Explaining the "official nicknames" of airports. Understanding their origins will reveal the charms of each region.

Some nicknames are derived from local creatures, such as "Tancho Kushiro Airport" (Hokkaido) and "Ornamental Stork Tajima Airport" (Hyogo Prefecture), while others reflect the culture and history of the region, such as "Izumo Enmusubi Airport" (Shimane Prefecture) and "Tokushima Awaodori Airport" (Tokushima Prefecture). "Cosmoport Tanegashima" (Kagoshima Prefecture), named after the launch site for space rockets, exudes a romantic atmosphere.

In this way, by uncovering the origins of nicknames, you can also learn about the characteristics of each area. In this article, we will introduce three airports with unique nicknames. We will also introduce recommended tourist spots related to their origins.

"Delicious Yamagata Airport" Food, scenery, hot springs, festivals. A place where you can encounter many "delicious" things

Yamagata Airport is nicknamed "Delicious Yamagata Airport." Another airport in Yamagata Prefecture, Shonai Airport, is also nicknamed "Delicious Shonai Airport." The nickname was chosen from 3,741 applications submitted in 2014, and it was the first time in the country that multiple airports were given the same nickname.

Yamagata is known for its fertile land seeping with melting snow, and its abundant agricultural products that change with the seasons. It is a place where you can encounter many delicious foods, including the brand rice varieties Tsuyahime and Yukiwakamaru, fruits such as cherries and La France pears, and Yonezawa beef.

And it's not just food that's delicious. The word "delicious" actually means not only "good tasting" but also "pleasant" and "splendid."

The prefecture boasts magnificent natural scenery, including Mount Zao, and historic festivals such as the Hanagasa Festival. The prefecture also boasts hot springs that spring up in every city, town, and village, making it a place where "everything is delicious, from the food, scenery, festivals, and hot springs." The nickname "Delicious Yamagata Airport" was chosen with this in mind. If you land at Delicious Yamagata Airport, you'll be able to enjoy a trip where you'll encounter many delicious moments.

Recommended fruit picking experiences to enjoy in delicious Yamagata

After hearing about the origins of the name "Oishii Yamagata Airport," a member of the Yamagata Prefectural Transportation Policy Division recommended Ohsho Orchard, a 20-minute drive from Oishii Yamagata Airport, saying, "Please make some delicious memories in Yamagata." From around May every year, you can enjoy fruit picking, which is delicious for both the eyes and the tongue. At the Oh!Show!Cafe inside the orchard, you can enjoy a variety of parfaits made with colorful fruits.

Ousho Orchard

Kochi Ryoma Airport is the first airport in Japan to be named after a popular Meiji Restoration hero

Kochi Airport is affectionately known as "Kochi Ryoma Airport." It is named after the famous samurai Sakamoto Ryoma, who was born in the prefecture and was active during the late Edo period. The nickname began to be used in 2003 on November 15th, which is also Ryoma's birthday.

This is the first time that an airport has been named after a person in Japan. There are many airports overseas named after people, such as John F. Kennedy Airport and Charles de Gaulle Airport, but there are no such airports in Japan, so this was chosen to create impact and appeal.

According to the press conference held when the name was decided, there were some opinions such as, "In addition to Ryoma, Kochi also has John Manjiro, Itagaki Taisuke, and Nakaoka Shintaro. There are so many famous and wonderful people, so why only Ryoma?" However, the story goes that the name was decided on because of his overwhelming popularity among historical figures.

Experience history and culture in a town where Ryoma's footsteps remain

How about a trip that touches history and culture with Kochi Ryoma Airport as your gateway? Katsurahama, with its 13-meter tall statue of Sakamoto Ryoma, is a scenic beach known as a famous spot for viewing the moon. It may be a view that Ryoma once saw. The Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum is about a 10-minute walk away.

Katsurahama Park

If you get hungry, head to Hirome Market. This area, close to Kochi Castle, was once the residence of Fukao Hirome Shigeaki, a famous elder retainer who served the Tosa clan. This shopping street is like a food stall village where you can enjoy everything from Kochi's local cuisine to the flavors of the world. It is packed with restaurants, food stores, and general stores, and of course you can try Kochi's famous seared bonito and whale dishes. Enjoy the bounty of the sea brought by the Kuroshio Current to your heart's content.

Hirome Market

"Tokunoshima Kotobuki Airport" An island filled with rich culture and natural power

Tokunoshima is the second largest island in the Amami Islands after Amami Oshima. Tokunoshima Airport, which is about an hour's flight from Kagoshima Airport, has a nickname of "Tokunoshima Kotobuki Airport." The nickname was chosen by the public in 2012 to mark the 50th anniversary of the airport's opening.

At the time when the nickname was being solicited, three towns on Tokunoshima were ranked at the top of the total fertility rate announced by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, and the island was also talked about as a place of fertility. This is where the name came from. Also, pay attention to the "Nesugatayama" mountain, which can be seen during takeoff and landing. The mountain's silhouette, which resembles a pregnant woman lying down, is said to be a symbol of fertility.

When we spoke to the Tokunoshima Tourism Federation, they told us, "It has been said since ancient times on the island that 'Kuwado Shimanu Takara (children are the island's treasure)' and the custom of raising children not just within the family but the whole community remains strong. The word 'kodakara' may generally be used to mean 'being blessed with a child,' but we believe that this regional custom of 'children are precious treasures' is also the reason Tokunoshima is called the 'island of kodakara'." The warmth of the island is apparent here.

A journey to receive blessings from the magnificent scenery woven by mysterious nature

Another attraction of Tokunoshima is the rich nature that is woven by its subtropical climate. The marine blue scenery seen from the airplane window is a spectacular sight. It seems like a trip where you can receive blessings from the mysterious power of nature.

"Unbuki," located near the airport, is also a mysterious spot known only to those in the know. Unbuki means "cave" in the island's local language. It is a beautiful underwater cave filled with brackish water, a mixture of seawater and groundwater, and it is said that 400 meters away it passes under the runway of Tokunoshima Kotobuki Airport and connects to the sea. Just like the ocean, it has tides, and its mysterious appearance changes between day and night. It seems that you will receive a mysterious power every time you visit.

Unbuki

We have introduced the Oishii Yamagata Airport, Kochi Ryoma Airport, and Tokunoshima Kotobuki Airport from among the many unique nicknames for airports across Japan. Each nickname is filled with the charm and deep affection of the place. If you find an airport with a nickname that catches your eye, please visit it in person. You will be able to experience the feelings that went into the nickname on your trip.