Private drone use in Japan Detailed guide with sources 2025

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Updated: May 14, 2025

Summary

This detailed guide covers the complex rules and regulations for private and semi-commercial drone use in Japan, where strict laws have evolved since 2015, including the 2022 introduction of a national drone license. It explains key requirements like registering drones over 100 grams with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), flying only within visual line of sight during the day, keeping a 30-meter distance from people and property, and avoiding flights over crowds or near airports without permission. The guide also highlights geographic restrictions such as bans in densely populated areas, controlled zones near airports, and sensitive sites like emergency zones and critical infrastructure. Special attention is given to the additional permits needed for flying in national parks—where drone use is discouraged or strictly limited, especially around places like Mt. Fuji—and heritage sites, which often require local authorization to protect cultural treasures. Beyond flight rules, it touches on privacy laws designed to protect personal data and images, underlining the importance of following privacy and safety standards to avoid heavy fines or penalties. Overall, it offers practical advice and comprehensive regional details to help drone pilots fly legally and responsibly throughout all 47 prefectures of Japan.

Regulations and Operating Guidelines

Japan has one of the most complex airspaces in the world. Since 2015, laws have been continuously tightened, most recently in 2022 with the introduction of a government-issued drone pilot license. This holistic guide combines national regulations, registration requirements, weight classes, insurance options, as well as detailed regional specificities for all 47 prefectures—so you can operate your drone privately or semi-commercially in Japan legally and safely.

Regulations and Operating Guidelines

According to the Civil Aeronautics Act, the following obligations apply to drones weighing 100 g or more:

Registration with MLIT including Remote ID and visible marking ^[1]
Flights only during daylight and within visual line of sight (VLOS); FPV only with a spotter
At least 30 m distance to uninvolved people, vehicles, and buildings
No flight over crowds or events
Transporting hazardous material is prohibited
Drops of objects are forbidden

Violations may result in fines of up to ¥500,000 or 1 year in prison. Flying a drone under the influence of alcohol can be fined up to ¥300,000 ^[2].

Geographical Flight Bans

Airspace	Description
DID (densely populated areas)	Prohibited without MLIT approval
Airport proximity	Controlled zone up to 9 km radius, approval required
Above 150 m altitude	Only with approval
Emergency and rescue zones	No-go – emergency services have priority
Critical facilities	Operator consent and police notification 48 hours in advance required
City parks (e.g. Tokyo)	Forbidden without local permission

Flying in National Parks and Cultural Heritage Sites

Flying drones in national parks and over important cultural heritage sites is subject to special regulations that go beyond general aviation laws.

National Parks: According to the Natural Parks Act, there are no blanket bans on drone flights in national parks (as of 2020, according to a directive from the Shin-Etsu Natural Environment Office of the Ministry of the Environment). However, it is strongly advised not to use drones in national parks without prior consultation and approval, particularly due to possible disturbances to wildlife (e.g. birds) and the safety of other visitors. In some areas, such as Mt. Fuji, the use of drones is strictly regulated or completely prohibited in order to protect its "sanctity and dignity." Often, permission from the landowner (e.g., Forestry Bureau for National Forests, prefectural administration for prefectural forests, or shrine administrations for shrine areas) is required. ^[3], ^[4]
Cultural Heritage Sites: The Act on Protection of Cultural Properties restricts drone flights near sites designated as cultural heritage (e.g. temples, shrines, castles). Here, additional permissions from the respective site administration and/or local authorities are often necessary. Flying over such places without explicit permission is generally prohibited. It is advisable to check directly with the administration of the particular site or the responsible local authority for specific drone rules. ^[5]
General Note: Rules may vary depending on the specific park or cultural heritage. Prior inquiry and obtaining approval from the respective administrative office (e.g. park management, temple/shrine office, local municipality) is essential.

Data Protection and Privacy Beyond the 30m Rule

In addition to the general rule of maintaining at least 30 meters' distance from uninvolved people and private property, further Japanese laws protect privacy and personal data, which are relevant for drone pilots.

Right to One's Own Image and Privacy (Penal Code, Act on Protection of Personal Information): Taking recognizable pictures of people without their consent can be considered a violation of privacy and portrait rights, especially if such images are published or used commercially. This also applies to recordings of private land where private activities are visible. Articles in the Japanese Penal Code concerning trespassing and invasion of privacy may apply. The Act on Protection of Personal Information regulates the handling of collected personal data. ^[6], ^[7]
Etiquette for Photography: Japan places a high value on privacy. Taking photos or videos of strangers without permission is considered impolite and can lead to conflicts. This applies even more to drone shots, which can potentially intrude into private areas. It is recommended to be very restrained with photos or videos of people or private residences, even if the 30-meter distance is adhered to. ^[8]
Special care in residential areas: Although the DID regulation (Densely Inhabited Districts) already heavily limits or prohibits flights in densely populated areas, the utmost sensitivity is required even outside of these zones when close to residential buildings. Flying over private gardens, balconies, or windows should absolutely be avoided to prevent being perceived as infringing on privacy.
Recommendation: Always obtain explicit consent before filming or photographing people up close. Be aware that even taking images of private property can be problematic, even if no people are directly visible but private areas are affected. When in doubt, it is better to refrain from taking a shot.

