Misawa Airport / Misawa Air Base

RJSM / MSJ

Misawa, JP

Last Updated
Aug 12, 05:00Z

Military Airport

Restricted

This is a Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) installation. Civil access is not permitted.

Access Notes:

JASDF bases closed to civil traffic

Consult official AIP (Japan AIP ENR 5.2) for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 43 min ago
05:00Z

☀️ Day
LIFR
Flight Rules
23°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 23°C
15 kt
120°
3.5 km
Visibility
300 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR RJSM 120500Z 12015KT 3500 -SHRA BR FEW002 BKN003 BKN005 23/23 Q1011

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 119 ft
FEW 200 ft AGL
BKN 300 ft AGL
BKN 500 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
319 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
419 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
619 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

LIFR

Misawa Airport / Misawa Air Base is currently reporting low IFR (LIFR) conditions with broken clouds at 300 feet and 3.5 km visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east-southeast (120°) at 15 knots. Runway 10/28 is favored with a 14-knot headwind and 5-knot crosswind component. Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is reduced to 3.5 km. IFR conditions prevail and an instrument clearance is required for operations in controlled airspace. The ceiling is very low at 300 feet AGL (broken), well below circling minimums at most airports.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 23°C (73°F) with a dewpoint of 23°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Pilot Recommendations

Current conditions require an instrument rating, IFR-equipped aircraft, and an IFR clearance. Check approach minimums carefully as conditions may be below CAT I ILS minimums. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

24-Hour Weather Evolution

Loading weather data...
Data Sources
  • • Current conditions from METAR observations
  • • Historical data from past 24 hours
  • • No forecast or predicted data included
  • • Data updated with each new METAR report
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Note: Future values beyond current TAF validity are estimates based on climatological data and trends. Always verify with current forecasts before flight operations.

Airport Runway Layout

N
JSM
10 ✈️
28

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 10/28
Active: 10
10,000 ft 150 ft ASP 95°
14.1 kt 5.1 kt
20° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - RJSM

7,600 observations | Sep 2025 - Aug 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
74.3%
MVFR
10%
IFR
7%
LIFR
8.7%

Misawa Airport / Misawa Air Base typically experiences VFR conditions 74.3% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 15.7% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 8.7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 37 knots. Temperature extremes range from -8°C to 34°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are September, October, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 8.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 37 kt
Calm Winds: 0.9%
Direction Distribution:
E
13.7%
N
3.5%
S
11.1%
W
30.1%
NE
3.1%
NW
11.6%
SE
12.4%
SW
13.6%

Temperature Range

Average: 10.1°C
Range: -8°C to 34°C
-8°C 34°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 3.9%

Best Months for VFR

September October November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 10/28
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.7 kt

Statistics computed from 7,600 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Aug 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Misawa Airport / Misawa Air Base - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: RJSM
IATA Code: MSJ
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 119 ft MSL

Location

City: Misawa
Country: JP
Latitude: 40.703201°
Longitude: 141.367996°
Time Zone: Europe/Moscow

Runway Information

Runway 10/28
Length: 10,000 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Misawa Airport / Misawa Air Base

Misawa Airport / Misawa Air Base is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the JP AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Overview

Misawa Airport serves as a joint civilian and military airfield located in northern Honshu, Japan. Strategically positioned near the Pacific coast, the airport supports both Japanese Air Self-Defense Force and United States Air Force operations. The airport's substantial 10,000-foot runway accommodates a wide range of aircraft types and operational requirements.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly favorable Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions, with 83% of observations showing clear weather. The airport experiences moderate temperature variations, ranging from -8°C to 31°C, with an average temperature of 7.6°C. Westerly winds prevail, averaging 8.3 knots, with occasional gusts up to 33 knots, providing consistent and predictable wind conditions.

Notable Features

Situated at 119 feet above mean sea level, Misawa Airport offers relatively flat terrain with minimal elevation challenges. The airport's geographic location exposes it to maritime air masses, which contribute to its consistent visibility averaging 10 statute miles. The runway's asphalt surface and generous 10,000-foot length enable operations for large military and commercial aircraft.

Approach Considerations

Runway 10/28 demonstrates favorable wind alignment, with 100% wind compatibility and a modest average crosswind of 3.7 knots. September, October, and November represent the most consistent VFR months for aviation operations. Pilots should anticipate stable approach conditions, with minimal risk of low visibility or fog, as evidenced by less than 1% occurrence in historical observations.

Data Sources & Accuracy: Airport information sourced from OurAirports.com, a collaborative database of worldwide airport data. Weather data from official aviation weather services including NOAA Aviation Weather Center and international METAR/TAF providers. Information is updated regularly but pilots should always verify current conditions and NOTAMs through official channels before flight operations.

Official Data Sources

Weather NOAA Aviation Weather Center • International METAR/TAF Network
Airports OurAirports.com • Public domain airport database
NOTAMs FAA NOTAM System • ICAO NOTAM Distribution
Last updated: Jan 1, 1970 12:00 AM UTC

Disclaimer: Data is provided for informational purposes only. Pilots must verify all information through official sources before flight operations. Weather conditions change rapidly; always obtain a current briefing from approved weather services.