How to Hold a Drone Show: Cost Estimates, Civil Aviation Act Permits and Approvals, Local Government Contracts and Grants

Holding a drone show requires registering the aircraft and obtaining flight permits and approvals from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). The national interpretive circular lists drone shows themselves as an example of “events where many people gather,” so a show that gathers an audience and flies at night needs individual approval as a flight over an event venue, and night flight is also subject to approval. Costs vary with fleet size, number of shows, production of music and visuals, and how much security is included; calls for proposals by local governments and others include examples with ceilings or estimates from ¥5 million to ¥21.25 million (¥45 million in a Kobe example that includes running the entire event). Based on MLIT’s review guidelines and guidelines, National Police Agency materials, local governments’ calls for proposals and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s grant program, this article sorts out procedures, costs and safety management.

Coordinating with venue managers, the police and event organizers, and local governments selecting businesses through calls for proposals, are common to planning projection mapping that projects images onto buildings. How to proceed with planning is explained in our projection mapping planning guide. Drone shows add Civil Aviation Act procedures and decisions on cancellation due to wind and rain. Fleet sizes in the calls for proposals covered in this article range from 300 to 1,000 drones.

Civil Aviation Act basics: Aircraft registration and permits and approvals

Registration of unmanned aircraft weighing 100 g or more became mandatory on June 20, 2022, and unregistered aircraft cannot be flown. Registration is valid for three years; the registration code must be displayed on the aircraft, which in principle must be equipped with Remote ID. Aircraft used in shows also need to be registered individually if they weigh 100 g or more.

On that basis, the Civil Aviation Act sets out airspace where flying is prohibited and flight methods that must be followed. According to MLIT’s Guidelines for Safe Flight, flying in the following airspace requires a permit from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and flying without following the methods below requires approval.

• Airspace requiring a permit: Airspace around airports, emergency operation airspace, airspace 150 m or more above the ground or water surface, and airspace above areas where people or houses are concentrated (Densely Inhabited Districts)

• Flights requiring approval: Night flight, flight beyond visual line of sight, flight within 30 m of third parties or third-party property, flight over event venues where many people gather such as festivals and fairs, transport of hazardous materials, and dropping objects

MLIT’s page on flight permit and approval procedures divides these “specified flights” according to whether measures are taken to keep third parties out from under the flight path (access control measures). Flights that take such measures and do not fly over third parties are Category II; those that do not are Category III. Within Category II, flights around airports, above 150 m, over event venues, transporting hazardous materials, dropping objects and with aircraft of a total weight of 25 kg or more require individual permits or approvals regardless of pilot certification or aircraft certification. Flights over Densely Inhabited Districts, at night, beyond visual line of sight and within 30 m (with aircraft under 25 kg) can be exempted from permits and approvals if a certified pilot flies a certified aircraft and measures such as preparing a flight manual are taken.

The national interpretive circular (last revised April 1, 2026) lists drone shows, along with festivals, fairs, exhibitions, outdoor concerts, fireworks displays and marathons, as examples of “events where many people gather.” Excluded are advance rehearsals and filming for corporate streaming at places where access control of third parties is evident, such as company premises or empty stadiums. It says that even when these do not apply, a gathering of dozens of people at a specific time and place may constitute an event.

Over event venues: No-entry zones and wind speed standards

Standards for flying over event venues are set out in section 5-6 of MLIT’s Review Guidelines (Category II Flights) (last revised September 29, 2026). Aircraft must have functions that mitigate harm on contact with third parties or property, such as propeller guards and shock-absorbing materials, and a flight record of at least three hours, including at least ten takeoffs and landings, under the intended operation. Pilots must be able to fly while maintaining the intended flight path.

For safety management, the flight path and surroundings must be checked in advance to identify an appropriate route, and assistants placed where they can see the entire route must constantly monitor the flight and changes in the surrounding weather. Assistants who warn third parties not to enter directly under or around the route must also be deployed. In advance coordination with the event organizer, the following no-entry zones must be set according to flight altitude.

