Ohira Sky Club Area in Ohira-machi, Shimotsuga-gun, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, offers a paragliding experience with a takeoff altitude of 400 meters above sea level. The site is occasionally used and is suitable for soaring flights, with small cross-country possibilities.
The takeoff area, known as Ohira Takeoff, faces southeast, south, and southwest, with a 20-30° slope. The takeoff area measures 15m by 20m and can accommodate reverse inflation for takeoff. The altitude difference between takeoff and landing is 350 meters, with a distance of 1,400 meters between the two points. Thermal soaring is common, accounting for 50% of flights, while ridge soaring makes up 20%, and sled rides 30%. Precise turns are necessary to stay in the thermal core.
The landing area is a flat terrain, typically a fallow barley or rice field, measuring 100m by 300m. Pilots should be cautious of nearby vineyards. The landing zone is located at 45 meters above sea level.
Access to the site is convenient. By car, it is a 10-minute drive from the Sano-Fujioka ramp of the Tohoku Expressway. By train, it is a 15-minute walk from Ohira-shimo Station on the JR Ryomo Line or a 25-minute walk from Shin-ohira-shimo Station on the Tobu Nikko Line.
The flying season is year-round. Visitors need to have a JHF-P or IPPI ParaPro 4 rating or greater. The visitor fee is JY3,000 per day. Membership costs JY15,000 per year, with an additional enrollment fee of JY20,000, though there are no openings currently.
For more information, you can contact Koichi Shimomura at the Ohira Sky Club. The address is 2-6-9 Honcho, Kawaguchi-shi, Saitama Prefecture, Japan 326-0336. Phone numbers are 048-223-6551 and 090-1408-5377. Email: simomura@msn.com.
Local attractions include grape picking from early August to late September, Kobayashi Pear Garden, Sano Ramen shops, Ohira Shrine, Ohira Local Folk Culture and History Museum, and Yu-yu Plaza with various hot spa options.
For more details, visit:
- [Tochigi Paragliding Sites](http://jhf.hangpara.or.jp/area/2010area/tochigi_eng.htm#anchor2010tochigi01)
- [Tochigi Paragliding Information](http://jhf.hangpara.or.jp/english/site/site/Tochigi.html#anchor2003tochigi03)
Watch a video of the site here: [YouTube Video](
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