Iwami Airport — Masuda, Japan

IWJ is Iwami Airport, serving Masuda in Shimane Prefecture on Japan's less-populated San'in coast facing the Sea of Japan. The airport provides a vital air connection for this rural region, offering flights to Tokyo that dramatically cut travel time compared to the long train or road journey across Japan's mountainous interior. Shimane Prefecture is known for its lower population density relative to Japan's Pacific coast cities, and IWJ helps sustain economic and social ties between this quieter region and the capital. The airport supports local tourism tied to nearby cultural and natural attractions along the San'in coastline, as well as business and government travel for a prefecture that otherwise sits somewhat apart from Japan's high-speed rail network.