Japan's Airport Network: How Many Aviation Hubs?

Japan has a highly developed air transportation infrastructure, with over 50 active airports, including several major international hubs. As of February 2012, the country had a total of 98 airports, of which 28 were operated by the central government and 67 by local governments. The largest international airport in Japan in terms of passenger numbers is Tokyo Haneda Airport, located just 14 kilometres south of Tokyo's city centre.

Japan has 98 airports, with 28 operated by the central government and 67 by local governments

Japan has a highly developed air transportation infrastructure, with over 50 active airports, including several major international hubs. As of February 2012, there were 98 airports in Japan, with 28 operated by the central government and 67 by local governments. The largest international airport in Japan in terms of passenger numbers is Tokyo Haneda Airport, located just 14 kilometres south of Tokyo's city centre.

Airports serving civil aviation routes in Japan are governed by the Aeronautical Law for safety purposes, by the Noise Prevention Law for noise prevention purposes, and by the Airport Act for economic development purposes. The latter law groups such airports into four legal classifications: Hub/First Class airports serve a hub role in domestic or international transportation. They are subdivided into privately managed airports (the three largest international airports), national airports (run by the central government), and special regional airports (hubs run by prefectural or municipal governments).

Some airports in Japan do not fall under the scope of the Japanese airport statutes. These include the three major U.S. military air bases in Japan (Kadena Air Base, MCAS Iwakuni, and Yokota Air Base) and certain smaller aerodromes for firefighting, corporate, or other special purposes.

The largest international airport in Japan is Tokyo Haneda Airport

Japan has 98 or 99 airports, depending on the source. The largest international airport in the country is Tokyo Haneda Airport, which is located just 14km south of Tokyo's city centre.

Tokyo Haneda Airport is one of three privately managed airports in Japan, which are the largest international airports in the country. The other two are unknown. The airport is also one of the country's 14 biggest airlines, with All Nippon Airways leading the way with a total of 97 flight destinations.

Tokyo Haneda Airport is equipped with two terminals: one for domestic flights and one for international flights. The domestic terminal has nine gates, while the international terminal has just one gate.

The airport is governed by the Aeronautical Law for safety purposes, the Noise Prevention Law for noise prevention purposes, and the Airport Act for economic development purposes. These laws ensure that airports in Japan are safe, efficient, and well-connected to both regional and international routes.

Tokyo Haneda Airport is a major hub for domestic and international transportation, offering a wide range of flight options to passengers travelling to and from Japan.

The country's biggest airline, All Nippon Airways, has 97 flight destinations

Japan has a highly developed air transportation infrastructure, with over 50 active airports, including several major international hubs. The country's biggest airline, All Nippon Airways, has 97 flight destinations.

Tokyo Haneda Airport is the largest international airport in Japan in terms of passenger numbers. It is located just 14 kilometres south of Tokyo's city centre.

Japan has a total of 98 airports as of February 2012, 28 of which are operated by the central government and 67 by local governments. The country's airports serving civil aviation routes are governed by the Aeronautical Law, the Noise Prevention Law, and the Airport Act. The latter groups airports into four legal classifications: Hub/First Class airports, which are further subdivided into privately managed airports, national airports, and special regional airports.

Some airports in Japan do not fall under the scope of the Japanese airport statutes, including the three major U.S. military air bases (Kadena Air Base, MCAS Iwakuni, and Yokota Air Base) and certain smaller aerodromes for firefighting, corporate, or other special purposes.

Three major U.S. military air bases in Japan don't fall under Japanese airport statutes

Japan has a highly developed air transportation infrastructure, with over 50 active airports, including several major international hubs. As of February 2012, the country had a total of 98 airports, of which 28 were operated by the central government and 67 by local governments. However, some airports in Japan do not fall under the scope of Japanese airport statutes. These include the three major U.S. military air bases in Japan: Kadena Air Base, MCAS Iwakuni, and Yokota Air Base. These bases are not subject to the same laws and regulations as other airports in Japan, and they are operated by the United States military rather than the Japanese government.

Kadena Air Base is one of the largest U.S. military installations in the Pacific and is located in Okinawa, a Japanese prefecture that has been under Japanese control since 1972. The base is home to a significant number of U.S. military personnel and their families, as well as a variety of aircraft, including fighter jets and helicopters. While most Okinawans are apathetic towards the military occupation, there have been protests against the construction of new airfields and the expansion of the U.S. military presence on the island.

MCAS Iwakuni is another major U.S. military air base in Japan, located in the city of Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture. The base has a long history, dating back to the early 20th century, and has played a crucial role in U.S. military operations in the Pacific. It is home to a variety of aircraft, including F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets and MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.

Yokota Air Base is the third major U.S. military air base in Japan that does not fall under Japanese airport statutes. The base is located in the city of Fussa, in western Tokyo, and serves as the headquarters of the U.S. Forces Japan and the Fifth Air Force. It is a critical hub for military transport and logistics, with a variety of aircraft, including C-130 Hercules transport planes and KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft.

These three U.S. military air bases in Japan are unique in that they operate outside the scope of Japanese airport statutes, reflecting the complex relationship between the two countries and the significant U.S. military presence in the region.

Kagoshima Airport has two terminals, with nine gates for domestic flights and one for international

Japan has a highly developed air transportation infrastructure, with over 50 active airports, including several major international hubs. As of February 2012, the country had a total of 98 airports, of which 28 were operated by the central government and 67 by local governments. However, other sources state that there are 99 airports in Japan.

Kagoshima Airport, located in Kirishima, Kagoshima Prefecture, is the second-busiest airport in Kyushu after Fukuoka Airport, serving 6.1 million passengers in 2018. The airport is equipped with two terminals: one for domestic flights and one for international flights. The domestic terminal has nine gates, while the international terminal has a single gate. Kagoshima Airport was ranked seventh in the world in Skytrax's World's Best Domestic Airports 2024. It is located 30km northeast of Kagoshima City.

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