Moderators: richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
McG1967 wrote:Ibaraki airport is the civilian side of Hyakuri airbase. There is a direct bus service from Tokyo station.
When I visited using public transport the direct bus service wasn’t frequent so I took the train to a nearby village and then got a local bus.
The schedule of the bus from Tokyo station to Ibaraki airport can be found here:
http://www.ibaraki-airport.net/en/access/bus/tokyo.html
I didn’t make it round to the towers as it was mid morning by the time I got there. Others I know who have been have said proceedings start early, usually with ground running of the QRA jets before 8am.
If your a member of the Scramble website, they have a members only guide to Hyakuri.
Finally, if you search for hotels near Ibaraki airport you will find some hotels in the villages near by.
sovietjet wrote:Hyakuri wooden towers have been rebuilt. They are now metal, taller and better. I spent a full day in Hyakuri in 2014. The F-4s flew all day from morning to dusk. Morning go to the towers, you have to drive to the gate and call the phone number. The old lady used to come out and collect a fee and open the gate for you. Unfortunately she passed away, and now the new owner does the same thing. I don't know the phone number though. I'm sure it can be found on Scramble. Around noon you can switch to the other side. A ladder is recommended. There are spots all along the runway, you can just sit in the field or at the road at the northern end of the runway. Here is my shot from the towers:
https://www.airliners.net/photo/Japan-Ai ... LxugM/4%3D
Here is my shotfrom the other side in the afternoon (north end of runway):
https://www.airliners.net/photo/Japan-Ai ... LxugM/4%3D
Here is a shot, from somewhere midway down the runway in afternoon:
https://www.airliners.net/photo/Japan-Ai ... LxugM/4%3D
sovietjet wrote:Probably 3 step should be OK. But I think you'll need a car to get around the base as the light changes and to catch takeoffs/recoveries