Drone Regulation all over the world ! : Japan

Travelling to Japan? You should bring your drone to capture aerial video / photo. There are so many place and landmark in Japan you can observe from the sky. Can I fly my drone over Tokyo City? or even in a festival like Sapporo Snow Festival?. I believe the answer is no.

Japan have a strict rules about flying you machine especially in crowded area. But there is place where you can fly your drone in Japan where no permission is required.

Based on Ministry of Land, Infrastructure , Transport and Tourism , (MLIT) for every drone flies in Japan must have some permission from MLIT except drone/airplane that lighter than 200g including the battery.

This permission required for :

(A) Airspace above 150m above ground level

(B) Airspace around airports. (airspace above approach surface, horizontal surface, transitional surface, extended approach surface, conical surface and outer horizontal surface). *some quad-copter brand now has a GPS that can locate the restricted area near airport known as No-Fly Zone so you cannot fly the drone near airport.

(C) Above Densely Inhabited Districts (DID), which are defined and published by Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

For point A & B we can achieve easily with nowadays drone. you can set Maximum altitude on your drone setting (if you can) and of course drone should always be kept within your sight.