• Below 20 m: Within 30 m of the outer edge of the flight area

• 20 m to under 50 m: Within 40 m of the outer edge

• 50 m to under 100 m: Within 60 m of the outer edge

• 100 m to under 150 m: Within 70 m of the outer edge

• 150 m or more: Within the fall distance from the outer edge (70 m if less than 70 m)

Aircraft must not be flown when wind speeds are 5 m/s or more, or when the sum of flight speed and wind speed is 7 m/s or more. The application must state the results of coordination with the organizer, and when multiple aircraft are flown, information on all of them must be entered or attached. MLIT says flights over event venues require an application that specifies the date and time as well as the location, and that individual procedures are needed even if approval, including blanket applications, has already been obtained. Night flights over Densely Inhabited Districts are also subject to location-specific applications.

Other laws and coordination: 1,000 m around key facilities, roads and parks

Separately from the Civil Aviation Act, the Act on Prohibition of Flights of Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles prohibits flights over and around key national facilities such as the National Diet Building, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Imperial Palace, designated defense facilities, designated airports and designated nuclear facilities. An amendment promulgated on June 24, 2026, and in effect from July 14 expanded the surrounding area to the facility grounds and areas plus roughly 1,000 m around them. Even for exempt flights, such as those with the consent of the facility manager, notification to prefectural public safety commissions or others is required, and the National Police Agency asks for notification in principle at least 48 hours before the flight begins. Notification can be made at police station counters or electronically through e-Gov.

MLIT’s guidelines note that local governments may prohibit flights over parks and other areas they manage by ordinance or other means, that flying over a third party’s land may be considered an infringement of property rights, and that flights using radio waves must comply with the Radio Act. In some calls for proposals, the commissioning party takes responsibility for traffic restrictions around the venue. Wakayama City said it would handle restrictions on passage within Wakayama Castle Park, and the Hidaka Citizens’ Festival Executive Committee answered that the organizer would handle work related to road restrictions, such as applying to the police for road use permits and deploying security guards. For the December 2025 show in Etchujima, Tokyo, the Tsukishima and Chuo police stations were credited for cooperation.

If an accident or serious incident occurs, the person flying the aircraft must immediately stop the flight, aid the injured and report the date, time, location and other details to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

Preparation flow: Examples of about four months from call for proposals to the show

Using local governments’ calls for proposals as examples, here is the flow and timeline from planning to teardown. Periods for national procedures are guidelines given by MLIT; the rest are schedules from the calls for proposals.

• Planning and selecting a business: The Hidaka Citizens’ Festival Executive Committee began inviting proposals on July 9, held presentations on July 30 and announced the results on the 31st. The show is on November 14. Wakayama City published its call for proposals on July 1, evaluated proposals on August 19, and the show is on November 21. Tokushima Prefecture began inviting proposals on July 25, 2025, set September 8 as the deadline for signing the contract, and the show was scheduled for November

• Checking the venue and airspace: Check whether the site falls within no-fly airspace or near key facilities, and decide on takeoff and landing sites and viewing areas. Tokushima Prefecture’s specifications set the takeoff and landing site at the Mt. Bizan Park parking lot and the expected viewing areas in central Tokushima City, including Aibahama Park and Shinmachigawa Waterfront Park

• Applying for permits and approvals: In principle, apply online via DIPS 2.0 (Drone/UAS Information Platform System). Applications must be submitted at least ten business days (excluding weekends and holidays) before the planned flight date, and MLIT asks applicants to allow a margin of about three to four weeks. Applications go to the director of the Tokyo or Kansai airport office for airspace around airports, emergency operation airspace and airspace at 150 m or more, and to the director general of the Tokyo or Osaka Regional Civil Aviation Bureau for everything else (night flights, flights over event venues, etc.). Before flying with permits and approvals, check other aircraft’s flight plans on DIPS 2.0 and enter your own

