Asia
Japan
MLIT / JCAB — DIPS 2.0 system
Japan requires mandatory registration of every drone from 100 g upward through the DIPS 2.0 portal, also open to foreign passports. The strictest constraint for tourists is the DID (Densely Inhabited District) system: most of Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto fall within these zones, where flying requires a specific permit that must be requested well in advance.
General limit under the Civil Aeronautics Act; minimum distance 30 m from people/buildings/vehicles.
Mandatory on DIPS 2.0 for drones ≥100 g, valid for 3 years, Remote ID also required on newer aircraft.
No real licence is needed to own one, but a flight permit (via DIPS) is required to fly in DIDs, near airports, above 150 m, at night or beyond visual line of sight — to be requested at least ~10 working days in advance.
Not mandatory under national law, but a de facto condition for obtaining permits for beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations or over third parties.
Zones to avoid
No-fly zones usually follow the same recurring categories (airports, military sites, protected areas, historic centers). For this country: 300 m exclusion zone around the Imperial Palace, the Diet, the Prime Minister's residence, embassies and military installations; almost all of Tokyo and large parts of Osaka/Kyoto are DIDs and therefore forbidden without a permit.
Verify officially before flying
Source: MLIT — Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Last checked: 2026-08
Go deeper
Why registration exists
Operator registration exists for accountability: if a drone causes an incident or enters a restricted zone, the authority needs to be able to trace it back to whoever was flying it. You usually get an identification number (operator ID) to physically attach to the drone, valid for every drone the same person owns. The cost is often minimal or free, and it applies to visiting tourists too, not just residents. For Japan, the official reference remains MLIT — Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, also via DIPS 2.0. Mandatory on DIPS 2.0 for drones ≥100 g, valid for 3 years, Remote ID also required on newer aircraft.
How this usually works
Here the requirement depends on factors like the drone's weight, distance from people, or use case (recreational vs. commercial). The note above describes the most common case: if your situation is different, check the official source to see exactly which scenario applies to you before flying. The exam and certificate are handled by MLIT — Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, also via DIPS 2.0. No real licence is needed to own one, but a flight permit (via DIPS) is required to fly in DIDs, near airports, above 150 m, at night or beyond visual line of sight — to be requested at least ~10 working days in advance.
Other countries in Asia
Informational content, not legal advice. Zones and rules change constantly: always check the country's official website before every flight.