Drones in Japan

Flying drones in Japan ain't easy, if you're unexperienced controlling it as well, but I am actually talking about the lack of information about RED ZONES (no flight area), especially the languare barrier is a big issue, the only official sites about rules that you can find is about the general stuff, not next to airports, not above 150m...

http://www.mlit.go.jp/en/koku/uas.html

Violating those laws can cost up to 500,000 yen.

By reading those information I didn't think a fly over the Ueno park in Tokyo at night (the restrictions at night seem to be new) would violate anything - actually it doesn't, no densely inhabited destrict, no airport nearby, no event, almost nobody at the park at night.

That's why I tried a short flight last year after Tokyo Game Show Press day.
Shortly after starting my drone a few police officers were standing behind me, asking if this is my drone, although they had to wait for an interpreter. I violated the law, because the whole city of Tokyo is a RED ZONE, how could I know. They took me to the police station and made me feel like a criminal, checking all my stuff, each and every part of it.

Luckily I didn't have to pay any ammount or go to jail, but I had to write a letter to the chief officer of the station that I didn't know about that law and I also had to promise not to fly my drone again in Tokyo.

But my questions about those "secret" RED ZONES kept unanswered - TOKYO NOT ALLOWED... - that's all. I saw many videos of drones in Tokyo, so I still wonder how they got their permissions, because the Police officers told me it's almost impossible to get a permission.

It took a while and a lot of effort to find out something about those NO FLIGHT ZONES, but this source is japanese only, but finally I am able to check the spots where I want to fly, for example Fushimi Castle in Kyoto, I might try this spot during my next trip to Japan.

Here's the HOLY GRAIL for areas to fly a drone in Japan:
RED ZONE MAP JAPAN

The only flight that I was able to do yet was above Mount Iwafune a place where many Super Sentai (Western version: Power Rangers) explosion scenes where shot.

The drone I used is the DJI PHANTOM VISION 2, before making the first videos, you should practice the general flying. If you use it together with a GOPRO like I do BE CAREFUL WITH THE GOPRO WIFI, if you switch on the GOPRO Wifi and start your drone, you can't control it, those 2 frequences interfere so you might LOSE YOUR DRONE AND YOUR CAMERA.

I will try to make a few more drone pictures on my next trip to Japan.

Picture of the Day #16 - Mt. Yotei - Hokkaido

Last Winter I've been on Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan where there's snow from November until February and it's always a huge ammount, snowing almost every day.

I worked in a horrible Izakaya next to the Rusutsu ski resort and on my last day I climbed the nearby mountain of the ski resort before taking my bus to Sapporo.

On top of the West Mountain I had this view of Mount Yotei, the highest "hill" in the whole area.

To see more of the Rusutsu ski resort at NIGHT and DAY just follow the links

And for more Pictures of the Day and INSTAGRAM there's also a Link.

Enjoy Mt. Yotei

Picture of the Day #12 - Hibiscus on Okinawa

When I've been on Okinawa and visited Shuri Castle, I just couldn't resist to take a picture of this beautiful hibiscus, I can't remember ever seeing any of those before in real life.

The entry of trip about Okinawa will follow soon, so this Picture of the Day is some sort of teaser

On INSTAGRAM there are already a few more, but for now, enjoy the Hibiscus:

Jungle of Okinawa - Picture of the Day #7

Today's Picture of the Day is in the middle of the jungle of Okinawa on my Way to Hiji Falls. Shortly after starting my way to the waterfall it started to rain. Some of the passages were a little bit difficult thanks to the rain and the thoughts that there were venomous snakes like pit vipers everywhere as well, luckily I didn't encounter any of them, because the next hospital might have been 50km... But normally when you encounter a snake they won't bite as long as you don't interact with them, because they are afraid of you, too.

Getting to the waterfall took 45+ minutes and it definitely is worth visiting it.
Find more e.g. the Waterfall itself on INSTAGRAM

But now enjoy the Jungle Picture:

Find the other Pictures of the Day

Forest of Mt. Yufu - Picture of the Day #6

Today's Picture of the Day is the jungle like forest that you have to pass when you climb Yufudake San, a moutain next to Yufuin in the Oita prefecture on Kyushu.

I climbed that mountain together with an Austrian Woofer, I worked together with him in a ryokan (traditional Japanese hotel)

Here are the other Pictures of the Day and INSTAGRAM

Enjoy:

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Sika Deer in Nara - Picture of the Day #3

In Japan's Nara-Park close to Osaka you can find wild Sika deer. You can feed them or take pictures with them.They only bite you if you have deer food and don't offer it to them, if you smell like food or if your clothes look like food.

On Miyajima Island you can also see a lot of Sika deer, but Nara is much more famous for them.

Enjoy:





Here you can find the other Pictures of the Day

Falling Water and leaves in Minō

Minō - Leaves - Waterfall - ENJOY!!!

 

 

 

PEACE OUT