Guides & resources
Pages worth keeping: what each one helps with, who it suits, and what it does not cover.
Drone no-fly zones in Japan: the 1,000 m rule and the eight designated airports
Japan's drone law changed on 14 July 2026: the area that can be closed to small drones now runs to a facility's premises plus generally about 1,000 m, and two new kinds of site were added. Eight airports are designated, including Naha. This guide covers what the law forbids, how to check the exact boundary, and the consent and notification steps.
For Visitors and residents who plan to fly a small drone in Japan, especially near airports, Self-Defense Forces or U.S. military sites, government buildings and nuclear sites - and anyone who wants to check a location before unpacking a drone.
Does not cover: This is a summary of official pages, not legal advice, and it cannot tell you whether a specific address is inside a zone: the law defines each area precisely in the designation notices and drawings, and the map layer is the practical check. The National Police Agency pages are mostly in Japanese. The "generally about 1,000 m" figure is the rule for the area that may be designated; the notices decide each site. Two separate laws apply to drones in Japan, so a flight can need approval under the Civil Aeronautics Act as well as consent under this law.
Bringing medicines into Japan: what to check before you fly
Japan enforces strict anti-stimulant and drug laws that cover some ordinary medicines, and there are limits on how much medicine you may bring for personal use. Check your own medication before you book, not at the airport.
For Anyone flying to Japan with prescription medicine, an inhaler, allergy or cold remedies, codeine-based painkillers, or a condition that needs a steady supply of medication.
Does not cover: This is a summary of public guidance, not legal advice, and it is not a list of what is allowed. The linked pages are the authority and rules can change; the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare page that Japan Customs points to for medicine detail returned HTTP 404 when we checked on 2026-09-15, so the quantity limits below come from the Japan Customs page itself. Some medicines, including narcotics and psychotropics, may need permission before you travel, and customs officers decide at the border.
Flying a drone in Japan: registration, zones and permissions
Japan requires registration of unmanned aircraft of 100 g or more, bars flight around airports and over densely inhabited districts without advance permission, and asks for a flight plan and a logbook when you fly under that permission.
For Visitors and residents who want to fly a camera drone in Japan, and small production crews planning a shoot outside a studio.
Does not cover: The detail sits in Japanese law and on Japanese-language pages; the English summary is a starting point, not the complete rulebook, and no summary can replace checking the airspace you plan to use. Airspace around airports and densely inhabited districts is shown on an interactive map, and a second law sits on top of it: under the drone-prohibition law, zones around designated facilities and eight airports, Naha among them, are set out district by district in designation notices and on a separate map layer. Permission takes time, so plan well before your trip.
First steps when an earthquake, tsunami or typhoon hits Japan
What the Japanese alerts actually mean, what to do in the first minutes, and which English-language sources to keep on your phone. Built from JNTO's traveller safety service, the Japan Meteorological Agency and our own reporting.
For Visitors and new residents who want a workable plan for Japan's earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons and heavy rain rather than a vague sense that the country is prepared.
Does not cover: This is general information, not official safety instruction; in an event, follow local authorities, your hotel and the warnings themselves. The Japanese-language pages carry more detail than the English ones. The Safety tips app needs a charged phone with a data connection, and shelter arrangements differ by city. The JMA earthquake list is a data feed, not an alerting service, and its English fields cover the title and area rather than every detail.
Japan customs and duty-free: what you can bring in
The duty-free allowances for alcohol, tobacco, perfume and other shopping, the cash and gold you must declare, and the medicines and goods that are restricted or banned at the border.
For Anyone arriving in Japan with shopping, wine or spirits, medication, gold, or a large amount of cash, and anyone planning to buy tax-free goods in Japan.
Does not cover: Japan Customs publishes these rules in English and the Japanese original is authoritative. Allowances are per adult, and customs officers decide in the inspection zone. The figures here are the wording checked on 2026-09-15 and can change; if you are importing goods to sell, or the dutiable value exceeds 300,000 yen, normal commercial cargo procedures apply instead of the traveller allowances.