Joining your tour in Tokyo

Meeting Point

The meeting time is 10 am at the reception in Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel. You will meet your Adventure Leader here as well as the rest of your group.

Your hostel’s address

Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel
111-0035 Tokyo-to
Taito-ku, Nishi-Asakusa 3-15-1
Japan

How to get to your hostel

The best way of getting to your hostel from the airport is to take public transport. Here are directions from each of Haneda Airport and Narita Airport: https://thedragontrip.com/japan-arrival-instructions/

Finishing your tour in Tokyo

The trip ends at Tokyo Railway Station around 2 pm on Day 13.

If you prefer, you can leave the group in Osaka, if flying out from there or wanting to travel onwards to somewhere else in Japan. We are unable to offer a refund for the train journey from Osaka to Tokyo if you choose not to take it. However, your Japan Rail pass is valid for that whole day and your Adventure Leader will be able to advise on how to best spend the day.

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Let the world know about your EPIC trip

You can keep reliving your Japan trip when you’re home by finding us on the following social media platforms! We love seeing your photos and videos, so be sure to tag us!

Please do inform us by email if you would rather not have your photos appear on our social media platforms.

Remember to use the hashtag

#TheDragonTrip

Find Friends on Facebook

As so many of our Dragons travel solo, we want to take to make the process of meeting your fellow travellers as easy as possible. We have created a Facebook Event for every departure date to make it easier for you to meet in advance and share the excitement.

Like us on Facebook and go to the Events tab to meet fellow Dragons in advance.

You can also join ‘The Dragon Trip: Adventure Advice‘ group – also available on Facebook.

Our Ultimate Packing Check List

On all of our trips you will be required to carry your own bags so pack light. Japan is known for its shopping in case you forget something and you can always borrow from others in your group (that’s what friends are for).

Documents:

• Passport (with a copy of the photo page)
• Insurance Details and photocopies
• Student Card (if you have one)

Money:

• Your credit/debit card (we suggest using ATMs at each country)
• Japanese Yen

The Essentials:

• First Aid Kit (with medicine for diarrhea, paracetamol, disinfectant etc)
• Camera and charger
• T-shirts
• Shorts/Skirts
• Long pants (for hiking)
• Long trousers and sleeved shirts (when visiting temples and some of the local villages)
• Swimming costume
• Flipflops
• Sensible walking shoes/hiking boots
• Towel
• Washbag
• Flashlight/torch
• Mosquito repellent
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Lightweight waterproof jacket
• Earplugs (for a better sleep in the dorms)
• Locks for bags
• Waterproof backpack cover

Top Tips from The Dragon Trip

Try saying that tongue twister really fast.

On the weather

• Japan’s seasons are one of the reasons to travel to Japan. The weather can change dramatically depending on the time of year. It can be very hot in summer and cold and snowy in winter.
• Pack layers so that you can prepare for any weather changes and be comfortable going from in to outdoors.

On how to travel sustainably

• Packing as light as possible keeps your carbon footprint low. We recommend 10-15kg especially as you are expected to carry your own luggage.
• Use local laundry services. This money goes straight into the local community and is available in most of our hostels.
• Pack a reusable water bottle. You can drink the tap water in Japan which reduces your need for single use plastics on tour
• Credit Cards are not as widely used in Japan (in convenience stores and restaurant), keep cash with you at all times to avoid missing some amazing foods and souvenirs!

Stay Connected

• Your Adventure Leader will invite you to a WhatsApp group chat on Day 1 to keep in touch with you and the rest of your group.
• Maps.me: This is a great app to stop yourself from getting lost! You can download it to your phone for free. We recommend downloading many maps from different cities in Japan before your trip and using these maps later when you don’t have Wi-Fi.
• Bring electronic products. Japan is a very safe country to travel in so bring whatever electronics you need to connect you to home.

Food & Drink

• There will be lots of great nights out on The Dragon Trip, but please remember to always drink within your limits. Never journey home by yourself at night and never leave another person in the group alone. Always follow the legal drinking age limit.
• Drugs are illegal. If our Adventure Leaders see you committing any crime while travelling with us, they are obliged to report to head office and possibly to the police, so please don’t put them in that position!
• The food is DELICIOUS throughout Japan and you won’t be able to get enough of it. Try anything and everything possible. Your Adventure Leader will be able to recommend all of the best spots.
• A great way to stick to a budget while you travel in Japan is to grab food at Convenience Stores like 7-Eleven, especially ones near train stations (Kyoto, Hiroshima). They have good eating options including sushi and bento boxes which are perfect for a quick pit stop.
• A lot of traditional Japanese dishes contain animal products, if you are on a vegan or vegetarian diet, please download the app Happy Cow for recommendations.

