Article 1.　The purpose of this Law is to effect coordination and standardization of surveying, where public funds or the use of public surveying data are in anyway involved, to avoid duplication, maintain accuracy, define necessary authority for execution and generally to effect improvement in surveying.

Article 2.　Surveying shall be accomplished according to the provisions of this Law unless otherwise stipulated by laws specifically.

Article 3.　"Surveying or surveys" within the meaning of this Law shall be land surveys, including preparation of maps and taking of photographs necessary for surveys.

Article 4.　"Basic survey" within the meaning of this Law shall be basic fundamental surveys conducted by the Geographical Survey Institute, Ministry of Construction (hereinafter referred to as "Geographical Survey Institute" ).

Article 5.　"Surveys for public projects" within the meaning of this Law shall be surveys for projects which will utilize public funds for all or part of their costs except minor surveys such as surveys for minor roads, buildings, etc. as specified by the Minister of Construction upon consulting land survey Council and provided for by Cabinet Order.

Article 6.　"Surveys other than basic survey or survey for public projects" within the meaning of this Law shall be any surveys for which data established by or for government agencies is used during the survey.

Article 7.　"Survey planning organ" within the meaning of this Law shall be the agency or person who prepares plans or causes plans to be prepared for surveys provided for in Article 5 and Article 6. The survey planning organ may, in case of executing its own plans, also be the survey operations organ.

Article 8.　"Survey operations organ" within the meaning of this Law shall be the agency or person, public or private, who executes the operations of surveys upon receiving instruction from the survey planning organ.

Article 9.　"Survey data" within the meaning of this Law shall be the date obtained as the final results of the survey concerned and "survey records" shall be the records of operations compiled in the process of obtaining survey data.

Article 10.　"Survey markers" within the meaning of this Law includes permanent marker, semipermanent marker and temporary marker, base stations, which are listed as follows:

2　Specifications, including type of materials used for survey markers shall be fixed by the Ministry of Construction Ordinance.

3　All monuments or markers set by persons engaged in the execution of basic survey shall be marked clearly showing the agency responsible for the markers and that it is government property.

Article 11.　Basic surveys and public project surveys shall be based on the following specifications:

Article 12.　The Minister of Construction, after consultation with the Surveying Council, shall make long range plans for conducting basic survey.(The functions and membership of the Surveying Council shall be prescribed in Chapter 6 Articles 55 to 59 inclusive.)

Article 13.　The Chief of the Geographical Survey Institute may require and Government agency or office to submit data or reports concerning the execution of basic surveys and is authorized to require such information from any other available sources.

Article 14.　The Chief of the Geographical Survey Institute before executing basic surveys shall notify Governors of To, Do, Fu and prefectures concerned as the district, period and other necessary procedural or administrative matters.

2　When the above surveys have been completed the Chief of the Geographical Survey Institute shall notify the Governors of To, Do, Fu and prefectures concerned.

3　When Governors of To, Do, Fu and prefectures haved received the notifications stipulated in the preceding two paragraphs they shall publicize them without delay.

Article 15.　Survey parties of the Geographical Survey Institute engaged in basic surveys, when it is deemed necessary to the execution of said surveys, may enter national land, public land or private land.

2　The chief of survey party shall notify the owner, occupant or supervisor prior to entry to lots or land enclosed by fence or palisade, except when it is difficult to do so (as in case of an absentee owner).

3　Survey party members shall carry certificates of identification and when requested by the owner or occupant, shall show the same.

Article 16.　The chief of the Geological Survey Institute or persons under order of the above, when executing basic surveys finds it indispensable, may cut down plants and trees to take down fences, palisades, etc., provided that permission or approval of the owner, occupant or supervisor has been obtained.

Article 17.　When basic surveys are being conducted in areas of forested hills and fields or similar lands and it is difficult to obtain prior approval or permission of the owner, occupant or supervisor and, moreover, it is not expected that marked damage to plants, fences, palisades, etc. will result, then, in spite of the requirement of Article 16, the personnel listed in Article 16 may cut down plants and trees and remove fences or palisades. In this case it is required that the owner, occupant or supervisor be notified of the action without delay.

Article 18.　Officials and survey parties of the Geological Survey Institute engaged in basic surveys may, when it is deemed necessary to place temporary markers, temporarily occupy land, trees or structures provided that the owner, occupant or supervisor has been previously notified except where such previous notification is difficult.

Article 19.　When it is deemed necessary in the execution of basic surveys, the government may expropriate or use land, trees or structures.

2　Concerning expropriation and use of land stipulated in the preceding paragraph the Eminent Domain Law (Law No.29 of 1890) shall apply.

