A drone pilot with a huge following on Instagram recently published admittedly stunning footage of a flight at Tokyo’s famous Skytree. The problem? He likely broke Japanese law in the process. It’s the second time the drone operator has taken drone footage in Tokyo – and Japanese citizens are up in arms at the blatant violation of local laws.
No permission for flight?
Picture of some of the footage taken from the Instagram account.
The Instagram user (whose handle I’m obscuring so as not to give them publicity), a UK-born man who operates mainly out of Los Angeles, posted the footage on May 19th. It shows a drone spiraling down the length of Skytree, at first from a downward angle and then pivoting to look up at the tower as it descends.
The video drew backlash, however, from Japanese viewers. The reason? Japan generally forbids drone flights in highly populated areas. It also forbids drone flights over 150 meters. The drone started above Skytree, which stands at a mighty 634 meters.
Flying a drone at Skytree above the height limit would require seeking permission from the facility owner and filing a flight plan with Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). Japanese news site FNN Prime Online reached out to the drone operator via email to ask if he’d done this.
“I used the drone’s unique viewpoint to plumb the depths of Tokyo’s beautiful architecture,” he said in comments the outlet translated into Japanese. “Skytree is a powerful symbol that showcases the Tokyo skyline and the city’s spirit.”
In other words: No, he didn’t.
I reached out to the account via Unseen Japan’s official Instagram account as well to confirm whether or not he had received permission for the flight. As of press time, I haven’t received a response.
FNN also reached out to MLIT, which said it could not confirm that such a request had been filed.
Japanese citizens and residents alike in an uproar
Another Instagrammer did the same thing in the streets of Fujiyoshida recently.
The likely illegal footage angered many in Japan – both Japanese citizens as well as law-abiding residents, particularly those who make their living in video or photography.
The FNN story has almost 3,000 comments on Yahoo! News JP. Most commenters called for some sort of system to catch and punish perpetrators who come to Japan specifically to break the country’s laws.
“Japan needs to make it clear we’ll hold people accountable for their actions and dispel this notion that people can do anything they want just because they’re in Japan,” said the top comment with 39,000 likes.
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Japanese residents also vented their anger on our Threads and Bluesky accounts. Several pointed out this was the second time the Instagrammer had broken Japanese law; he’d previously posted footage of a drone flight around Tokyo Tower. Others noted that another Instagrammer did the same thing back in February in Fujiyoshida.
Japan’s MLIT says it’s investigating the Skytree incident.
Obey the drone laws!
The Unmanned Aircraft Registration Web Portal has everything you need to know about registering your drone in Japan. (Picture: MLIT)
The drone incident is the latest in a series of Tourists Behaving Badly incidents. Some shrines and temples across Japan have explicitly banned tourists due to their disrespectful behavior.
There’s been more pushback specifically against so-called “nuisance influencers” – online celebrities whose entire routine is flouting local customs and laws. One such nuisance YouTuber was explicitly denied access to a ferry in Kagoshima after his antics became known to authorities.
Obviously, foreign tourists aren’t the only people breaking Japanese laws. They’re also not the only ones creating shock content for social media. However, it feels extra disrespectful when someone comes into your home specifically to smear shit on the walls. Such acts also make life harder for the majority of tourists and foreign residents who go out of their way to respect local laws and customs.
Time will tell if the uproar results in a crackdown. In the meantime, if you’re traveling to Japan with your drone, mind the laws and apply for the appropriate permits.
All drones exceeding 100g must be registered. You must also follow all other laws related to the Drone Act and unmanned aircraft, such as avoiding key national facilities, obtaining consent from facility administrators and landowners, and avoiding a city’s flight restriction zones. If you fly in a restricted zone or above the height limit, you must obtain permission from the landowner and file your flight information 48 hours before your flight.
For a full list of rules and regulations, see the official MLIT page on unmanned aircraft, which is translated into nine different languages.
Sources
【独自】スカイツリーに無許可ドローン 飛ばしたのは米で映画製作に関わる男性…直撃にも“許諾”に言及なし . FNN Prime Online
AloJapan.com