Pack patience

• Despite the stories of Japanese efficiency and hospitality, can be very different from home. Some systems or ways of doing things which you may take for granted back home aren’t necessarily the same here. Please be patient with The Dragon Trip and Japan as a whole, as sometimes things don’t run like they may back home, despite our best efforts.
• You may meet many people from lots of different backgrounds and cultures on this trip. You may have different opinions or ways of doing things. Treat everyone how you wish to be treated and remember to work together as a group.
• Always try to arrive a couple of minutes early to check outs or departure times. Japan is an incredibly punctual society. Being late may mean missing transport connections and you don’t want to delay the whole group.
• Some hostels in Japan may be gender-segregated

Navigating Japan’s Culture

Japan’s culture is so unique that part of is an envy of the world. In Japan, it is always better to be over-polite, punctual and sensitive. Below is our in-depth guide on how to navigate the Japanese culture without tripping up.

• Be respectful of the local culture, dress appropriately at temples and religious sites, be polite and kind.
• Do not tip. It can be seen as rude and isn’t really a part of Japanese culture. In most cases, a service charge will probably have been added to your bill already.
• Keep your voice low on trains – Please watch the volume of your voice in public places, particularly on subways and trains.
• Split the bill – In Japan it’s common to split checks amongst friends or even on a date. This is known as betsu-betsu. It is not common for restaurants to offer separate checks, so people just roughly figure it out amongst themselves.
• Always take off your shoes – slip-on shoes can be useful in Japan as there is a lot of taking your shoes off when entering a living area. However, never use shoes or slippers on a tatami (Rush Grass Mat) floor. You should walk on these with your bare feet or socks.
• Wear the Bathroom Slippers – Many places in Japan will provide bathroom slippers for your use in their washrooms. It’s really easy to forget to take these off as you leave the bathroom. This is a BIG mistake and considered extremely embarrassing.
• Do not litter – Public trash bins are very hard to find, if available at all. This is because Japan is an island nation without much space for landfills. In order to properly separate trash into what can be recycled and what can’t, you are expected to carry your trash home and properly divide it up to dispose of. Please be prepared to carry your trash with you until you get back to the hostel!
• Do not point – Pointing is considered somewhat threatening in Japan and is avoided. Instead people tend to indicate direction with an open hand.
• Use the hand towels for your hands only – Many restaurants in Japan will provide you with a moist towel known as an oshibori that’s either cool or hot depending on the season. These are used to lightly clean your hands before a meal. It’s considered rude to clean your face with them or to continue using the oshibori throughout the meal as a napkin.
• Be sensitive and patient – The Japanese are generally indirect about uncomfortable topics and avoid conflict where possible. Directly challenging someone in a way that might embarrass them is a bad idea. Instead, many Japanese people tend to drop subtle hints about how they feel rather than direct, bold statements. The ability to read such hints is an important social skill in Japan.
• Make time to sit down and enjoy your food – Walking and eating is seen as sloppy. It’s very common to see people stand or crouch when eating Japanese street food.
• Take your backpack off on trains – It’s customary to take off your backpack on a crowded train and hold it in your hands.
• Don’t blow your nose in public – Blowing your nose in public is considered rude. The locals retreat to the washroom to blow their nose.
• Try to bow – The Japanese have a number of different ways of bowing that apply to different social situations. As a tourist, knowing the rules can be complex, so there is no need to bow unless you really want to. Just keep in mind that bowing lazily can be considered rude.
• Don’t open taxi doors – Most taxi doors in Japan are automatic. The driver will open and close the door from inside and might get a little upset if you try to operate the door yourself.
• Do not walk and smoke – Walking and smoking is viewed as a dangerous and inconsiderate. The Japanese take this quite seriously and it’s now illegal to walk and smoke in some areas. This is actively enforced. Designated outdoor smoking areas are quite common in Japan.
• Follow Karaoke etiquette – (Incase you go to Karaoke w/ locals) Foreigners in Japan tend to take a haphazard approach to karaoke with people freely joining in songs as they feel fit. The Japanese are more likely to take turns picking songs and may get offended if you cut in on their song. This varies by person but it’s safest to ask permission before joining a song.
• Be considerate when on the phone – Loud conversations on your mobile phone in public places are considered rude in Japan. Locals try to be discrete and very quiet when accepting a call. It’s also considered rude to talk on the phone on a train or in a cafe.
• Slurp your soup – It’s okay to pick up a soup bowl to drink from it as opposed to using a spoon.
• Calling a server – When you need a waiter in Japan you can yell SUMIMASEN! (excuse me). It’s perfectly acceptable.

Contact Us

Any questions or feedback?

Contact our London Team: info@thedragontrip.com

(Please note that this email is only being monitored from Monday to Friday between 9:00 and 17:30 (Friday 17:00) UK time, if you have any urgent issues, such as flight delay,cancelling the trip in the last minute, please contact our Japan Team)

Contact our Japan Team: mytrip@thedragontrip.com

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