSON Food Store is available at the Kunomoriundo park. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 18-300mm |
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Spot #3 – Kunomoriundo Park – Arrivals 28 |
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| WHERE | Located between the Rd 17 and an industrial zone there is the Kunomoriundo Park. Spot from the official parking. Ask for the way the local people, the park is famous. You can walk around here to find your prefered photo position. By foot it will take approximate 15 minutes from the Nijikken Station. |
| WHAT | Arrivals runway 28 and heavy departures on 10. |
| TIME | The airbase opens at 8:00 so you have backlit from evening till sunset in the summer. In the evening you may find a spot north of #2 for the 28 arrivials. In winter all day long. |
| MISC. | Toilets, beverage dispenser as well as a LAWSON Food Store is available at the Kunomoriundo park. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 150 – 500mm |
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Spot #4 – Base entrance – 10 arrivals |
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| WHERE | Located on the crossroads in front of the entrance to the base. You can park at the store as marked on the map. By public transport exit at Kakamigahara-Shiyakusho-Mae Station and walk approximate 15 minutes southward along the main road. |
| WHAT | Arrivals runway 10 and heavy departures on 28. |
| TIME | The airbase opens at 8:00 so you have backlit from evening till sunset in the summer. In winter all day long. |
| MISC. | LAWSON Store nearby but no toilets. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 150 – 500mm |
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Spot #5 – Gifu Air Base Museum |
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| WHERE | From the car park’s spotting point, take Route 17 south then drive about 500 meters. At the crossroads, take the road to your right which is right at the Caro Café and finally continue strait until you reach the museum. 5 minutes drive. |
| WHAT | The museum displays 35 aircraft which includes fighter jets, transport plane and various helicopters. |
| TIME | Opening time : 10:00 to 17:00 everyday. |
| MISC. | All you need can be find in the museum. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 18-55mm or less |
10 Comments
A small update about the museum. You can stand on the roof of the museum during the annual airshow at Gifu. It is a good spot with a fantastic overview. You have to come early as the platform on the roof has a limited capacity of people allowed. In the link below an example taken in 2019. You need as much mm’s as possible. I used a 400mm + 1.4 extender on a full frame camera.
http://www.runway28.nl/2019_11_10_RJNG_NL.php
Too bad that it is open during the airshow only.
Hello, I want to go spotting here as well. Are there any issues with OPSEC as a foreign photographer? I don’t want to start some international incident photographing planes.
THanks
Hi,
As i heard already for other friend spotters, the MP’s are not making a problem at all when you go spotting their AFB’s.
They just control your papers, take a selfie with you and are off.
I’m going in October for the first time to Japan, so hopefully this is true 😉
Bonjour! Je confirme ce que vous dites, les policiers sont très sympas et ne vous poseront aucun problème!
Hello All,
As i am planning to have spotting trip to Japan in April 2019, please let me ask a question:
Is there always activities at Gifu Airbase? I just don’t want to go there without getting any single picture.
Comments from local fellow Japanese Spotter are mostly welcome.
Thanks a lot!
Arryo
Bonsoir Arryo!
En général à Gifu, il y a toujours de l’ activité sauf les jours férié où la base est fermé donc rien en vol! Pour ma part à chaque fois que j’ y suis allé, il y avait de l’ activité!
Hi Arryo!
I know this is after you have visited Japan, but this may come useful for future spotting. Typically in Japan, the JASDF (Japanese Air Force) will have flights on Monday to Fridays, but most commonly not on Weekends and I even heard experiences where they had nothing fly for a Friday. Though rest assured if you visit there on a normal weekday, you are bound to find jets scrambling. On certain holidays, they will not be flying, most of them being Japanese holidays, such as from August 13th to 18th; the Golden Week (for more information check the web); National Holidays, Christmas to New Years, and July 3rd. This information should also apply to other airbases in Japan and I hope this is helpful.
Best Wishes
Je confirme qu’ il n’ y a aucun vol pendant les jours férié!
You go on a spotting trip, so you never now what or when you will see anything.
They now can tell you that there’s lots of activity, but when it’s bad weather there’s a possibility they don’t fly, that’s always the risk of spotting!!!