Location scouting, permits, local crew and fixers for filming in Japan — quoted net for production companies, agencies and content teams, not a general tourism add-on.
What's Included
Sourcing and vetting filming locations against the brief, including sites that don't take direct enquiries from overseas productions.
Applying for and managing filming permits with temples, municipal authorities and private landowners, on the production's timeline.
From a single fixer for a small shoot to full local crew sourcing for larger productions.
Equipment transport, cast and crew ground transport, and accommodation booked as part of the same file as the shoot itself.
Who This Is For
Production companies, advertising agencies, broadcasters and content creators filming in Japan without an existing local production partner — anyone who needs someone on the ground who can get a permit approved, a location confirmed and a crew booked, rather than working through it themselves from overseas.
How We Deliver This
We scope the brief against the shoot's actual requirements — locations, cast and crew size, equipment needs, timeline — before proposing a location shortlist, then manage permits and local crew sourcing as one coordinated file rather than a set of separate bookings the production has to reconcile itself.
How It Works
Shoot dates, locations in mind (or the look you're after if locations aren't decided), cast and crew size, and any specific permit or access needs. We reply within 24 hours.
A shortlist of viable locations, each with honest notes on permit complexity, access restrictions and cost, so the production can choose with full information.
Location fees, permit costs, crew and logistics itemised at net rate. Quotations are valid for 4 days from issue.
Formal permit applications submitted and managed directly with each site's authority, on a timeline that accounts for the specific site's typical processing time.
Local crew, equipment transport, cast and crew ground transport and accommodation confirmed ahead of the shoot date.
A named point of contact and 24/7 line for the duration of the shoot — a permit question or a location access issue on the day is resolved directly, not escalated through several layers.
Location Types
Permit complexity and cost vary enormously between sites — some working temples are open to filming with straightforward permission, others restrict access heavily or prohibit it entirely, particularly during active worship hours. We confirm what's realistically achievable at a specific site before it's built into a shot list.
Filming in busy urban areas (Shibuya Crossing, Shinjuku, Dotonbori) typically requires municipal or police permits for anything beyond incidental background filming, plus crowd-management planning that's genuinely different from a controlled location shoot.
Ryokan, private residences and heritage buildings are often available for filming through direct relationship and negotiation rather than a standard application process — this is where local contacts matter most.
National parks, mountains and rural land carry their own permit authorities, and access can be seasonally restricted (weather, wildlife, agricultural use) in ways worth confirming well before a shoot date is locked.
Who Books This
Brand and commercial shoots need fast turnaround on location approval and a crew that can deliver to an agency's specific creative brief, often on a compressed production timeline.
Documentary and broadcast crews often need access to working sites and real people, not staged locations — this depends on genuine local relationships and permits rather than a standard tourist-site booking.
Smaller crews and creator-led shoots still need permits at many sites, even for a small camera team — we scale the support to the crew size rather than applying a one-size approach.
Fashion and editorial productions typically prioritise a specific aesthetic location over a specific site name, which shapes the location-scouting process toward the look rather than a fixed shot list.
Commercials
Production costs are driven by location fees (which vary enormously by site — some public locations are free with a permit, others carry substantial usage fees), permit costs, crew size and specialism, and the production's own equipment and logistics needs. We quote each element separately rather than a single blended day rate, so the production can see exactly where the budget is going.
Timeline is the other major variable: permit processing time varies by authority, and rushed applications can mean a narrower choice of achievable locations rather than the ideal shot list. We flag realistic lead times against the brief's actual shoot date rather than promise a location that the permit timeline can't support.
Rates are quoted net and non-commissionable — the same principle behind every service we quote. A USD 100 contract fee secures the booking, credited against the final invoice, and cancellation runs on a sliding scale: 20% of total cost at 45 days or more before the shoot, 50% at 22–44 days, 100% at 21 days or fewer.
Trade Terms
A local production contact who arranges permissions, local logistics and problem-solving on the ground — the difference between a shoot that runs smoothly and one that stalls on unfamiliar local process.
The cost charged by a site owner or authority for filming access, separate from any permit-processing fee — varies enormously by site and usage type.
A location-scouting visit, in person or via detailed photo and video packages, used to confirm a site before a shoot date is locked in.
The rate we quote you with no commission folded in. What you charge on top is up to you — your client never sees our number.
FAQ
Yes — permit requirements vary significantly by site and local authority, and we handle the application and liaison directly rather than leaving it to the production.
Both — from a single local fixer for a small shoot to full local crew sourcing (camera, sound, lighting, production assistants) for larger productions.
As early as possible — permit lead times vary by location, and the best locations and crew availability tighten around peak seasons the same way hotel inventory does.
Yes — a scouting trip, in person or via detailed location packages, is standard before a shoot date is locked in.
45 days or more before the shoot: 20% of total cost. 22 to 44 days: 50%. 21 days or fewer: 100%. Full terms are on our Partner Policy page.
Work With Us
Tell us what you need and we will respond within 24 hours.