Japan trip 2023 (pic heavy)

[shaggy101]

In May 2023 I was lucky enough to visit the wonderful country of Japan on a 2 week spotting trip. We visited pretty much all the major, & a few minor bases as well, across the main island of Honshu & a couple on Kyushu. For once the weather gods & the aviation gods seemed to align for the vast majority of the trip as well, the only thing I didn't get to see properly was the JASDF YS-11E's based at Iruma. However I got everything else I wanted, an E-767, aggressor F-15's, EC-1/C-1 & no less than 3 US-2's all in the air, I could go on & on with that.

1.
JMSDF P-3 Orion by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

2.
MQ-9B SeaGuardian by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

3.
JASDF F-35A by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

4.
JASDF C-2 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

5.
JASDF Kawasaki T-4 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

6.
JASDF U-125 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

7.
US Navy P-8A Poseidon by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

8.
US Navy E/A-18G by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

9.
JMSDF E-2C by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

10.
USAF F-16 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

11.
JMSDF OP-3 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

12.
JMSDF EP-3 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

13.
US Navy P-8A Poseidon by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

14.
JASDF Kawasaki T-4 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

15.
JASDF F-2 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

16.
JASDF UH-60 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

17.
JASDF Kawasaki T-4 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

18.
JASDF F-2 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

19.
JASDF U-680 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

20.
JASDF C-1 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

21.
JASDF EC-1 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

22.
JASDF EC-1 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

23.
JASDF CH-47 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

24.
JASDF RC-2 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

25.
JASDF C-1 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

26.
USMC F/A-18C by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

27.
JMSDF P-3 Orion by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

28.
JMSDF P-1 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

29.
JMSDF UP-3C by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

30.
JASDF T-7 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

31.
JASDF T-400 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

32.
JASDF U-125 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

33.
JASDF Kawasaki T-4 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

34.
JASDF E-767 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

35.
Japan Coast Guard Dash-8 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

36.
USAF C-17 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

37.
JASDF Kawasaki T-4 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

38.
JASDF Kawasaki T-4 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

39.
JASDF Kawasaki T-4 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

40.
JASDF F-2 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

41.
JASDF F-2 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

42.
JASDF F-2 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

43.
JMSDF T-5 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

44.
JASDF T-7 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

45.
JMSDF US-2 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

46.
US Navy F/A-18F by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

47.
USMC F-35B by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

48.
USAF C-17 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

49.
US Navy E-2D by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

50.
US Navy E-2D by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

51.
USMC F-35B by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

52.
JMSDF MCH-101 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

53.
JMSDF US-2 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

54.
JMSDF UP-3D by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

55.
JMSDF MCH-101 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

56.
USAF C-12J by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

57.
JASDF C-130H by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

58.
JGSDF OH-1 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

59.
JGSDF CH-47 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

60.
JGSDF UH-1 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

61.
JGSDF AH-1 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

62.
JGSDF OH-1 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

63.
JGSDF UH-1 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

64.
JGSDF TH-480 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

65.
JGSDF CH-47 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

66.
JGSDF CH-47 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

67.
JASDF U-4 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

68.
JASDF F-2 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

69.
JASDF F-2 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

70.
JASDF F-15 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

71.
JASDF F-15 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

72.
JASDF F-15 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

73.
JASDF U-680 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

74.
JASDF F-15 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

75.
JASDF F-15 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

76.
JASDF F-15 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

77.
JASDF F-15 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

78.
JASDF F-15 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

79.
JMSDF LC-90 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

80.
JMSDF C-12F by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

81.
USAF C-130J by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

82.
JASDF Kawasaki T-4 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

83.
JASDF Kawasaki T-4 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

84.
USAF F-16 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

85.
JASDF CH-47 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

86.
USAF UH-1N by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

87.
USAF CV-22 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

88.
USAF CV-22 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

89.
USAF RQ-4 by Dan Reeves, on Flickr

Thanks for looking, there's a whole lot more in multiple albums on my face book page if you're interested: https://www.facebook.com/DanReevesAviography

[Rob666]

Dan,

They are amazing Mate, thanks for posting looked an amazing trip hard to pick a fav.

