JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

	The Chofu Aerospace Center serves as JAXA's major research and development base. In particular, research into aviation is the main feature that characterizes the center. As a focal point of aeronautical research and development in Japan, the center plays an important role in supporting and leading the growth of the Japanese aviation industry. The center's research and development activities also include cultivating scientific and technological foundations that underpin the advancement of aerospace technologies in general. This includes pioneering studies on space technologies. To support diverse activities in the space and sky from behind the scenes, the Chofu Aerospace Center is equipped with large-scale and specialized test facilities, such as wind tunnels, aeroengine test facilities, research aircraft, and a supercomputer. The center is making continuous efforts in satisfying evolving demands from users, through maintaining and improving these facilities, as well as through developing testing and analysis capabilities.

The Chofu Aerospace Center serves as JAXA's major research and development base. In particular, research into aviation is the main feature that characterizes the center. As a focal point of aeronautical research and development in Japan, the center plays an important role in supporting and leading the growth of the Japanese aviation industry. The center's research and development activities also include cultivating scientific and technological foundations that underpin the advancement of aerospace technologies in general. This includes pioneering studies on space technologies.

To support diverse activities in the space and sky from behind the scenes, the Chofu Aerospace Center is equipped with large-scale and specialized test facilities, such as wind tunnels, aeroengine test facilities, research aircraft, and a supercomputer. The center is making continuous efforts in satisfying evolving demands from users, through maintaining and improving these facilities, as well as through developing testing and analysis capabilities.

Main Facilities

Access

Tours and Exhibits

Exhibit hall

Opening hours:

Open 10:00-17:00, Monday to Friday

*The exhibit hall is open to the public, and no advance booking is required for you to explore the exhibit hall freely.
However, if you are planning to visit us in a large group of more than 10 people, please contact us in advance via the inquiry form.

Closed Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, and new year's holidays (29 Dec - 3 Jan).
Closed in the afternoon of Friday, 19th April 2024 due to an event.
Closed between 3rd and 19th June 2024 due to maintenance work on the air conditioning system.
*YS-11 cockpit and space mission simulator are closed between 12:00-13:00

Admission: Free

Note for visitors:

Nine parking spaces for cars and one parking space for a bus are available, free of charge.
No eating, no drinking, no smoking please
No pets allowed (Service dogs are welcomed)

Contact: Inquiry form

Pamphlet

Chofu Aerospace Center Exhibit Hall(1.19MB)

Exhibits

The exhibit hall introduces major research and development activities addressed at the Chofu Aerospace Center. The center has more than 50 years of history of aerospace R&D with particular focus on aviation. You can find milestones from the past R&D activities, as well as videos and panels that introduce fundamentals of aerospace technologies and ongoing projects.

Supersonic transport technology demonstrators

JAXA has been conducting research and development of supersonic transport technologies over decades. You can find two supersonic technology demonstrators (non-powered) built and flown in the past R&D programs: NEXST-1 designed to reduce supersonic drag, and D-SEND 2 (main wing only) to reduce sonic booms

Future Space Transportation Systems

You can find the automatic landing technology demonstrator designed to land on conventional runway like an airplane. It was developed and flown as part of research into reusable space transportation systems.

Space Mission Simulator

Enjoy simulated space travel on board a future space plane that takes off from conventional runway like an airplane.

FJR710 turbo fan engine

Japan's first engine that satisfied airworthiness standards. It was installed in the Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) experiment aircraft "Asuka."

- YS-11 Cockpit (outdoor)

The YS-11 was the first civil passenger aircraft designed, developed and built in Japan in the 1960s and early 70s. A total of 182 YS-11s were produced by a Japanese consortium, the Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (NAMC). To satisfy needs for a short-haul airliner on domestic routes, the turboprop YS-11 was designed to take off in 1,200 meters.
Since 1961, JAXA (former National Aerospace Laboratory) began a full-scale aircraft static strength test to carry out a fatigue test on the main wings and a repeated pressurization loading test of a fuselage, thus we have contributed to the development of the YS-11.

※To visit the YS-11, please contact a staff by a phone placed at the entrance of the exhibit hall.

Group visits

We can arrange two types of guided tours for groups. Advanced booking required. Please send your request three weeks prior to the desired visit date at the latest. See How to book for details.
※Weekdays only. Not available on national holidays and new year's holidays (29 Dec - 3 Jan).
※Depending on the evolution of the pandemic, guided tours may be subject to cancellation.

Guided tour 1 Exhibit hall tour 11:00 / 13:30 / 15:00	- Visit exhibit hall with a guide. - Available for the groups of between 5 and 20 people with general interests. - The tour takes 60 minutes in total.
Guided tour 2 Facility tour 13:30	- Visit exhibit hall and one of research facilities (wind tunnels, aeroengine test facilities, supercomputer) with a guide. - Available for the groups with in-depth interests (Technical college students and above) - Require a minimum 5 people and no more than 20 people. - The tour takes 90 minutes in total. ※Due to the testing schedule, the final confirmation notice of research facility tour may be sent at the last minute.

Guided tour 1
Exhibit hall tour
11:00 / 13:30 / 15:00

- Visit exhibit hall with a guide.
- Available for the groups of between 5 and 20 people with general interests.
- The tour takes 60 minutes in total.

Guided tour 2
Facility tour
13:30

- Visit exhibit hall and one of research facilities (wind tunnels, aeroengine test facilities, supercomputer) with a guide.
- Available for the groups with in-depth interests (Technical college students and above)
- Require a minimum 5 people and no more than 20 people.
- The tour takes 90 minutes in total.
※Due to the testing schedule, the final confirmation notice of research facility tour may be sent at the last minute.

How to book

Please send your request by e-mail with the information below to CAC-KENGAKU*jaxa.jp (change * to @) three weeks prior to your requested date at the latest.
1. Date and timeslot preferred
2. Name of school or organization
3. Type of group (e.g., university students, study tour by company A)
4. Number of participants (Maximum of 20 participants, including attendants)
5. Type of tour preferred. Please indicate 1 or 2 from the table above.
6. Group leader's contact details (e-mail and telephone number)
7. Area of interests in particular if any

We will contact you within two working days to discuss and finalize the details of your tour including tour availability.
※Once the tour is confirmed, you will be required to submit name list of your party (last name, first name, school/company name, nationality and resident or non-resident) two weeks prior to your tour.