18-10-02 Friday:
Flight to Japan. Flight Details:
KL861 ETD 14:40 LT ETA 08:45LT

19-10-02 Saturday:
Arrival at Narita at 0900h. We expect to leave the airport in the rental car around 1100h. Around 1200h we will reach Shimofusa, where we can view the based P-3s and YS-11s. Afterwards we will head north towards Sendai, which is approx 325km from Shimofusa. Enroute we can try our luck at Utsunomiya. Apart from the army there is an aircraft manufacturer based who often works on their aircraft during weekends and might have some aircraft outside. In Sendai we will have a youth hostel for 2950 yen (26 euro). Link to hotel website

Latest news: Hyakuri is open on saturday so it might be worthwhile to have a look. See messageboard

20-10-02 Sunday:
We can take the time we need to rest. Then we will follow the route to Hachinohe and we can already kill this P-3 base. If we have enough time, we can also have a look at Ominato which is a bit further to the north and houses HSS-2s. Find a decent spot near Misawa to rais the tents for the first time.

21-10-02 Monday:
Misawa and if yesterday wasn't good enough again a look at Hachinohe. Driving back towards Matsushima. There is an youth hostel in Matsushima for 4300 yen (37 euro) but we still have to decide whether we will use that or the tent.

22-10-02 Tuesday:
Matsushima for the T-2s priority. Also in the area are Kasuminome and Jinmachi. Lateron we drive further south towards Hyakuri. Enroute again we will pass Utsunomiya. Finding a good place to spend the night with the tent shouldn't be a problem here.

23-10-02 Wednesday:
Hyakuri. Kasumigaura is also in the area. When we are done, struggle our way to Iruma. It will be hard to find a suitable spot for the tent near this base. Nearest youth hostel (cost: 2940 yen (25 euro)) is in the city of Yokohama, which is actually closer to Atsugi where we will be the day after Iruma.

Comments from Erik S: Do not stay in Yokohama if you want to visit Iruma the next day. Transferring to the field will cost you all morning, and this principle goes for ALL the urban travel in Nippon. It has been mentioned before and it really is true: an average of 5 (five) kmh is normal in city traffic during commuting hours. Yokohama-Atsugi is only about 15km, could be done in an hour. Yokohama-Iruma is 50-60km and there is no convenient Expwy connection, that's the main problem. Personally I sleep in my rental car a lot when in Japan (which is easy if you're alone) and I park it anywhere. Never any problem, either it's allowed (highway P for instance) or nobody dares to send away the European. Even near Iruma you could pitch a tent, just wrap it up around 6AM, hit the Family Mart and be at the fence by 7 :-))

24-10-02 Thursday:
Iruma. In the area is also Yokota, of course a must visit! Concerning accomodation: It might be worthwhile to stay in the Yokohama youth hostel now.

25-10-02 Friday:
We will have a basevisit here. When we are finished here, we will drive to Nagoya where we will arrive half way the evening. We will pass Hamamatsu on the way there so it might be worthwhile to have a look. Especially for Sean there is a very cheap love hotel on base. A double room costs only 7000 yen (60 euro).

26-10-02 Saturday:
Continue the journey south bound towards Hiroshima.

27-10-02 Sunday:
Find the crater in Hiroshima, catch some US-1s at Iwakuni (those can be seen from out side) and continue to Kanoya. Good spots for the tents will be available here!

28-10-02 Monday:
Kanoya, when we are done here we will go to Nyutabaru. Here are some good places for the tents as well.

29-10-02 Tuesday:
Nyutabaru. When we are finished here (are we ever???) we will find Tsuiki. Here should be some good spots for the tents.

30-10-02 Wednesday:
Franks birthday and Tsuiki. Then the toughest part of the trip will start! Until some 1400h the light will be good enough for photography, lateron not anymore. We will leave Tsuiki for Ozuki where we hope to see some T-5s. If we still have enough time left we can choose to go to Hofu-Kita. Then we have to drive a very long way (some 800km) towards Nagoya again.

31-10-02 Thursday:
Several options but maybe this is the best one: in the morning we will visit Akeno because the light is best in the morning. In the afternoon we will visit Gifu because there the light is best in the afternoon. We can spend the night in the same love hotel as we did the week before.

01-11-02 Friday:
Nagoya-Komaki. In the mroning along the taxiway, in the afternoon at the parking roof. Use the same love hotel again to depart to Tokyo the next morning?

02-11-02 Saturday:
Sight seeing Tokyo. Spend the night in a youth hostel? (there is one down town Tokyo for 3000 yen (26 euro).

03-11-02 Sunday:
Iruma air show. Spend the night in the Narita youth hostel.

04-11-02 Monday:
Departure home. Flight Details: KL862 ETD 11:00 LT ETA 15:00 LT

18-10-02 Friday
Flight to Japan. Flight Details:
KL861 ETD 14:40 LT ETA 08:45LT

19-10-02 Saturday
Arrival at Narita, visit Shimofusa and then to Hyakuri. Arrive late at Sendai youth hostel.
Read more here

20-10-02 Sunday:
Went to Matsushima to see the aircraft temporary based here for the Hyakuri airshow. Even Arrival at Narita, visit Shimofusa and then to Hyakuri. Arrive late at Sendai youth hostel.
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21-10-02 Monday:
Misawa, pooring rain, nearly drowned. Went to Hachinohe after that. Same problem.
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22-10-02 Tuesday:
Back at Matsushima again where we had good weather and loads of T-2's flying
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23-10-02 Wednesday:
Bad Day@Hyakuri - part 1. Good weather, no flying RF-4's or F-15's. Went to Kasumigaura as well.
More here

24-10-02 Thursday:
Iruma. Weather not so good, but still saw good flyingb activity. Reasonable pictures.
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25-10-02 Friday:
Great basevisit at Atsugi. Also having fun with our friends at the spottersplace afterwards.
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26-10-02 Saturday:
Waiting at Komaki for the arishow participants to arrive. The won't show up. Drive the long way to Hiroshima
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27-10-02 Sunday:
Visit Hiroshima and have a look at Iwakuni. Drive to Nyatabaru
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28-10-02 Monday:
Best day of the trip, Nyatabaru! Loads and loads of aircraft. Fun!
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29-10-02 Tuesday:
Doing Tsuiki, Ozuki and Hofu on one day and drive to Akeno afterwards. It CAN be done.
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30-10-02 Wednesday:
Frank's birthday and he is rewarded with great sunshine and fun at Akeno and Komaki
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31-10-02 Thursday:
Komaki in the morning (still no T-1s). and Gifu afterwards. Much better.
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01-11-02 Friday:
Bad luck@Hyakuri part2. Now lots of flying but rain.....

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02-11-02 Saturday
Visit Tokyo. Have a look in the largest camerashop, do shopping, look around. Tourits...
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03-11-02 Sunday:
Iruma airshow. A day for revenge. Completing our wishlist with new types.
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04-11-02 Monday:
Departure home. Flight Details: KL862 ETD 11:00 LT ETA 15:00 LT