Maximum drone altitude in Japan

What the rules say

Each line is resolved from published facts of Japan. "Not resolved" means the corpus does not answer it in a machine-checkable way — never that the law is silent.

• General height limit150 mConditional
• Reference datumNot resolved
• Category-specific limitsNo
• Aerodrome-related limitNo
• Structure exceptionConditional
• Authorised exceedanceConditional
• Conditional limitsConditional
• ExceptionsConditional

What changes the answer

• altitude

  Flight altitude below 150 m

The rules behind this answer

• Binding lawNational rule

  150-Meter Altitude Limit

  Unmanned aircraft must not be operated in airspace at a height of 150 meters or more above the ground or water surface, except for airspace within 30 meters of a structure on the ground or water.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Application Procedure for Flight Permission in Prohibited Airspace

  An operator seeking permission to fly an unmanned aircraft in prohibited airspace under Article 132-85, Paragraph 2 or Paragraph 4, Item 2 of the Act must submit an application to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism containing the specified details, including operator contact information, registration mark, flight details, reason for flight, airworthiness certification details, pilot competency details, safety management structure, and risk assessment measures (if applicable).

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Exemption conditions for low-altitude agricultural and forestry drone operations

  To be exempt from the provisions of Article 132-86, paragraphs 2 to 4 of the Act for agricultural or forestry operations, the operator must fly an unmanned aircraft with a total weight of less than 25 kg at a height of 4 meters or less over owned or managed agricultural land or forest, using autopilot, transporting approved agricultural chemicals (if applicable), utilizing safety and range-limiting functions, and implementing entry control measures (such as placing assistants) to keep third parties out of the flight path.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Flight Plan Required Information

  When submitting a flight plan for a Specified Flight (特定飛行) under the Act, the operator must report specific details including the aircraft registration mark, type, model (if type-certified), pilot's name, pilot license number (if licensed), permit or approval number (if obtained), flight purpose, altitude, speed, airspace, flight method, departure point, destination, estimated elapsed time, presence and details of entry control measures, and liability insurance details.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  MLIT Permission Requirement for Restricted Airspace and Category III Flights

  No person shall fly an unmanned aircraft in airspaces affecting aviation safety, or in densely populated areas without entry control measures (or with a drone exceeding the MLIT-prescribed weight threshold even with entry control measures), unless they meet the pilot and aircraft certification requirements and obtain permission from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Notification Procedure for Remote ID-Exempt Area Flights

  A person intending to notify the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of a Remote ID-exempt flight area must submit a written notification containing their contact details, the aircraft's registration mark, and the date, time, area, and altitude of the flight.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Penalty for Flight Operation and Airspace Violations

  A fine of up to 500,000 yen shall be imposed on any person who violates rules regarding Specified Flights (特定飛行), including exceeding designated conditions, violating operational orders, failing to submit flight plans/logs, flying in prohibited airspace or altitudes without permission, flying at night or BVLOS without approval, or violating safety rules.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Prohibition of Flight in Restricted Airspace without Pilot License and Aircraft Certification

  No person shall fly an unmanned aircraft in restricted airspaces (airspaces affecting aviation safety or densely populated areas) unless the flight is conducted by a licensed pilot using a certified aircraft; if flying without entry control measures (立入管理措置), it must be conducted by a First-Class licensed pilot using a Class 1 certified aircraft.

  Open the requirementOfficial source

Official sources

• 航空法施行規則（昭和二十七年運輸省令第五十六号）— Civil Aeronautics Act Enforcement Regulations, Chapter XI — Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (総務省)Open
• 航空法（昭和二十七年法律第二百三十一号）— Civil Aeronautics Act, Chapter XI Unmanned Aircraft — Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (総務省)Open

Known limitations

• Binding law and official guidance disagree on altitude.airport_related_limit; the binding position is published.
• Binding law and official guidance disagree on altitude.category_specific_limits; the binding position is published.
• 1 dimension(s) of this topic are not expressed in a machine-resolvable way by the published corpus and are reported UNKNOWN, never FALSE.

Other drone rules in Japan

• Do I need to register my drone in Japan?Registration in Japan depends on the aircraft and the operation: it applies once the published conditions below are met, each cited to the rule that sets it.
• Do I need Remote ID in Japan?Remote identification in Japan is tied to the aircraft and the operating category: the published triggers below decide whether a flight must carry or broadcast an electronic identity.
• Can I fly a drone near an airport in Japan?Drone flights near aerodromes in Japan are governed by airspace and aerodrome restrictions: whether permission is needed depends on the airspace, distance or aerodrome type published below.
• Can I fly a drone at night in Japan?Night flying in Japan is regulated rather than simply allowed or banned: published lighting, category and authorisation conditions below decide whether a given flight may take place after dark.
• Is BVLOS drone flight allowed in Japan?BVLOS in Japan runs through a defined authorisation pathway rather than an open permission: the published conditions below set out what that pathway requires.
• When does a drone operation need authorisation in Japan?Whether an operation in Japan needs prior authorisation depends on the operational category, risk class or location: the published triggers below decide it.
• What training do I need to fly a drone in Japan?Remote pilot competency in Japan scales with the operation: which training, examination or proof of competency applies is set by the published conditions below.
• Do I need drone insurance in Japan?Whether drone insurance is required in Japan depends on the aircraft and the operation, as published in the conditions below.

All drone laws in Japan