Peninsula Airways

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's US-2 rescue seaplane offers world-class performance, capable of water landings in waves up to 3 meters high. It confidently navigates not only lakes and inland seas but also the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Japan. What if we reimagined this aircraft as a "passenger plane" connecting the peninsulas across the Japanese archipelago? An air route linking these peninsulas could illuminate previously overlooked locations with limited transportation access.

Configured with passenger seating, the aircraft accommodates up to 38 people. Its range exceeds 4700km—truly impressive considering Tokyo to Naha spans only about 1600km. With a cruising speed over 480km/h, it travels at nearly twice the speed of the Shinkansen. While conventional jet aircraft fly at 10000m where the earth's surface disappears from view, flying at around 1000m reveals breathtaking aerial landscapes in vivid detail.

Amphibious seaplanes transform the ocean into a runway, eliminating the need for airports. With just a concrete coastal ramp, they can ascend to land, turn around, and return to sea. This naturally inspires air routes fundamentally different from conventional inter-city travel. For the Japanese archipelago—surrounded by water, blessed with calm inland seas like the Seto Inland Sea and Ariake Sea, and home to large lakes like Lake Biwa—seaplanes represent the ideal mode of transportation.

The US-2 requires a remarkably short distance of approximately 300m for water takeoff and landing. Its capacity for extremely low-speed flight at around 90km/h minimizes wave impact, enabling ultra-short-distance water operations. Compared to other seaplanes in its class, its superior performance is evident. While civilian repurposing of this military-developed aircraft is legally prohibited, meaningful peaceful applications might justify legislative amendments.

The Japanese archipelago features remarkably diverse terrain—too precious not to experience from low altitude. The ria coastline of Sanriku captivates with unexpected beauty. Matsushima remains magnificent even from above, while flying over Lake Akan after viewing drift ice from Shiretoko Peninsula reveals the majestic sight of snow-covered Mount Akan and its caldera lake—a scene that transcends time. The unspoiled essence of the Japanese archipelago awaits discovery through low-altitude flight.

Traveling by connecting trains from Tokyo to Oma, the northernmost point of Honshu in Aomori Prefecture, takes about six hours. By seaplane from Tokyo, the journey shortens to just two hours. From there, reaching the tip of the Shiretoko Peninsula takes only about one hour—timeframes inconceivable with conventional inter-city transportation. A crucial aspect of land value is accessibility. The pristine natural abundance at peninsula tips represents a treasure trove of possibilities.

During the age of maritime navigation, peninsulas served as antenna-like hubs where culture and information flowed freely. When Kitamaebune merchant ships crossed the Sea of Japan, peninsulas along its coast thrived with vibrant activity. Many regions still preserve echoes of this prosperous era. Yet today, these areas have become the most difficult to access. Seaplanes could reverse this situation. Here lies an idea to harness the archipelago's hidden future resources for a new form of tourism.

Unlike rivers that flow from inland mountains to the coast, roads trace coastal contours. While the Japanese archipelago boasts well-developed railway and highway networks connecting major cities and towns, a closer look reveals numerous hard-to-reach places—the red-marked areas on the map. These likely represent areas surrounded by magnificent natural beauty. We envision both air routes connecting these regions and their potential for thoughtful development.

── Possibilities of Peninsula Airways

1 : Swift, smooth access to previously hard-to-reach locations.
2 : Passenger transportation with minimal facilities, eliminating the need for airports.
3 : Increased value of depopulated areas as destinations for natural immersion.
4 : New tourism concepts adaptable to the entire coastal area of the Japanese archipelago.

── Challenges for Peninsula Airways

1 : Substantial budget requirements for accommodation development and aircraft acquisition, operation, and management.
2 : Legislative amendments for civilian use of Self-Defense Force equipment and sea rescue vessels.
3 : Negotiations with individuals and organizations holding fishing rights.
4 : Development of rules and legal frameworks to prevent uncontrolled development.