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Ibaraki Airport (IBR) is an airport in Japan located in the city of Omitama, Ibaraki Prefecture. It is also known as Hyakuri Airfield and JASDF Hyakuri Air Base. The airport is located about 85 km north of Tokyo and serves as a low-cost alternative to the larger Narita and Haneda airports. Ibaraki Airport has a unique terminal building design, with both departure and arrival lobbies located on the first floor for maximum efficiency. The airport offers flights to several destinations in Japan and other countries, including Taiwan and South Korea.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Name | Ibaraki Airport |
| Airport Code | IBR |
| Location | Omitama, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan |
| Nearest Seaport | Hitachinaka (32km away) |
| Distance from Tokyo | 85 km (53 mi) north of Tokyo |
| Purpose | Low-cost alternative to Tokyo's Narita and Haneda airports |
| Airlines | Skymark Airlines, Spring Airlines, Tigerair Taiwan, Asiana, All Nippon Airways |
| Destinations | Seoul, South Korea; Kobe, Japan; Fukuoka, Japan; Sapporo, Japan; Okinawa, Japan; Taipei, Taiwan; Shanghai, China; Xi'an, China |
| Annual Events | Hyakuri Air Show in December |
| Terminal Building | Two-story with a floor space of 7,800 sq. m |
| Boarding Style | Boarding-ramp system instead of typical Japanese jetways |
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What You'll Learn
Ibaraki Airport's history
Ibaraki Airport, also known as Ibaraki Kūkō in Japanese, is located in the city of Omitama in the Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. It is about 85 kilometres (53 miles) north of Tokyo and is the closest fighter base to the city. The airport was originally known as the Hyakuri Airfield, serving as an air base for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) under the name Hyakuri Air Base.
The history of Ibaraki Airport dates back to the 1930s. The airfield was first developed by the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1937, with land claimed from local farmers under the orders of Emperor Hirohito. However, unlike many other Japanese military bases, it did not become a US base during the post-World War II occupation. After the war, the locals reclaimed the land for farming.
In 1956, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force reopened the base, taking control of the land once again. For many years, it operated as a military airfield, playing a role in various international incidents. In 1976, a Soviet pilot, Victor Belenko, defected with a MiG-25 Foxbat plane to Hakodate Airport. This plane was then moved to Hyakuri by the US Air Force, where it was examined and disassembled before being returned to the Soviet Union. In 1998, the Chinese defence minister, Chi Haotian, visited the base as part of a tour of military sites in Japan. In 2001, aircraft from Hyakuri intercepted Russian Tu-22M bombers that had entered Japanese airspace.
In March 2010, the airfield was renamed Ibaraki Airport, and civil aviation operations commenced. This change came after a 22 billion yen ($243 million) investment from local and national governments. The airport initially offered two flights: an Asiana service to Seoul, South Korea, and a Skymark Airlines flight to Kobe, Japan. The airport was designed as a low-cost alternative to Tokyo's larger Narita and Haneda airports, charging 30% less in landing fees. However, it faced criticism for being a symbol of wasteful government spending and opening with only one flight per day.
Ibaraki Airport has continued to face challenges and has been the subject of controversy. Local farmers have refused to sell their land to the government for expansion. Additionally, the airport has experienced setbacks, such as the cessation of Asiana Airlines operations after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Despite these issues, the airport has also seen interest from international carriers like Malaysian carrier AirAsia X and Myanmar Airways International.
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Location and nearby transport links
Ibaraki Airport (IBR) is located in the city of Omitama, in the Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. It is about 85 km north of Tokyo and is intended to serve as a low-cost alternative to Tokyo's larger Narita and Haneda airports. It is the third airport in the metropolitan area, after Haneda and Narita, and is designed as a secondary airport for Tokyo.
The airport is also known as Hyakuri Airfield, Ibaraki International Airport, and Tokyo Ibaraki International Airport. It is the closest fighter base to Tokyo and also serves as an air base for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) under the name Hyakuri Air Base.
Ibaraki Airport is conveniently located near several transportation options. The closest seaport to the airport is Hitachinaka, which is 32 km away. Passengers can also board a nonstop bus to Tokyo Station, which takes approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes and costs 500 yen ($US 4.20 as of December 2014).
Several airlines operate flights to and from Ibaraki Airport, including Skymark Airlines, Spring Airlines, and Tigerair Taiwan. These airlines connect Ibaraki Airport to several destinations, including Fukuoka, Kobe, Okinawa, and Sapporo in Japan, and Shanghai, Xi'an, and Taipei internationally.
