Japan & South Korea 2025
The 4Aviation tour to Japan and South Korea took a group of sixteen through the southern part of Japan and a very small part of South Korea. The Friendship Day at MCAS Iwakuni (Japan) and Air Power Days at Osan AB (South Korea) were on the itinerary, supplemented by a few days in Japan. We had anticipated Golden Week, but hadn’t anticipated that several weekend holidays would be moved to regular weekdays. Moreover, the weather didn’t always cooperate, leaving us with a few days with too few activities. Nevertheless, there were some fantastic days with plenty of activities and variety, and fantastic weather.
Keep informed
Chances are that we will return to Japan and/or South Korea for a comparable tour. If you want to be informed if we have details about this, please click the button to send us a message.
On Thursday 1 May 2025, 14 participants gathered at Schiphol Airport for the first part of the trip. In the evening, we boarded China Eastern via Shanghai to Fukuoka, where we arrived on Friday evening after the car rental company closed. Therefore, we took several taxis to the hotel. We picked up another participant in Shanghai, and we met the last of the group at the hotel. The group was a nice mix of reasonably experienced Asia travellers, but also several first-timers. After a delicious meal, it was time to turn in for the night.
Meanwhile, it was Saturday 3 May 2025, and the drivers picked up three cars from the Nissan rental company. There were two luxury vans and a simpler van for transporting most of the luggage and the steps that were yet to be purchased. The rest of the group was picked up, and we set course for Hiroshima. It was a few hours’ drive, and we took it easy to let everyone settle in and enjoy the different surroundings. Our first stop was a DCM hardware store, where we helped them get rid of a nice collection of steps that we’d need later to take photos over the fences in Japan. It was just after 3:00 PM, and we were able to check in at the hotel. We normally wouldn’t do this early, but since the hotel was located near the sights, it was a great place to park the car and explore the city. Just a few minutes’ walk away, we see the first signs of the flower festival, and the city is bustling with activity, with numerous stalls and live music. We don’t stay too late, though, as Sunday is going to be a long day.
On Sunday 4 May 2025, the alarm went off early, and we were in the car at 5:00 AM, ready to arrive at MCAS Iwakuni around 6:00 AM, where the gates opened at 7:00 AM. Here, we found a nice parking spot near the road closure and joined the long line of visitors for the show.The large group is slowly allowed into the base until the point where access checks begin at 7:00 AM. Our group stands out a bit and is pulled out of the crowd and led to the foreigners’ line. This line is almost empty, and we walk a few hundred meters past the crowd to get to the front. At 7:00 AM sharp, we were allowed in, and the security check by NCIS began. They scanned our passports and took our photos and fingerprints. We all got through relatively unscathed and headed to the static display, which was still quite a distance away. The varied static display generally consisted of an American and Japanese section, and because we arrived at the airfield relatively early, it was still reasonably easy to photograph. The flying display also slowly began, with several very interesting items. The Japanese Navy launched two MCH-101s, two US-2s, and three P-3 Orion variants, which rolled past in fantastic fashion. These flew past in formation a few times before initiating their landing, and then they flew past beautifully again. The US Navy did the same with a CMV-22B, an E-2D, two F/A-18s, two EA-18Gs, and two F-35Cs. The Marines, not to be outdone, sent a KC-130J and four F-35Bs into the air, followed by a small demonstration with a UH-1Y, AH-1Z, and CH-53E. These took a different taxiway, but were well captured in the air and on the runway. The Japanese Navy also sent a demonstration team of four T-5 training aircraft, and there were also individual demos of a USAF F-16, USN F/A-18, USMC F-35B, JASDF F-2, and JGSDF UH-1, and of course, a competition between a fire truck and a US-2! We stayed at the show as long as possible and were able to capture some great photos of several aircraft in the static display before it was time to leave, as we still had a long drive ahead of us. One minor hiccup was the missing suitcase of one of the participants, which we had to pick up at Fukuoka Airport before 9:00 PM, which we barely managed.
A significant blemish on the day was the fact that two of our group, independently of each other, were approached by NCIS agents before noon and taken to the airfield’s civilian terminal. There they were questioned, but at that point, neither had visited the static and had certainly done anything illegal. They were kept in the dark about why they had been taken. For both, this lasted until late afternoon, after which they were removed from the field.
