so i just got back from two weeks in Japan and brought my mini 3 pro along and honestly it was a lot more stressful than i expected in terms of just figuring out where you can actually fly. like i did a ton of research beforehand but when you're actually on the ground it's a different thing entirely.

the DJI fly zones are one thing but Japan has their own aviation authority rules on top of that and you need to register your drone before you even bring it into the country now. i did that but it took me like a week of back and forth on their online system because everything kept timing out. also a lot of the really scenic spots like around Arashiyama or anywhere near Fuji are just completely locked down, which i kind of knew but was still a little gutted about.

ended up getting some really good shots out in the countryside near Nagano where it was way more relaxed. if anyone's planning a trip and wants the specifics on registration or what apps i used to check airspace just ask, happy to share what i figured out

this is really useful actually, i've been thinking about doing Japan next spring. did you have to carry any physical proof of registration or was it all digital? i heard some people print out the certificate thing just in case but not sure if thats actually necessary or just paranoia

yeah Fuji is basically a no-go unless you go way way out and even then you're fighting the controlled airspace. i flew near Hakone a couple years back before the registration stuff kicked in and even then locals were pretty uncomfortable with it. Japan is beautiful but it's definitely not a casual drone destination, you really have to do your homework. the Nagano tip is solid though, more people should go off the beaten path there anyway