Weight Classes and Registration Requirements

< 100 g: Considered a toy – no MLIT registration, check local rules
100 g–2 kg: Registration with MLIT required ^[9]
> 2 kg: Registration + advanced safety concepts and insurance requirements

Registration and Approval Process (DIPS 2.0)

Create an account in the MLIT UAS portal
Register your drone: Enter its data, pay ¥900–2,400 ^[10]
Application via DIPS: Submit flight route, safety and emergency plan ^[11]
Proof: at least 10 hours of flight practice or pilot certificate + liability insurance
Processing time: 2–4 weeks, depending on workload

Drone License

Since December 2022, the Unmanned Aircraft Remote Pilot Certificate has been introduced as mandatory for category III/IV flights over uninvolved people and optional otherwise ^[12]. 1st class covers complex operations, 2nd class covers basic flights.

Liability Insurance

Special drone liability insurance is not legally required for every type of flight in Japan. However, it is often an explicit condition for the issuance of flight permissions by MLIT, especially for more complex operations such as flights beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), flights over crowds or events, or in other controlled airspaces or situations requiring permissions. Regardless of a legal requirement, it is strongly recommended to take out liability insurance for both private and semi-commercial or commercial drone users to protect yourself against potential compensation claims after an accident or incident. Some providers, such as Sompo Japan (with SORAPASS care) and Tokio Marine & Nichido, offer policies tailored to the needs of drone pilots.

Provider	Private	Commercial	Source
SORAPASS care (Sompo Japan)	Basic cover for personal/property damage	Flexible upgrades	^[13]
Tokio Marine & Nichido	¥100 M coverage	expandable up to ¥1 B	^[14]

Regional Specifics for All 47 Prefectures

In addition to the national laws and MLIT guidelines, many of Japan’s 47 prefectures, as well as some cities and towns, have their own regulations and guidelines regarding drone flights. These can range from additional no-fly zones in city parks, around natural monuments, near certain public facilities, or during local festivals, to specific registration procedures or the necessity of obtaining permissions from local authorities, police, or land/facility managers. The following table gives an overview of known regional specificities. However, it is essential that you check with local authorities (prefectural government, city office, local police stations) and, if needed, private landowners or facility operators about the currently valid rules before every flight, since these may change at short notice and the information provided here may not be complete or up-to-date.

Note: We do not guarantee completeness. Please always check locally with authorities.