Monday 5 May 2025, was originally scheduled as a transit day, driving south from northern Kyushu, with a relatively short time allotted for aviation. It was deathly quiet at Omura Naval Base, and we discovered it was a public holiday today, so we quickly set course for Kanoya. Along the way, we needed to refuel and chose a location near Kagoshima Airport where we spotted a Coast Guard SAAB 340 parked outside. After refuelling, we took a look, and there was also an AW139 parked outside, and we saw one of both types in the hangar. Several participants are also interested in civil aviation, and here we saw some interesting airlines you wouldn’t see anywhere near us. Then we continued to the Naval Base, where there’s always something going on, which proved to be true as we approached the airfield and saw a P-1 in the circuit. We watched it taxi onto the apron from a good vantage point and enjoyed a refreshing shower to desalinate the aircraft. Afterward, we set course for the beautiful naval museum near the base. It was now clear that we couldn’t expect much activity on Tuesday either, and the weather forecast was very poor. This was discussed with the group, and together we decided to stay an extra night at the upcoming hotel to visit Nyutabaru on Wednesday, sacrificing a visit to Ashiya in the process. With the help of 4Aviation HQ, we made the necessary adjustments and set course for our hotel for the next two nights, but not before passing a colourful T-6 at a hotel.
On Tuesday 6 May 2025, we started with a delicious breakfast and, against our better judgment, set course for Nuytabaru. There, apart from the gate guards and a T-33 at the train station, we saw no other aircraft. The group was prepared and optimistic, and we immediately headed west through a magnificent nature park, making several stops in search of various wrecks and relics. We found them in the form of T-33s, a T-34, and an Army OH-6. We also came from yesterday’s airfield, where the same SAAB was still parked outside and the AW139 was being towed out for refuelling. So it turned out to be a beautiful day after all.
It’s already Wednesday 7 May 2025, and today is the day. We arrive at Nyutabaru around 8:00 AM and see plenty of activity on the aprons and in the hangars. The rescue aircraft are doing their test runs, and the apron is slowly filling up with at least two dozen F-15 Eagles from both squadrons. According to the local spotters, they’re supposed to start flying at 9:10 AM, and that’s spot on. Four Eagles went out, which seems like a poor start, but it was just the right time to see how they fly, and besides, the light isn’t ideal at this time of day. We also saw that the rear runway was out of service; they were busy with construction there, which wasn’t a bad thing at all for us! After the first four, we saw another eight, five, eight, four, and finally, eight Eagles embarking on a mission. Two T-4s flew several times, as did the UH-60J, and we also saw the U-125 take to the skies, all in fantastic weather. This large number allowed us to choose different spots along the fence and in the landing zone to capture a nice variety of shots. What a fantastic day! When the lights went out, we were on our way to our hotel for our last two nights in Japan, at the tip of Kyushu.
On Thursday 8 May 2025, we’re on our way early again and arrive near Ozuki Naval Base when we see several T-5 training aircraft in the air. We quickly find a good spot in the landing zone and watch the T-5s circle. There’s also a very good spot along the taxiway, which we can use to our advantage if several more are about to start their mission. However, we can’t stay here too long, as we have a busy schedule today. Hofu Air Base is an hour’s drive away, where four T-7 trainers are on the apron and two UH-1Js are in the Army section, but it’s quiet. We’re almost ready to leave when we hear the distant rumble of a T-7 coming overhead and joining the circuit for a landing. We’re in the right spot and see several more coming in, as well as the four we’ve already seen departing. Then it’s really time to leave, arriving at MCAS Iwakuni around 2:00 PM. There’s no point in getting here early, as the light simply isn’t good. We’ve just taken our spots when all sorts of things happen, and they stay that way until we leave in the dark. Four US Navy Growlers and a Japanese US-2 come in, and Marines F-35Bs, a KC-130J, and a Japanese C-2 depart. The fact that they’re flying “from the right” isn’t ideal, even though that’s where the wind is actually coming from. Fortunately, this quickly changes when a Navy F/A-18E comes in with problems and has to take the barrier. Luckily, that goes well; the runway is quickly cleared, and then they fly correctly in front of us. The landing aircraft pass nicely in front of us, making for some great photos as they taxi out. Afterward, several stationed aircraft pass by, of which the unique dark grey CH-101 is a highlight and a big bonus for the participants who didn’t see it the weekend before. A selection of the types we could photograph well: UC-12F, UC-12W, KC-130J, E-2D, F/A-18E/F, F-35B, and the Japanese C-130R, MCH-101, and UP-3D. After that, it was time to look for a hotel.