• Production of the show and programs: Tokushima Prefecture’s specifications included the show’s structure, direction, design and music production in the scope of work. Wakayama City’s fiscal 2025 specifications limited the display of sponsor logos and the like to within one-third of the whole, and Hidaka called for up to five animation patterns incorporating sponsors’ logos and company names

• Test flights and rehearsals: Hidaka required at least one rehearsal outside the city by Thursday, November 5, and a test flight on site on Thursday, November 12 (Friday the 13th in case of bad weather). Wakayama City’s fiscal 2025 specifications called for an open rehearsal for citizens each time

• The show: Backup dates were in principle the day after each show in Wakayama City’s fiscal 2025 specifications, one week later on November 8 for the fireworks and drone show held on November 1 in Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, and none for Hidaka. Wakayama City required submission of copies of permits obtained from the Civil Aviation Bureau and other documents

• Teardown and reporting: Hidaka’s contract period covers preliminary meetings, preparation, various applications, adjusting the production, rehearsals, setup and teardown, and reporting results. Tokushima Prefecture required a report including record photos and videos

Costs: Ceilings and estimates seen in local government calls for proposals

The cost of a drone show varies with fleet size, number of shows and performance length, as well as how much music and visual production, rehearsal, security and venue operation is included. Rather than businesses’ price lists, here are examples from calls for proposals published by local governments and others in which amounts and conditions can be identified.

• Minamiaizu Regional Development Bureau, Fukushima Prefecture, “Project to Support Depopulated Areas Through a Drone Show by Minamiai Drone Junior High School” (call for proposals in April 2026): Estimate ceiling ¥5,000,000 (tax included). Between 300 and 400 drones (implementation guidelines)

• Hidaka Citizens’ Festival Executive Committee (Hidaka, Saitama Prefecture), “Drone Show for the Night Festival Marking the 35th Anniversary of the City” (November 14, 2026): Implementation cap ¥8,000,000 (tax included). Two shows of about 15 minutes with 300 or more drones. Filming and editing of video for indoor screening is also included in the contract amount; four companies took part (Hidaka City’s call for proposals page)

• Tokushima Prefecture, “Drone Show at Tokushima Odori Festa 2025” (November 2025): Estimate cap ¥8,600,000 (tax included). 300 or more drones, about 15 minutes per show. Includes rehearsal and backup date, music production and handling various applications (application guidelines)

• Wakayama City, “Contract for Holding Drone Shows at Wakayama Castle” (fiscal 2025): Planned contract amount (the estimate submitted by the prospective contractor) ¥19,150,000 (tax included). Three shows of about 15 minutes with 500 drones each, in autumn, winter and spring. Three companies took part (Wakayama City results page)

• Wakayama City, “Contract for Holding a Drone Show and Nighttime Attraction-Enhancing Event at Wakayama Castle” (fiscal 2026): Planned contract amount ¥21,250,000 (tax included). The proposal calls for a 1,000-drone show on November 21 and nighttime events from November 21 to December 27, including “sea-of-clouds mapping” using projectors. Three companies took part (Wakayama City results page)

• “Kobe Minato no Yoru” Executive Committee, secretariat operations for the “Kobe Light Festival Project” (call for proposals in February 2025): Ceiling ¥45,000,000 (tax included). The assumed breakdown was about ¥40,000,000 for event costs and about ¥5,000,000 for security. A condition was holding drone shows on at least three days during a six- or seven-day period in December (implementation guidelines)

This gives a range of ¥5 million to ¥8.6 million in ceilings for a show of about 300 to 400 drones on a single day, and an estimate of ¥19.15 million for three shows with 500 drones. Dividing Wakayama City’s fiscal 2025 amount by the number of shows gives about ¥6.38 million per show (calculated by our editorial team), though this also includes planning, music production and open rehearsals. Kobe’s ¥45 million is a framework that includes running and securing the entire December event.

