Overview

    1. The 10 Rules
    2. Requirements for Flying
    3. Costs

Follow these 10 rules

The MLIT (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) has established 10 rules for all drone pilots that must be followed nationwide.

  1. Do not fly under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  2. Check before each flight: What are the weather conditions? Is the firmware of the drone and remote control up to date? Does the drone show any damage?
  3. Avoid collisions with other drones, animals, aircraft, etc.
  4. Fly carefully and thoughtfully to avoid causing damage or injuries in your surroundings.
  5. Fly exclusively in daylight.
  6. The pilot must always have direct visual contact with the drone.
  7. Always maintain a minimum distance of 30 meters from uninvolved individuals, buildings, or other objects on the ground. The maximum height is 150 meters above the current ground.
  8. Do not fly over events or crowds of people.
  9. Do not transport dangerous or explosive materials.
  10. Do not release objects with the drone.

Requirements for Flying

License & Insurance

Currently, in Japan, you do not need a pilot’s license. Drone insurance is not a bad idea, but it is not strictly necessary in Japan.

Registration

Since June 20 2022, all drones, regardless of size or whether they are used for commercial or private purposes, must be registered. This can be done directly on the MLIT (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) website: https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/drone/en/

The registration takes about 1 week. Registration can be a bit complicated but is manageable. Refer to the following manual for more information.

Marking

The drone must be marked with the ID received after registration. Attach a label with the registration ID to the drone, similar to the practice in Europe.

Additionally, your drone must support RID (Remote ID). This technology allows the drone to be identified remotely during flight, even without direct line of sight. No personal data is transmitted! Generally, almost all drones produced from 2022 onwards support RID.

Costs

The registration cost is approximately 1,000 yen.

Violations are subject to a penalty of up to 500,000 yen and/or imprisonment.

Technology