Flying a drone at night 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.

• Night flight permittedConditional
• Authorisation requiredConditional
• Lighting requirementConditional
• Pilot requirementConditional
• Operational conditionsNo
• ExceptionsConditional

The rules behind this answer

• Binding lawNational rule

  Application Procedure for Approval of Non-Standard Flight Methods

  A person seeking approval to operate an unmanned aircraft without complying with the prescribed flight methods under Article 132-86, Paragraph 3 or Paragraph 5, Item 2 of the Act must submit an application to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism containing the specified details, including applicant information, registration mark, flight details, reasons for non-compliance, certification/license numbers (or equivalent capabilities), safety management structure, and risk assessment measures (if applicable).

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• Binding lawNational rule

  Daylight Flight Requirement

  Unless certified pilots operate certified aircraft (or under specific exemptions/approvals), unmanned aircraft must be flown only between sunrise and sunset.

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• Binding lawNational rule

  Determination of Certificate Limitations via Practical Exam

  Limitations on the type of unmanned aircraft and flight methods for a pilot competency certificate (技能証明) shall be determined based on the unmanned aircraft used and the flight methods performed during the practical exam (実地試験).

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• Binding lawNational rule

  Exemption for Tethered Flight

  The restrictions in Paragraphs 2, 3, and 4 do not apply when flying an unmanned aircraft while tethered to restrict its flight range, or using other safe methods specified by MLIT.

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• Binding lawNational rule

  Obligation to Carry Pilot Competence Certificate

  A person who has received a pilot competence certificate (技能証明) must carry their pilot competence certificate (技能証明書) when performing a Specified Flight (特定飛行) as prescribed in Article 132-87.

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• Binding lawNational rule

  Prior Approval for Deviating from Standard Flight Methods

  To fly an unmanned aircraft without complying with the flight methods in Paragraph 2 (or items 4 to 6 if entry control measures are implemented for aircraft under the weight limit), the operator must obtain prior approval from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT).

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• Binding lawNational rule

  Safety Measures for Deviating from Items 1-3 with Entry Control

  When flying an unmanned aircraft (under the weight limit) without complying with Paragraph 2, items 1 to 3 (daylight, VLOS, distance) while implementing entry control measures, the operator must take safety measures specified by MLIT to ensure aviation and ground safety.

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• Binding lawNational rule

  Submission of Flight Plan for Specified Flights

  An operator of an unmanned aircraft must submit a flight plan containing the date, time, route, and other matters prescribed by MLIT ordinance to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism prior to conducting a Specified Flight (特定飛行), unless exceptional circumstances prescribed by MLIT ordinance allow for submission after the flight has commenced.

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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 Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism — Civil Aviation BureauOpen
• 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 Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism — Civil Aviation BureauOpen

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.
• 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