Autumn leaves at Ōsaka-jō

Flying a Drone at Ōsaka Castle During Momiji Season

At first glance, that title may not sound particularly special. But if you combine it with flying a drone, it quickly becomes something extraordinary.

For 2025, I had planned to visit a few new places from my bucket list. However, I’ve become increasingly critical of the typical “bucket list mentality.” The fear of missing out (FOMO) has led to massive overtourism in many places. Too often you see long lines of people waiting for the exact same photo spot—not because they truly appreciate the location, but because they want the obligatory selfie for social media or to farm followers.

Still, there are places that are worth experiencing properly.

Applying for a Drone Permit in Japan

Just like in 2024, I applied for permission to fly my drone at Ōsaka-jō.

The first step is applying through the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). The application itself isn’t too difficult, but it’s strongly recommended to submit it at least one month in advance. The review process can take time, and if authorities have questions about your flight plan, you may need to adjust your schedule.

My goal was to capture the famous momiji autumn colors around Ōsaka Castle.

Early Morning at Ōsaka Castle Park

When I arrived very early in the morning at the castle grounds, several sports groups were already there doing morning exercises and gymnastics. Fortunately, they left before my approved drone timeslot began, so they weren’t an issue.

Unfortunately, something else was.

Another drone pilot was already flying in the castle park—without permission. Not only did he ignore the drone regulations, but he also violated several safety rules, including flying directly above people.

Effectively, he had stolen my carefully scheduled timeslot.

Waiting for the Illegal Drone Flight to End

I waited for nearly an hour while the other pilot continued flying until both of his batteries were empty. By that point, I had almost given up on my plan because I originally wanted to capture the sunrise over Ōsaka-jō.

My motivation was pretty low. I also knew that bystanders who had already seen the earlier drone flights might assume that I was responsible for them once I launched my drone.

However, my official permit allowed me two hours of flight time, so I was completely within the rules.

Eventually, I decided to move to my preferred launch spot, the same location where I had started my drone flight back in 2024.

Capturing the Momiji Colors from the Air

Although I missed the sunrise, I was still very satisfied with the results. The vibrant red and orange colors of the momiji leaves created an incredible atmosphere around Ōsaka-jō koen.

The aerial shots and video sequences turned out beautifully, and the autumn colors made the castle scenery even more impressive.

Photography with the Canon R5

After finishing the drone flight, I walked around the park a bit longer. I even tried to find the mysterious “imposter” drone pilot—but of course that was impossible.

Instead, I focused on taking more photos with my Canon EOS R5 using my Samyang tilt-shift lens to create some unique perspective effects.

I also brought my DJI Osmo Pocket, which I’m still getting used to. It’s a great little camera, but it will probably take some time before I start using it regularly.

Searching for Copic Markers in Namba

After leaving Ōsaka Castle Park, I walked to Namba to look for some Copic markers at Hands.

Finding the store was surprisingly confusing because Tokyu Hands recently rebranded to Hands and also moved to a different location inside the mall.

Ending the Day with Pokémon

Back at the hotel, I relaxed for a bit and played Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

After feeling some overtourism fatigue during the previous days, this turned out to be a very productive and rewarding day, capturing new drone footage and photos around one of Japan’s most iconic landmarks.

Enjoy the pictures!

2024 in comparison