Toyama Airport Considers Including Gifu's Takayama in New Name

Toyama Airport is considering a name change that would incorporate "Takayama," a popular tourist destination in neighboring Gifu Prefecture ^[1].

The proposed rebranding aims to reverse financial struggles by increasing the airport's visibility to inbound tourists. Officials said the change will facilitate the resumption of international scheduled flights and strengthen regional branding [1, 2].

Gifu Governor Sadehide Ezaki welcomed the proposal, noting that Gifu is a prefecture without its own airport. Ezaki said that including the name Takayama would signal to the world that there is an entry point for those visiting the Hida Takayama area ^[1].

Toyama Governor Hachiro Nitta expressed relief that the neighboring administration viewed the idea positively. Nitta said he had wondered if some would be unhappy with the proposal, but since it was received favorably, he believes one major obstacle has been removed ^[1].

The airport's current nickname, "Toyama Kitokito Airport," is being reviewed as part of a broader effort to attract more visitors. While the inclusion of Takayama has gained significant attention, other proposals, including the addition of "sushi" to the name, have also been considered ^[3].

Logistically, the connection between the two regions is already established, as the drive from Toyama Airport to Takayama takes approximately one and a half hours ^[1].

Governor Nitta previously indicated a desire to finalize the nickname change quickly ^[4]. While some reports suggest the change is already decided, others indicate the process remains in the deliberation stage [4, 5].