I went plane spotting at Chofu Airport for the first time in 2021. I quickly learned it lacks the constant action of larger airports like Haneda and Narita. Only single engine, twin-engine propeller planes and helicopters operate from it.
New Central Airservice Corporation is the airport’s primary user. It is a small airline that has a fleet of six Dornier 228s. The destinations it serves are in the Izu Islands near Tokyo. A friend who has used them said they were good.
Photographing rare Dornier 228s
Most aircraft I’ve photographed near Haneda have been made by Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, Cessna, and Gulfstream Aerospace. Chofu Airport has Dornier 228s and is the only place in the city where you can photograph them.
The 228s are a versatile, twin-turboprop, high-wing utility aircraft designed for short-hauls. That makes them ideal for the 120-kilometer flight to the Izu Islands. Their rarity makes them cool.
Chofu Airport flight schedules: A crucial tip
As usual, I assumed a few things before going. One of them was the flight schedule. I expected a busy schedule, but during a four-hour walk around the perimeter, I only saw about eight takeoffs and landings.
When I got home, I checked the flight schedules online. Only then did I find out how few there were each day. Yes, go ahead and laugh. Why didn’t I think of checking that before I went? Check everything before you go. I always say that.
How to photograph planes at Chofu Airport
Chofu Airport has only one runway and limited support services. The lack of flights might be problematic for some, but it is a relaxing place for planespotting.
You can walk around it completely. People take advantage of that. They’ll have picnics in the parks on nice days or ride bicycles on the paths.
Of course, fences are all around the runway. But the low hills at both ends make aircraft photography easy. You need a long lens or crop heavily. Once again, I used my Fujifilm 100-400 mm to get close to the Dornier 228s.
Where to shoot the aircraft
From what I could see, there were six spots around the field from which to take photos. You can see them on the map. Five of them are on low hills. The last one is on the second floor of the terminal.
Chofu Airport is not Haneda or Narita. It lacks action, but I’d like to go again. When will that happen? I don’t know. Next time, I’ll take a picnic lunch to help pass the time between flights.
Chofu Airport location & access
- Address: 290-3 Nishimachi, Chofu, Tokyo
- Closest train station: Tama Station on the Seibu Tamagawa line. Leave via the East Exit, and it’s about a fifteen-minute walk to the airfield.
- Car parking: Paid parking is available.
- For more information look at the official Chofu Airport website.
- Here is the airport on Google Maps:
Photo spots near the airport
- Jindai Botanical Garden (with its famous rose garden)
- Nogawa Park
- Tama Cemetery (the resting place of many famous people)
Is Chofu Airport worth visiting?
Chofu Airport is a worthy, if quiet, spot for any Tokyo-based aviation photographer, and it won’t be my last. If you plan to go, pack a good lens and something to enjoy between flights. It has definitely earned its place on my list of interesting Tokyo photo spots.
If you want to see more aircraft, check out [Iruma Air Show 2024]. Leave questions and comments below.