Ceilings are budget frameworks and not necessarily actual contract amounts. Wakayama City’s figures are planned contract amounts, and for fiscal 2025 it is explicitly stated as the estimate submitted by the prospective contractor. Minamiaizu’s guidelines invalidate proposals exceeding the estimate ceiling. In Hidaka, the organizer provides the sound equipment for the arena seating, about two security guards for road restrictions on the north side, and a screen and projector for indoor screening, while the contractor bears all other resources needed for flying on the day. How to read calls for proposals for light events is also covered in our article on calls for proposals and tenders for projection mapping.

Funding: Tokyo’s grants, sponsorship and corporate hometown tax donations

In fiscal 2026, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau are inviting applications for the “Projection Mapping Promotion Support Project,” which supports part of the costs of initiatives staging projection mapping or drone shows (Tokyo Metropolitan Government announcement). It covers projects newly staging projection mapping or drone shows. Subsidy rates and limits are as follows.

• New projects: Up to two-thirds of eligible costs, with a limit of ¥25 million

• Second-year continuing projects: Up to one-half, ¥20 million

• Third-year continuing projects: Up to one-third, ¥15 million

Eligible applicants are municipalities, tourism associations, chambers of commerce and the like, area management organizations, private businesses, other corporations and shopping districts, with private businesses and other corporations required to implement jointly with at least one other party. Applications are accepted until 17:00 on Friday, January 29, 2027; of the four submission deadlines each year, Monday, November 30 and January 29, 2027 remain. There is a cap on the number of projects selected this fiscal year. The Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau’s “Projection Mapping General Consultation Desk” provides guidance on government agencies that need to be consulted and on subsidy programs, and dispatches experts free of charge depending on the consultation (up to five times).

Some cases combine sponsorship and donations. The Hidaka Citizens’ Festival Executive Committee sought sponsorship for the drone and dance show at ¥10,000 per unit for individuals and in tiers from Diamond (¥1 million or more) to Bronze (¥100,000 or more) for companies, providing two special invitation seats for individual sponsors of ¥100,000 or more. A 500-drone show at the eve festival of the Tottori 320,000 Koku Castle Festival in Tottori on October 3 was made possible, according to REDCLIFF, which operated it, by a donation to Tottori City from Super Hotel Co. using the corporate hometown tax donation system. The New Year’s Eve show at Funabashi Racecourse on December 31, 2025, organized by REDCLIFF, charged for viewing (¥3,000 for those 20 and over, among other prices). For paid events, Kobe’s call for proposals asks proposals to specify how cancellations (including postponements) will be handled. National and other subsidies are introduced in our roundup of subsidies available for light events.

Safety and weather: Cancellation criteria, no-entry zones and security

Cancellation decisions are based on the wind speed standards in the review guidelines and on the organizer’s judgment. The official website of Kobe Meriken Christmas says the drone show and fireworks are canceled in rain and when wind speeds exceed the standard. ODAIBA DRONE SHOW 2026 in Odaiba was canceled on September 6 due to torrential rain and on the 20th and 21st due to a typhoon, and the organizer explained that the decisions prioritized the safety of visitors and staff. In some cases, backup dates and alternatives in bad weather are set out in the specifications of calls for proposals. Hidaka set no backup date and planned to screen prerecorded footage indoors in bad weather.

For audience safety, in addition to setting no-entry zones, security commensurate with the number of visitors is needed. Kobe’s call for proposals asked for an outline of a security plan including the expected number of visitors, said it would evaluate whether a security system commensurate with the scale of the event was likely to be secured, and estimated security costs at about ¥5,000,000. Wakayama City’s fiscal 2025 specifications said no food booths would be set up in Nishinomaru Plaza on show days and that the tour bus parking lot would be closed at night to secure viewing space. The fireworks and drone show in Numazu hands out numbered tickets or wristbands on the day and restricts entry when crowded. According to Drone Show Japan, which operated it, the “Ujina Drone Show 2026” (Hiroshima) in October drew about 18,000 viewers over two days.

