With demand for parcel deliveries increasing alongside a labour shortage and overtime restrictions, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) says it is becoming increasingly difficult to provide high-quality logistics services through traditional approaches.
Among other measures, a November 7 report [PDF in Japanese] recommends promoting the use of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) for last-mile delivery, particularly in remote areas.
UAS are currently being used in conjunction with truck transport as a complementary delivery method for deliveries to areas far from the delivery base. MLIT says these operations have ensured the profitability of drone delivery, led to the participation of diverse human resources in the workforce, and improved efficiency in last-mile delivery. As well as consumer and commercial items, UAS are also increasingly being used to transport emergency supplies during disasters.
“To further commercialise drone delivery, it is necessary to improve the efficiency of drone operations and business profitability by expanding the use of multiple drones operated simultaneously by a small team and by establishing delivery bases in collaboration with local governments and other organisations,” the new report states.
In March 2025, MLIT published the “Guidelines for Safe Simultaneous Operation of Multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (First Edition),” and is promoting the widespread use of safe simultaneous operation of multiple UAS through the use of these guidelines. “Going forward, we will consider increasing the number of aircraft operated by a single pilot (five or more) and expanding operational modes (Level 4 flight), including the use of new technologies, and will review the guidelines accordingly,” the report notes, adding that MLIT will support the development of delivery bases for drones.
Also in March 2025, UAS routes were established approximately 150 km above the power grid in the Chichibu region of Saitama Prefecture and approximately 30 km above the Tenryu River system in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture. MLIT expects these routes to serve as a role model for the nationwide expansion of drone delivery and other services. Based on early results from these operations, guidelines for the design and operation of UAS routes were formulated in May.
MLIT acknowledges that UAS operators face challenges in generating revenue solely from logistics applications and says efforts to ensure business feasibility are needed, such as developing business models that include the sale of image data captured during flights and receiving service fees.
“Aiming to improve profitability by enabling drone operators to flexibly develop multi-purpose business models tailored to their needs, we will implement mutual use of different drone routes and update guidelines, systems, specifications and standards,” the November 7 report says. “In addition, we will proceed with the demonstration of a “Drone Route Registration System” that will certify drone routes that comply with these guidelines.”
For more information
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism – Japan
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(This story has been created with the assistance of translation software)