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Airlines and routes
Ibaraki Airport (IBR) is a small airport in Omitama, Japan. It serves the area of Ibaraki, Japan, and has non-stop passenger flights scheduled to 6 destinations in 2 countries.
The three airlines that fly from Ibaraki Airport are Skymark Airlines, Spring Airlines, and Tigerair Taiwan. Skymark Airlines is the largest airline at the airport, with around 52 scheduled take-offs every week. This is almost 17 times as many as the second-biggest airline, Spring Airlines.
The four domestic routes from Ibaraki Airport are Fukuoka, Kobe, Okinawa, and Sapporo. These are all operated by Skymark Airlines. The most popular route is to Kobe, with an average of 21 flights from Ibaraki Airport every week, which is 37% of all weekly departures.
There are two international routes from Ibaraki Airport. The first is to Shanghai (PVG), which is operated by Spring Airlines. The second is to Taipei (TPE), operated by Tigerair. This is a seasonal route that starts in December and ends in March. The Taipei route is the longest flight from Ibaraki Airport, taking around 3 hours and 55 minutes.
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Military use
Ibaraki Airport, also known as Hyakuri Airfield, Ibaraki International Airport, and formerly Tokyo Ibaraki International Airport, is located in the city of Omitama in the Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. It is approximately 85 km (53 miles) north of Tokyo and is considered a low-cost alternative to the larger Narita and Haneda airports.
Ibaraki Airport also serves as an air base for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) under the name Hyakuri Air Base. It is the closest fighter base to Tokyo. The base has been used for several military purposes and operations, including:
- In 1976, a MiG-25 Foxbat aircraft flown by defecting Soviet pilot Victor Belenko to Hakodate Airport was moved to Hyakuri by a US Air Force plane. Despite strong protests from the Soviet Union, the aircraft was extensively examined and disassembled before being returned.
- In 1998, the-then Chinese defense minister, Chi Haotian, visited the base as part of a tour of military sites in Japan.
- In 2001, aircraft from Hyakuri were involved in intercepting Tupolev Tu-22M bombers of the Russian Air Force that had entered Japanese airspace.
- In 2005, it was agreed between Japan and the US to move some USAF F-15 fighter drills from Okinawa to Hyakuri, along with four other bases in Japan, to reduce the burden on Okinawa prefecture.
- Since 2007, the US has been deploying to Hyakuri two or three times a year for drills, with Japan bearing 75% of the cost. US military personnel also use the base for training and exchange programs.
- In 2016, US Navy aircraft, including F/A-18E Super Hornets, briefly deployed to the base.
- In January 2016, following North Korea's fourth nuclear test, the JASDF used three Kawasaki T-4 trainers from the airport to collect radioactive material.
Hyakuri Air Base also holds an annual air show in December, featuring displays of military aircraft and equipment, including a performance by the JASDF aerobatic team, Blue Impulse.
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Terminal design
Ibaraki Airport (IBR) is located in the city of Omitama, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. It is approximately 85 km (53 mi) north of Tokyo and is the third airport in the metropolitan area, after Haneda and Narita. The airport is intended to serve as a low-cost alternative to these larger airports.
The terminal building at Ibaraki Airport is designed with a focus on simplicity and efficiency. Unlike most Japanese airports, which typically have two-story terminal buildings, Ibaraki Airport's departure and arrival lobbies are both located on the first floor. This layout makes it easier for passengers to navigate and access the necessary facilities.
The first floor of the terminal includes customs and immigration, quarantine, check-in counters for domestic and international flights, and a VIP lounge. The second floor houses restaurants, retail shops, an observation deck, and airline offices. This separation of functions between the two floors streamlines the passenger experience, ensuring that all essential services are easily accessible.
The original plans for the terminal building included a three-story structure with separate levels for arrivals, departures, and sightseeing. However, to reduce costs, the governor of Ibaraki Prefecture, Masaru Hashimoto, ordered the building to be reduced to a single story. This design change resulted in a more compact and cost-effective terminal, aligning with the airport's goal of providing low-cost operations.
The airport has also implemented other cost-cutting measures, such as adopting a boarding-ramp system instead of using boarding bridges, and exploring the possibility of having passengers carry their luggage to the aircraft. These measures contribute to the overall efficiency and affordability of the airport's operations, ensuring that Ibaraki Airport can cater to the growing demand for air travel in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
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Frequently asked questions
IBR is the airport code for Ibaraki Airport, also known as Hyakuri Airfield.
Ibaraki Airport is located in the city of Omitama, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.
Ibaraki Airport is a low-cost alternative to Tokyo's larger Narita and Haneda airports. It is also an air base for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) under the name Hyakuri Air Base.