Our last day in Japan, Friday 9 May 2025, didn’t go as we’d hoped. The weather was awful, and when we arrived at Tsuiki, it turned out that not much would happen there that day. An F-2 and a T-4 were briefly outside, but were quickly brought back inside. So, off we went again, and via an F-4 and a T-33, we headed to Kuko-Kitamachi airfield, where Coast Guard aircraft are also based. Their hangar, however, was hermetically sealed, but a few nice cargo aircraft arrived from the civilian side. In Fukuoka, everything was also inside, and we arrived at the airport a little ahead of schedule for our flight to Seoul. There, we picked up three luxury minivans and went to a nice hotel we’d already visited. At the hotel, the group met to discuss the plan for the next two days. Unfortunately, the weather forecast for Saturday wasn’t good either, but it looked very promising for Sunday. Therefore, the group opted to visit the many W&R in Seoul on Saturday. However, one participant had set his sights on attending the Osan Open on Saturday, and so it happened.
On Saturday morning 10 May 2025, two cars headed for downtown Seoul while the third car headed to Osan AB. There, the showgoer was dropped off at the shuttle bus, and the tour guide departed for Seoul. The rest of the group met up at the impressive War Memorial, after which we also visited a C-47 in the city and Boramae Park, which has a beautiful collection. Finally, we visited a school with an F-5 and a UH-1, and then it was time to head back to the hotel. From there, one car went back to Osan to pick up the showgoer, but only after a short visit to Suwon AB, where ten F-5s were on decoy duty on the north side, near a footpath. There was another one further on, which was a nice catch. There are several local restaurants near the hotel, and the group chose a few of them for a bite to eat.
With the experience of our show visitor, we were better prepared for the show visit on Sunday 11 May 2025. The weather didn’t look promising yet, but improved significantly closer to the airfield. The shuttle buses were scheduled to depart at 7:30 AM, and they did so right on time. From the drop-off point at the airfield, it was still quite a walk to the base entrance. Here too, foreigners were separated and subjected to a similar screening process as at Iwakuni. However, it was much faster, and no one was bothered during the day. Because we were early, we were able to photograph a large portion of the static display, which was roughly divided into an American and South Korean section. It was known that one of the last opportunities would be to see an operational A-10C in 25th FS colours, and we secretly hoped/expected that the USAF would do something extra with it, but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. The static display featured a beautiful aircraft used for several weapons demonstrations, and the flight program included two aircraft simulating an operational situation. Unfortunately, it was quite far away and a bit boring to watch; we would have preferred a few nice passes and perhaps a touch and go. The F-35B demo wasn’t flown by a demo pilot and wasn’t anything to write home about. The PACAF demo pilot did his thing, and thankfully, the startup procedure was very close to the audience. We stayed until 5:00 PM, giving us a second chance to see a large part of the static display. It wasn’t the event we’d hoped for, but the static display was much more extensive than advertised on the Osan website. We left feeling satisfied, especially since many Korean aircraft were also present. We reached our hotel via an F-86, returned the cars, and then enjoyed a delicious meal with a cold beer.
On Monday morning 12 May 2025, at 5:45 AM, five taxis were waiting to take the group to Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport. Check-in was a bit chaotic because they didn’t understand our long first names, but we managed to get through it together and boarded China Eastern for Shanghai. The two-and-a-half-hour layover there was a perfect fit for the final leg to Amsterdam.
Despite not being able to make the most of the week, we saw a lot. Imagine what’s possible with a week or two of good weather. Therefore, we will definitely return to this fantastic, aviation-loving corner of the world in the future.
