The airfield was built using forced labor during the final stages of the Pacific War to provide a base for the elite 'Kamikaze' Special Attack Units.
The replica of the Shiden Kai fighter was painstakingly constructed using historical blueprints to serve as a centerpiece for local war history education.
Large, dome-shaped air-raid shelters still dot the landscape, designed to protect aircraft from aerial bombardment.
The facility was chosen for development due to the region's relatively flat terrain and favorable weather conditions for flight training.
Post-war, the site was utilized for agriculture and solar power generation before preservation efforts established the museum and park.
Uzurano Airfield, located in Kasai, Hyogo, is the site of a former Imperial Japanese Navy airfield constructed in 1943 to train pilots for the Kawanishi N1K1-J Shiden fighter aircraft. The site features the Sora-Kasai Museum, which serves as a memorial to the war history of the facility and the surrounding region. Visitors can view a full-scale replica of a Kawanishi N1K1-J Shiden Kai fighter plane displayed in one of the preserved air-raid bunkers. Several semi-underground reinforced concrete aircraft hangars remain standing, showcasing original wartime construction techniques. The site is part of a broader memorial area that commemorates the training activities conducted here during the Pacific War. Educational exhibits detail the logistical operations and the daily lives of the personnel stationed at the base.
The interior of the air-raid shelter where the full-scale Shiden Kai replica is housed.
Bring comfortable walking shoes to traverse the gravel paths between the preserved bunkers.
Check the museum website for the specific schedule of replica Shiden Kai cockpit viewing events.
Combine your visit with a stop at the nearby Kasai Great Buddha.
Do not enter areas marked as restricted or private property, as parts of the former airfield are still utilized for industrial or agricultural purposes.
Closed on certain weekdays, typically Mondays; verify the official website before travel as museum operations depend on volunteer staff.
