Iruma Air Base opens its gates to the public on November’s Culture Day national holiday. The Japan Air Self-Defence Force will show off a wide range of its finest airplanes, including the F-15, the Ground Self-Defence Force will stage a parachute drop and then the Blue Impulse JASDF aerobatic demonstration team will provide the highlight of the show (not this year).
The event will take place rain or shine and you should expect huge crowds. The base advises against trying to park in the area. This year, pre-registration is required (now finished). Gates open at 8 a.m. and the show is from 9 a.m. until around 1 p.m.
How to get there
Get off at Inariyama Koen Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line (take the Express from Ikebukuro) or Sayama Station on the Seibu Shinjuku line, then take a special free bus to the base.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.