Prefecture	Restriction Level	Regulation	Source
Aichi	Normal	300 m radius around important facilities prohibited	^[15]
Akita	Significantly more restrictive	300 m radius around important facilities prohibited; nature park permit required	^[16], ^[17]
Aomori	Normal	No additional statewide prohibitions; park & nature park permits required	^[18]
Chiba	Normal	Coastal/river flights via MLIT procedure and construction administration consultation	^[19]
Fukui	Significantly more restrictive	300 m zone around important facilities forbidden; permit & reporting required	^[20]
Fukushima	Normal	Fukushima Airport zone prohibited; otherwise no additional prefectural rules	^[21]
Gifu	Normal	300 m zone around important facilities prohibited; agriculture flights require DIPS approval	^[22]
Gunma	Significantly more restrictive	300 m zone around important facilities prohibited; Haruna Park No-Fly PDF	^[23]
Hokkaido	No special rules	No additional prefecture bans; municipal parks (Ishikari) regulated separately	^[24]
Hyogo	Significantly more restrictive	300 m zone important; port/airport zones require forms	^[25]
Ibaraki	Significantly more restrictive	300 m radius around important facilities prohibited; coastal/river flights only after consultation	^[26]
Ishikawa	Normal	300 m zone around important facilities prohibited; no further prefectural bans	^[27]
Iwate	Significantly more restrictive	300 m radius around important facilities prohibited; Hanamaki Airport area no-fly	^[28]
Kagawa	Normal	300 m zone important; facility list via prefecture police	^[29]
Kagoshima	Significantly more restrictive	300 m zone important; prefecture police application by form	^[30]
Kanagawa	Significantly more restrictive	300 m radius around important facilities forbidden; 48 hr notification required	^[31]
Kochi	Normal	300 m zone important; coastal areas vary, check local rules	^[32]
Kumamoto	Significantly more restrictive	300 m zone important; 48 hr notification required; fine/prison for violation	^[33]
Kyoto	Significantly more restrictive	Municipal parks banned; exceptions with MLIT & park permit	^[34]
Mie	Significantly more restrictive	G7/ISE-Shima Summit areas blocked; general 300 m zone ordinance	^[35]
Miyagi	Significantly more restrictive	Municipal parks banned; Sendai/Shiogama ports notification	^[36]
Miyazaki	Normal	300 m zone important; registration required in advance	^[37]
Nagano	Significantly more restrictive	300 m zone around important facilities forbidden; dams & mountain peaks separately forbidden	^[38]
Nagasaki	Normal	300 m zone important; general rules as per national law	^[39]
Nara	Normal	Prefectural parks require park management registration	^[40]
Niigata	Significantly more restrictive	300 m zone around important facilities forbidden; consent from facility & police notification required	^[41]
Oita	Significantly more restrictive	300 m zone important; 48 hr advance notification required; facility lists	^[42]
Okayama	Significantly more restrictive	300 m zone important; 48 hr advance notification with route plan & photos	^[43]
Osaka	Significantly more restrictive	Prefectural parks only with permission; Yumeshima Expo zone no-fly 1,000 m	^[44]
Saga	Significantly more restrictive	Airport/facility zones forbidden; 48 hr notification required	^[45]
Saitama	Normal	DID/airport no-fly; Chichibu Muse Park specially regulated during events	^[46]
Shiga	Normal	Flight notification to prefecture police required	^[47]
Shimane	Normal	48 hr police notification; exceptions in national/nature parks	^[48]
Shizuoka	Normal	Asahiyusuichi Floodplain: permit required	^[49]
Tochigi	Significantly more restrictive	300 m radius around important facilities forbidden; road/river area drone notifications required	^[50], ^[51]
Tokushima	No special rules	No additional prefecture bans; national 300 m zone & 48 hr notification	^[52]
Tokyo	Significantly more restrictive	Metropolitan parks flights banned; port facilities >300 m around critical sites banned	^[53], ^[54]
Tottori	Normal	300 m zone important; only after police notification	^[55]
Toyama	Significantly more restrictive	Park flights only with 3 weeks’ advance notification	^[56]
Wakayama	Significantly more restrictive	Port/coastal zones prohibited; registration from 100 g required	^[57]
Yamagata	Significantly more restrictive	300 m zone around important facilities forbidden; Yamagata Airport no-fly	^[58], ^[59]
Yamaguchi	Normal	300 m zone important; 48 hr advance notification required	^[60]
Yamanashi	Normal	Hobby flights by riverside possible without notification; park flights forbidden	^[61]

Conclusion

The private use of drones in Japan offers fascinating opportunities, but requires comprehensive preparation and strict compliance with a complex set of rules. This guide has highlighted the key aspects: from the mandatory registration of your drone over 100 grams with MLIT, observing the general operating regulations such as flying only during daylight and maintaining line of sight, to the many geographical no-fly zones (DID areas, airports, etc.) and special zones such as national parks or cultural heritage sites.

Remember that the drone pilot license is mandatory for certain categories (III/IV), and liability insurance, while not universally required by law, is often a prerequisite for permits and is strongly recommended in general. The regional differences within the 47 prefectures can further complicate matters, making local research essential.

Your Checklist for Legal and Safe Drone Flights in Japan:

Plan Ahead: Start your research and the approval process at least 2–4 weeks in advance of your planned flight.
Registration: Make sure your drone (from 100g) is properly registered with MLIT and that the Remote ID function is active.
Know the Rules: Internalize the national flight rules (Civil Aeronautics Act) and the specific bans (e.g., no flight over crowds, no dropping objects).
Check No-Fly Zones: Use up-to-date maps (e.g., via the DIPS portal) to identify no-fly zones (DID, airports, etc.).
Special Permits: Apply in good time for any necessary permissions via DIPS 2.0 if you want to fly in restricted areas or under exceptional conditions (e.g., night flight, BVLOS).
Insurance Cover: Check your insurance and obtain appropriate drone liability insurance if needed.
Local Regulations: Find out about additional rules in the relevant prefecture and municipality. The provided table is a starting point but does not replace direct inquiry with local authorities.
Respect Privacy: Be extremely cautious when filming or photographing people or private property. Obtain permissions and respect privacy.
Safety Awareness: Carry out pre-flight checks, fly responsibly, and always keep a safe distance.

Japan is a country that values innovation while also placing importance on safety, order, and privacy. By preparing carefully, following all regulations meticulously, and consulting the relevant authorities on site in case of doubt, you can help ensure that flying drones remains a positive experience—for you and those around you. Only then can you legally and safely capture Japan’s breathtaking landscapes and urban scenes from a bird’s-eye view.