I’ve done a bit of research and seen the summaries of the regulations and rules in Japan https://drone-laws.com/drone-laws-in-japan/
However, I’m curious if anyone has any recent experience about flying DJI drones in Japan? Do you need to do anything before you’re allowed to take off in Japanese airpsace?
well if you research then you would of come across what you would need to do i asume? check there airspace regulations, see if tourists are excempted etc as some places like hong kong say that to a degree 
Yes, as I mentioned I have done this.
I’m asking if there are any DJI hard locks.
Moved the topic to the Travel section where others might see it who have flown there.
Thanks. So according to that just regular airspace?
I have no idea what you mean by that.
You asked …
… and I provided a link to the DJI Geozones that includes any areas DJI lock.
By “airspace” I mean Classed Airspace.
Firstly every drone over 100g in weight needs to be registered and labelled.
Also every drone in that class required remote ID either via built-in or a third party add on unit.
Once you’ve done that you can fly according to the laws (no built up areas, daytime, VLOS, 30m from all people and property).
Registration is via this site:- (its got good English, a good PDF English walkthrough and even tutorial videos).
Its a fairly simple process - you need to scan your passport, enter drone serial, wait a few days for payment link, pay the fee (about 1200 yen) then wait a few more days for approval.
UAS rules are here: https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/content/001465740.pdf
Flight plan must be filed and restricted airspace can be found here:
https://www.uafpi.dips.mlit.go.jp/fpl/?lang=en
Not all built up areas are no-go zones so thats pretty much all the cities (地理院地図 / GSI Maps｜国土地理院)
Youngest Daughter is heading to Japan in a few weeks, cherry blossom time. I,ve thought I could let her take my Neo. Would there be any problems with this. Would she need to undertake their equivalent of flyer id etc. She’s pretty much hammered with studying at the moment.
Yep there are things to do but its not hard. Very unusually for Japan its all in English and straight forward.
Unmanned Aircraft Registration WebPortal - Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
She’ll need to register (passport needed)and pay the fee which from memory is about £15.
Then wait a few days while its approved.
Once it is you get an email and you can register the drone serial number etc. Again after a short wait (mine was next day) you get a link with the reg number. This needs to be labelled and attached to the drone and a link to download the RID certificate to the drone (DJI Fly handles this fine).
Do this BEFORE travel to save time.
From there you can fly within the rules on that site. Do take note NO flights over populated areas are allowed which is anywhere within about 30 miles of Tokyo etc. Also not temples and so on.
Culturally the place is quiet and nobody really should do anything to disturb or upset someone, even if its legal.
The reality of this means most flying is in the mountains, countryside or coast.
飛行禁止マップ(Web) - ドローンフライトナビ®︎ will give you an idea
I fly here often within those rules and had no problem but just remember its not allowed in many areas and frowned upon in many more. Just do it where people cant see/hear it (and not restricted).
FWIW unless travelling to rural area you cant really fly around the Sakura bloom as its hugely busy. Everywhere. Its their main annual event. Every park will have literally thousands of people sat on blue plastic under them having Hanami parties.
Mountains of Nagano/Niigata still a good bet with the snow scenery then though.
Thanks for the info, I think she might be better sticking to her camera, if it were me I’d like to give it a go and maybe next time she goes (she’s already calling this an exploratory trip).
Fair call, dont be put of by the above though - its one of the easiest countries for an outsider to get permission to fly and use and is worth doing.
In a country with awful official websites (even in local language) and almost no English anywhere at all the drone page is a rare exception.
But i can understand exploratory. Its likely the most “abroad” you’ll ever feel in your life for starters. Everything is different. But then you adapt, get used to it and the place is fantastic..
At least one thing’ll be familiar, they drive on the correct side of the road😆
Its the norm in this part of the world.
Off the top of my head, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore. Those are just the ones ive been to lately. Hell 2 of those are so civilised they even use UK plug sockets!