After her return to Japan, "Hōshō" was transferred to the Third Fleet, unofficially assigned to the training fleet (later called the Mobile Force Training Force), and officially assigned in October. She conducted flight training in the Inland Sea for aircraft that flew in from shore bases, since no aircraft were based on board "Hōshō". On 15 January 1943, the 50th Air Flotilla was created for carrier aircrew training and both "Hōshō" and "Ryūhō" were assigned to the new unit. The two ships provided carrier landing training and served as target ships for torpedo training. In January 1944, "Hōshō" was reassigned to the 12th Air Fleet, then to the Combined Fleet, but continued to perform the same mission of training fleet carrier pilots in the Inland Sea. In this role, "Hōshō" shuttled back and forth between Kure and the Western Inland Sea, spending equal amounts of time at each location.