Creating Cinematic Flights: From Tokyo to Kyoto in 3D

Japan is one of the most popular settings for map animations due to its unique geography and iconic city layouts. In this tutorial, we’ll build a cinematic "Flight" animation from Tokyo to Kyoto.

Step 1: Set Your Projection

For a flight animation that covers several hundred kilometers, you want depth.

1. Hover the map style tile at the bottom left and choose Globe under View.
2. Switch the Map Type to Satellite and turn on 3D Terrain under View. This makes the mountainous terrain between Tokyo and Kyoto look stunning when the camera tilts.

Step 2: Plot the Flight Path

1. Click Route in the toolbar.
2. Click Tokyo, then Kyoto (or search each place) to set the start and end points.
3. In the element panel (Style tab), set Transport Mode to Flight. This automatically calculates a "Geodesic" curve that arcs high above the Japanese Alps.

Step 3: Scene Prep

• Slide 1: Position Tokyo in the bottom center. Click Add Slide (+).
• Slide 2: Move to Kyoto. Tilt the camera (Right Click + Drag) to see the skyline. Click Add Slide (+).
• Add a Pin at both locations. Set the pin style to Dot for a minimalist, modern look.

Step 4: Easing for Realism

Set the transition to Smooth. This ensures your "plane" takes off gracefully and lands gently. For a "flyover" feel, check out our guide on Travel Vlog Hacks.

Finally, let the export's map prewarming step finish so all the 3D structures in Tokyo are fully loaded!