For aircraft safety, Minamiaizu’s call for proposals asked for explanations of battery management methods and safety settings at low voltage, as well as safety settings (aircraft behavior) when RTK signals are lost, allocating 15 points to the evaluation of safety measures and troubleshooting. Hidaka requires spare aircraft in case of mechanical trouble, identification of risks anticipated in the show and insurance that can cover damages for nonconformity with the contract.

Editor’s perspective

The guideline deadline for national applications is ten business days before the planned flight date, but flights over event venues require individual applications specifying even the date and time, including the results of coordination with the organizer and information on all aircraft. Looking at the schedules of calls for proposals, Hidaka, Wakayama and Tokushima all began seeking businesses about four months before the show. The time needed after selecting a business to apply, produce the show and rehearse is built into the schedule at the call-for-proposals stage.

Amounts in public materials vary greatly depending not only on the scale of the show but also on what is included. Kobe’s ¥45 million ceiling is a framework for the entire event, including security and venue operation, and Wakayama’s fiscal 2026 contract is combined with a nighttime event using projectors. When comparing, it is necessary to line up not only fleet size, number of shows and performance length but also whether rehearsals, backup dates, video recording and security are included.

Tokyo’s grant sets a limit of ¥25 million for new projects, exceeding the amounts of five of the calls for proposals cited in this article, all except Kobe. However, the subsidy rate is designed to fall to one-half in the second year and one-third in the third, so continuing an event presupposes combining it with other funding sources such as sponsorship and donations. Policies on nighttime tourism and light events are summarized in our article on the nighttime economy.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a drone show cost?

It varies with fleet size, number of shows and the work included. In published calls for proposals, Hidaka’s example of two shows of about 15 minutes with 300 or more drones had a cap of ¥8 million (tax included), and Wakayama City’s fiscal 2025 example of three shows with 500 drones each had an estimate of ¥19.15 million (tax included). It is also necessary to check whether music and visual production, rehearsals and security are included.

When should applications for permits and approvals be submitted?

MLIT asks for applications at least ten business days (excluding weekends and holidays) before the planned flight date and urges applicants to allow a margin of about three to four weeks. Flights over event venues require individual applications specifying the location and date and time. When flying near key facilities, separate notification to the police (in principle at least 48 hours in advance) is also required.

Are drone shows eligible for grants?

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau’s “Projection Mapping Promotion Support Project” covers projects newly staging projection mapping or drone shows. New projects can receive up to two-thirds of costs, with a limit of ¥25 million, and the remaining fiscal 2026 submission deadlines are Monday, November 30 and Friday, January 29, 2027.

Upcoming shows around Japan are summarized in our roundup of upcoming drone shows in Japan.

Articles organized by each stage of planning are compiled in our article guide for those planning projection mapping and light events.

*Information as of October 26, 2026. Please check the official websites for the latest information.

*Top image: A “Kirin Jishi” depicted with 500 drones at the drone show of the eve festival of the Tottori 320,000 Koku Castle Festival (October 3, 2026, Tottori) (©Nihonkai Cable Network, from a REDCLIFF press release)

*This article was compiled by the TOKYO ART SPHERE editorial team based on official announcements and public materials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the National Police Agency, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau, Fukushima Prefecture, Tokushima Prefecture, Wakayama City, Hidaka City, the “Kobe Minato no Yoru” Executive Committee and others (as of October 26, 2026).

Text: TOKYO ART SPHERE Editorial Team

A note from the publisher

HITOHATA, INC., an affiliate of HITOHATA ASSOCIATION, the general incorporated association that operates TOKYO ART SPHERE, plans, directs, produces and operates projection mapping on National Treasures, Important Cultural Properties, World Heritage sites and urban landmarks, as well as immersive exhibitions. Inquiries, including at the stage before a budget has been set, are accepted through HITOHATA, INC.’s contact form (which has an inquiry category for local governments and public projects). Past work is introduced in HITOHATA, INC.’s project portfolio.