3　When the Governors of To, Do, Fu and prefectures publicize the notices prescribed in Article 14 paragraph 3 of this Law, it will be considered that the regulations contained in Article 14 of the Eminent Domain Law (Law No.29 of 1890) concerning publicity have been complied with.

Article 20.　When losses are inflicted on plants, trees, fences, palisades, structures, etc. by clearing or removal during the execution of basic surveys under the provisions of Articles 16, 17 or 18 of this Law, the government shall reimburse the owner at an appropriate price.

2　Person entitled to compensation according to the provisions of the preceding paragraph who object to the amount of compensation offered may request decision of the Condemnation Committee within one month from the date of receiving notice of the amount of compensation offered, in accordance with the procedures provided for by Cabinet Order.

Article 21.　When the chief of the Geological Survey Institute or his representatives establishes permanent markers or semi-permanent markers, he shall notify Governors of To, Do, Fu and prefectures concerned as to the kinds and locations of markers.

2　When a Governors of To, Do, Fu or prefecture receives notification stipulated in the preceding paragraph, he shall notify mayors of cities, towns and villages (including heads of Special Wards;hereinafter the same).

3　When mayors of cities, towns and villages and heads of Special Wards find destruction, damage or something wrong with permanent markers or semi-permanent markers, they shall notify the chief of the Geographical Survey Institute without delay.

Article 22.　No person shall impair the effective value of survey markers placed for basic survey by moving, removing, damaging or by any other action.

Article 23.　When the chief of the Geographical Survey Institute transposes, removes or abolishes a permanent marker or semi-permanent marker, he shall notify the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture concerned and the owner, occupant or supervisor of the land.

2　The provisions of Article 21 paragraph 2 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the case mentioned in the preceding paragraph.

Article 24.　If a person expects to commit an act which might destroy or lower the effective value of a permanent marker or semi-permanent marker, he may request the Chief of the Geographical Survey Institute, for transposition of marker concerned by a letter stating reasons in full through Governors of To, Do, Fu and prefectures. In case a government agency or project of To, Do, Fu and prefectures might damage a marker, notification will be made directly to the Chief of the Geographical Survey Institute.

2　When a Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture receives requesting papers stipulated in the provisions of the preceding paragraph, he shall forward the same with his recommendation attached thereto.

3　When the Chief of the Geographical Survey Institute finds good reasons in the request stipulated in paragraph 1, he shall transpose the marker concerned, and if he finds the reasons insufficient, he shall so notify the person requesting the transposition of the matter.

4　Partial expenses for transposing marker stipulated in the preceding paragraph shall be assumed by the person requesting the transposing by assuming the actual costs of transportation.

Article 25.　In case a member of the personnel of the Geographical Survey Institute engaged in basic surveys received a request for transposition of temporary marker, he shall transpose the same if there are good reasons for the request.

Article 26.　Any person planning to execute surveys other than basic surveys, may use survey marker placed for basic surveys by obtaining approval or the Chief of the Geographical Survey Institute.

Article 27.　When the Minister of Construction obtains survey data of basic survey, he shall pulicize in the Official Gazette as to kind of survey concerned, its time and district of execution, accuracy and other information deemed useful.

2　The Minister of Construction shall publish maps based on the survey data of basic surveys and may publish other information deemed useful after consulting with the Land Surveying Council.

3　The chief of the Geographical Survey Institute shall be responsible for maintaining facilities to safeguard, make available for inspection by the public and government agencies for the basic surveys data and records as well as the data referred to in Articles 40, 41 and 46.

Article 28.　Any person wishing to inspect survey data or survey record of basic surveys or wishing to request an attested copy of transcript shall comply with the provisions stipulated in the Ministry of Construction Ordinance indicating administrative procedures thereof.

2　Person wishing to request an attested copy of transcript stipulated in the preceding paragraph shall pay a fee not exceeding the actual cost of reproduction or publication in accordance with Cabinet Order.

Article 29.　Persons wishing to Snake further reproductions of survey data of basic surveys legally acquired under the provisions of Article 28 including maps, diagrams and data tables shall obtain the approval of the chief of the Geographical Surrey Institute prior to reproduction. The chief of the Geographical Survey Institute shall disapprove such requests if there is reasonable cause to believe that the reproductions are for commercial purposes such as sale or resale of reproduced data.

Article 30.　Persons planning to execute surveys based on data of basic surveys shall obtain the approval of the chief of the Geographical Survey Institute prior to beginning such surveys. Approval required is for the purpose of assuring that survey data are appropriate for the survey concerned.

2　Persons who executed surveys based on data of basic surveys in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall clearly show the survey data of basic survey used for survey data of the survey concerned with execution thereof.

3　Persons wishing to issue maps or other publications based directly or indirectly on survey data of basic surveys shall clearly show in such maps or publications to what extent he utilized basic survey data in preparation thereof.

