Destination guide · Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), MLIT
Flying a drone in Japan
Doable with prepOfficial source re-checked 2026-06-12
Registration open to foreigners, but the 100 g threshold, Remote ID, and 2-3 week DID permission lead time rule out spontaneous urban flying.
Can a tourist register?
Yes. Passport plus a second public document with name/address/date of birth; allow 1-2 weeks. DID-zone (urban) flight permission adds roughly 10 working days of lead time.
Key limits
RegistrationRequired from 100 g
Altitude limit150 m
Test / trainingNot required
InsuranceNot required
All drones of 100 g or more must be registered (since June 2022). Remote ID broadcast is mandatory. Portal: DIPS 2.0 (https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/drone/en/). Fee: JPY 900-2400 depending on ID-verification method.
Customs & entry
No import permit; normal personal-electronics rules apply.
Official map / portal
https://www.ossportal.dips.mlit.go.jp/Sources
- https://www.mlit.go.jp/en/koku/uas.html
- https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/drone/en/
- https://karltschoppnavarat.com/2025/04/08/how-to-register-your-drone-as-a-foreigner-in-japan-a-guide-for-visiting-pilots/
- https://drone-laws.com/drone-laws-in-japan/
Confidence: high
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This is general information, not legal advice. Rules change — always verify with Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), MLIT before flying. FlyCheck covers national rules only; local restrictions (airports, parks, cities) also apply.