Rob (From Matt's Pilot talks)

[Mustang531]

Thanks for sharing these, some very impressive shots and so much variety. Love all the various schemes and very colourful too, shame we don't see much like this in Europe.

[Richard E]

They are rather good Dan, thanks for sharing !

[Ridge Runner]

A lovely scattering of Orions . Nice shots

[paddyboy]

What an awesome set, Dan

A well spent and enjoyed few minutes taking all those in

Not possible to pick a favourite

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

[Gordsmith]

Dan, I think I will stop posting my shots for a while...what's the point after this cracking post.
Thanks for letting us in to your trip, Gordon.

[Parfitt]

Excellent

[Seacat192]

Outstanding set, with a wide selection of types.

[adderman]

Another vote for some stunning schemes.
I can recognize a few of the bases, Akeno(Army helis) Komaki Shimufusa and others just by what was graphed there, but if posting any shots like these can people please say in the titles or the initial info page where they were taken.

[ewddie]

Thanks for sharing your excellent shots, great photography. Some real gems in there.

[XWP29]

Hi Dan,
Fantastic shots and that’s all that matters in my book

[James Cutting]

Cracking set of shots, well caught and thanks for taking the time to post. Can see they're from Japan too, by the title The F-15 and F-2 schemes are awesome, real good variety and nice mix of US stuff too.

[slogen51]

Superb set

You were so fortunate to catch US-2 in the air

Japan is an amazing place and this brings back memories from 1999 except F-2 were F-1 and C-2 were C-1 and the Osprey was still on the drawing board

[warthog56]

Brilliant post that brought tears to my eyes knowing that it is a country I will never get to visit. Such a variety of types and so many fantastic colour schemes. Thanks for posting these - makes such a change from the usual drab grey and same types we see so often on the list.

[DanBeeden]

Looks like a fabulous trip - that special P-3 with the barbers pole is a stunner.

[reaperops]

Best set I've seen on here for some years now with great variety and best of all nothing from East Anglia!!

Top stuff

[Harkins]

That is a very special collection of photos. Thanks for sharing. I'm pretty sure that image 70. the agressor Eagle in a blue digital camo is a new addition. Sure I've not seen a photo of that scheme before.

I've been to Japan a few times on family visits and done a bit of photography from fences whilst there, but I've been to nowhere near all those different bases and seen that variety of types. Especially the US stuff. Brilliant!

Would it be at all possible to add the base where the photos were taken, either here or in Flickr? I can recognise some and guess a few, but it'd be great to know exactly where they were taken.

[shaggy101]

Thanks all for the kind comments, they are much appreciated.

Here is a list of the bases that they were taken at:

1-2, Hachinohe AB
3-13, Misawa AB
14-15, Matshushima AB
16-18, Hyakuri AB (Ibaraki airport)
19-25, Iruma AB
26-29, NAF Atsugi
30, Shizuhama AB
31-34, Hamamatsu AB
35-36, MCAS Iwakuni
37-39, Ashiya AB
40-42, Tsuiki AB
43, Ozuki AB
44-Hofu-Kita AB
45-57, MCAS Iwakuni
58-66, Akeno AB
67-69, Gifu AB
70-78, Komatsu Airport/base
79-80, NAF Atsugi
81-89, Yokota AB

Further to all this, does anyone know the reason for the red & white painted T-4's at Ashiya all? It's a training unit but all the other training units are standard grey.

[Phantomwolf]

Must have been one hell of a trip you undertook there.
As others have stated some amazing subject manner you have kindly posted, not at all envious or jealous(yeh). Can't pick a favourite but those aggressor F-15s are certainly tasty.