Article 31.　The chief of the Geographical Survey Institute shall make revisions without delay in basic survey data in case the accuracy of these data becomes impaired due to earth crust movement or by any other causes.

Article 32.　Surveys for public projects shall be based on the survey data of basic surveys or based on data of another survey for public projects which was based on basic survey datum.

Article 33.　All specifications prepared by survey planning organs for surveys for public projects shall include specifications as to kinds of instruments, methods of observations and methods of computations and the said specifications shall be submitted to the Minister of Construction for approval. The same shall apply in case of revisions of such plans.

2　The surveys shall be executed based on the approved specifications stipulated in the preceding paragraph.

Article 34.　The Minister of Construction may prepare standard specifications for executing survey for public projects upon consulting the Land Survey Council.

Article 35.　In case the Minister of Construction deems it necessary for securing accuracy or survey or for avoiding duplication of surveys, he may give advice to the survey planning organs or he may require report of long term plans or yearly plans for surveys for public projects from survey planning organs.

2　Before giving advice stipulated in the preceding paragraph the Minister of Construction shall first consult with the Land Survey Council.

Article 36.　In case the survey planning organs intend to execute survey for public projects, they shall require beforehand technical advices of the Chief of the Geographical Survey Institute regarding the proposed survey plans accompanied by a program stating the following matters. The same procedure shall be followed in case survey plans are changed during the execution:

Article 37.　All monuments or markers set by persons engaged in the execution of surveys for public projects will be marked in such a manner so as to clearly show the agency responsible for the marker and show that it is a monument for a public project.

2　Persons executing surveys for public projects may require of mayors of cities, towns, villages and heads of Special Wards to furnish available information pertinent to the execution of the surveys.

3　A report shall be submitted without delay to the Chief of the Geographical Survey Institute by the responsible survey planning organ concerning any permanent survey markers set in connection with surveys for public projects and shall include the kind of marker, location and other pertinent information.

Article 38.　The provisions of Articles 33, 35, 36 and paragraph 3 of the preceding Article shall not apply to surveys for public projects executed by the Geographical Survey Institute.

Article 39.　The provisions of Articles 14 to 26 inclusive shall apply mutatis mutandis to survey for public projects. In this case, in Articles 14, 16, 17, 21, 23, 24 and 26 "the Chief of the Geographical Survey Institute" shall read "the Chief of the Survey Planning Organ." In Articles 15 to 18 inclusive "the personnel of the Geographical Survey Institute" shall read "the personnel or representative of the survey planning organ" or "the personnel or representative of the survey operation organ respectively. In Article 25" the personnel or representative of the Geographical Survey Institute "shall read" the personnel or representative of the survey operation organ."

Article 40.　When a survey planning organ obtains survey data in connection with survey for public projects, a copy of these data shall be sent without delay to the Chief of the Geographical Survey Institute.

2　When the Chief of the Geographical Survey Institute deems it necessary to review more detail the data submitted in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, he may require a copy of the survey records used in compiling these data.

Article 41.　Upon receipt of data under the provisions of Article 40, the Chief of the Geographical Survey Institute shall review the data, apply any checks, when deemed necessary, and shall notify the survey planning organ that submitted the data of the results of his findings.

2　When, as results of review and checking of data provided for in the preceding paragraph, the Chief of the Geographical Survey Institute finds any data of sufficient accuracy and scope to be of public value, he shall publish the data concerned, giving kind of survey, time executed, location, name of survey planning organ and survey operations organ and opinions in respect to accuracy.

Article 42.　Regarding the survey records and survey data referred to in Articles 40 and 41, the provisions of Article 27 paragraph 3 shall apply.

2　Regarding inspection and acquisition of survey data and survey records referred to in the preceding paragraph, the provisions of Article 28 shall apply.

3　Survey planning organs may require the Chief of the Geographical Survey Institute to keep the original survey records and survey data executed by them, if they desire.

Article 43.　Persons wishing to make further reproductions of survey data of surveys for public projects shall obtain the approval of the Chief of the survey planning organ concerned for survey data or survey records, including maps, diagrams and data tables. The chief of the survey planning organ concerned shall disapprove such requirements, if there is reasonable cause of believe that the reproductions are for commercial purposes such as sales or resale of reproduction data.

Article 44.　Persons planning to excute surveys based on data of surveys for public projects shall obtain the approval of the chief of the survey planning organ concerned. Approval required is for the purpose of assuring that survey data are appropriate for the survey concerned.

2　In the case of preceding paragraph the survey data used for surveys for public projects shall be clearly shown in data of the survey.

3　Persons wishing to issue publications based directly or indirectly on survey data of surveys for public projects shall clearly show the fact in such publications.