Rebuilt after the tsunami
The airfield began as an army airfield around 1940 and became Sendai’s civil airport after the war. On 11 March 2011 the Great East Japan Earthquake tsunami flooded the airport, and images of the devastated terminal were shown worldwide. The airport reopened remarkably quickly, and in 2016 it became the first state-run airport in Japan to be privatised.
What you’ll see on the live cam
The Kahoku Shimpo camera shows the apron and runways near the Pacific coast. Traffic includes ANA, JAL and Peach, which has a base at Sendai, plus IBEX regional jets and international flights. Between airline movements, training aircraft fly circuits, so there is usually something in the air.
Runways
Sendai has two runways: 09/27 (3,000 m), used by airliners, and 12/30 (1,200 m), used mainly by training and light aircraft.
Best times to watch
- Daytime on weekdays: training flights between airline movements.
- Morning and evening: domestic airline peaks.
SDJ live cam FAQ
What happened to Sendai Airport in the 2011 tsunami?
On 11 March 2011 the tsunami swept across Sendai Airport, flooding the terminal and runways and leaving cars and debris on the field. US and Japanese forces reopened it for relief flights within days, and full service returned within months.
Why are there small training planes at Sendai?
The Civil Aviation College has a training branch at Sendai, so student pilots fly circuits between airline movements.
Is the Sendai Airport live cam free to watch?
Yes. All 1 SDJ camera is a free YouTube live stream, embedded with credit to 河北新報オンライン.
Where can I check SDJ flight times and airport information?
Live arrivals and departures, terminal maps and travel information are on the official Sendai Airport website: https://www.sendai-airport.co.jp/en/
What time is it at Sendai Airport right now?
Sendai uses the Asia/Tokyo time zone. The current local time at SDJ is shown under the page title and updates automatically.
Last updated 9 November 2026. Stream availability has not yet been verified.
