ULTRA JAPAN 2017: Plan Beyond the Final Set

A city festival can feel easy to reach until everyone is trying to leave. The last set is only one point in the evening. A shared journey also needs an agreement about reaching the meeting place, resting and getting to the final destination.

ULTRA JAPAN's February 13, 2017 announcement scheduled its fourth edition for September 16–18 at Tokyo Odaiba Ultra Park. With three days in the programme, the first question for companions is which day they are actually sharing.

Plan around the city, not just the venue

Read the organiser's access instructions for that edition. Do not assume that a car can enter a place near the stages or wait at the closest junction. Public transport may be the more suitable way to complete the festival portion of the journey, even if someone is driving in the same broader direction.

A shared car is most useful when its route and timing fit a real need. Explain which section you can provide and which connection a companion must arrange separately. Avoid turning a short lift into an unplanned circuit of everybody's accommodation.

Set a return agreement before the music

Compare the performances people want to see and decide whether staying later means returning independently. Choose a contact method and a permitted meeting location away from a place where a waiting vehicle would obstruct others. Allow time to walk there.

Talk about alcohol and driving clearly. The driver needs to remain able to drive; the group's plans should never depend on changing that responsibility after a drink. A passenger offering to take over is not a solution unless permission, licence and applicable vehicle conditions have been checked.

Keep some energy for the journey

Standing, dancing and being outdoors can leave people ready for a quiet return. Give the driver time to rest if needed, and do not treat the end of a performance as an instruction to depart immediately. A later arrival or a different return arrangement may be the practical choice.

Pack only what fits the agreed space and keep belongings together. If plans change during the day, send an update early enough for the others to make a decision rather than waiting until the meeting time.

Already driving towards the area on a suitable day? Describe your actual route, return window and practical limits when discussing seats. The right companion is somebody whose evening fits that offer, not simply somebody attending the same festival.

Further reading: ULTRA JAPAN's February 2017 announcement.

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