NKM-Spot

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November 5, 2017Nagoya Komaki Airport Spotting Guide
- last modified on November 7, 2022

This airport (RJNA/NKM) is named after the city of Komaki located nearby. It was Nagoya’s International Airport until it was replaced by Chubu Centrair (NGO) in 2005. Since then, only Fuji Dream Airlines has kept offering scheduled services to and from NKM.
But the airport is still worth a visit for spotters as the Fuji Dream fleet is painted in different colours and there is also business aviation as well as military traffic (Japanese Self Defense Force’s Komaki Air Base is located on the other side of the runway). Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. ist also located at the airport so you might even have the chance to catch a MRJ test flight.
Written by Clive Grant and Maximilian Ono. Last Change: October 2022 (Spot 1 Updated)
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Airport Information | |
Runways | |
16/34 | 2.740 m |
Terminals | Single Terminal for Fuji Dream Airlines, the only carrier |
Spotting Information | |
Ladder | Not required |
Car/Public Transport | Car is not needed, Terminal can be reached by bus. |
Restrooms | Directly at both locations. |
Drinks/Food | Directly at both locations. |
Hotels | A few smaller ones are next to the terminals but most selection is in downtown Nagoya. |
Season | Better in summer due to the north/south direction of the runway and the better climate. |
Runway Usage | |
16/34 | Nothing special. Used in both directions. |
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#1 – Observation deck – all movements |
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WHERE | To get on the observation deck just enter the terminal building. Inside, turn right and cross the counter area. In the southeastern corner there is a lift and a staircase leading to the top level. Just follow the signs. This is an outdoor deck with no glass but wires with huge gaps, like in Haneda. |
WHAT | You have a great overview of the whole airport, especially the civil apron and Runway 16/34 arrivals and departures. The Fuji Dream flights are usually parked very close to the observation deck. You can also see military aircraft parked in the background behind the runway. |
TIME | Best light conditions are in the afternoon. |
MISC. | You can find everything you need in the terminal building. The observation deck is open from 07:00-18:45 (no charge) |
FOCAL LENGTH | Smaller than 55mm for aircraft parked next to the terminal. At least 150mm for E-Jets on the taxiway, 250+ mm on the runway. |

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Spot #2 – Airport Walk complex car park – arrivals and departures 34 |
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WHERE | The spot is at the car park of the Airport Walk complex which is a twenty minute walk to the south of the airport terminal. If you’re arriving by car, drive around the south side of the Midland Cinema to access the car park. Lots of photographers hang out here and it’s also a popular place for locals to watch the aircraft. |
WHAT | All traffic using Runway 34, including traffic on the taxiway from the terminal. This spot also covers the taxiway from the Komaki Air Base on the opposite side of the runway. |
TIME | Best light conditions are in the afternoon. |
MISC. | The fence is low enough along the length of the car park to fit a lens through below the barbed wire, however, if you’re less than 1.7 metres tall (about 5ft 6 in), you may want to bring something to stand on. If things get a bit quiet, then the Aichi Museum of Flight, which is due to open in November 2017, is located alongside the cinema. You can find everything else you need in the terminal building. |
FOCAL LENGTH | Less than 55mm for an E-Jet on the western taxiway; 55-300mm should cover most other traffic from here. |

As it’s an airbase on the other side, are there any precautions one should take? Such as not taking photos towards the base or only limiting photo shots to either end of the runway? Thanks!
75% of the fence in front of the Midland Cinema has now got double fences. You need a 3-stepladder to get over the fence.
Only about 100 meters in the left hand corner of the carpark is as described for spot 2.
Another option is on top of the Aichi museum of flight. They have build on observation desk on the 3rd floor. Entry to the
museum is 1000 yen for an adult. But it is worth it for great pictures from the top.
Hi Jeroen, is the observation deck behind glass?
No glass, both the Komaki and Aichi aviation museum have a wired fence which is same style like Haneda observation deck so no problem to get the lens through the wires.
Thanks for the reply Julián. There is a pretty nice photo from the deck at google maps -> https://goo.gl/maps/Gmn969QnnGpMfc4Z9
Have you ever been on the deck at the Aichi Museum? Would be nice if you can send us some details for this one.
-Julian