FAX, COPY and TELEPHONE
- Fax machines and a photocopier will be available at the Secretariat office (Room 157). Public telephones are available in KICH.
PASSPORTS and VISAS
- All foreign visitors entering Japan MUST possess valid passports. Depending on the country, visa application can take up to three or four months to be processed. We therefore recommend that participants requiring visas contact their local Japanese Consulate or travel agent for details and apply for their visa well in advance.
- Countries having reciprocal visa exemption arrangements with Japan: As of August 1996, citizens of the following countries are NOT required to obtain visas for a stay of 3 months (*6 months; **14 days) or less. However, since there are occasional changes in this list, please check the current situation at any Japanese Consulate in your country.
Argentina, Austria*, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brunei**, Canada, Chile,Columbia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany*, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland*, Israel, Italy, Lesotho, Liechtenstein*, Luxembourg, Malta,Mauritius, Mexico*, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Spain, Suriname, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland*, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom*, Uruguay, U.S.A.
- Countries having reciprocal visa exemption arrangements with Japan: As of August 1996, citizens of the following countries are NOT required to obtain visas for a stay of 3 months (*6 months; **14 days) or less. However, since there are occasional changes in this list, please check the current situation at any Japanese Consulate in your country.
ACCESS TO KYOTO
- The most convenient and economical means to get to Kyoto is to take a direct flight to Kansai International Airport which opened in September, 1994.
- From Kansai International Airport to Kyoto
- (Route 1) Board JR (Japan Railway) Airport Limited Express Train, HARUKA, which runs every 30 minutes. The traveling time to Kyoto JR Station is approximately 75 minutes. All seats are reserved (but usually available on site) and the fare is approximately 3,500 yen (about 35 US dollars).
- (Route 2) A JR local train to Shin-Osaka Station is available at the airport. From JR Shin-Osaka Station, connecting trains to Kyoto depart every 15 minutes. This is a less expensive but more time consuming method (total fare: approximately \1800, travel time : at least 95 minutes) to come to Kyoto from the airport. No reservations are necessary for local trains.
- (Route 2) A JR local train to Shin-Osaka Station is available at the airport. From JR Shin-Osaka Station, connecting trains to Kyoto depart every 15 minutes. This is a less expensive but more time consuming method (total fare: approximately \1800, travel time : at least 95 minutes) to come to Kyoto from the airport. No reservations are necessary for local trains.
- Participants arriving at New Tokyo International Airport (NARITA) may choose from the following three alternatives
- (Route 1) Only a limited number of domestic flights to Osaka Airport (old domestic Osaka Itami Airport) is available. Board on a domestic flight from Narita to Osaka Airport. Take an airport limousine at Osaka Airport which carries passengers to JR Kyoto station (55 minutes).
- (Route 2) From NARITA, take an airport limousine to Haneda Airport which takes about 75 minutes. Take a domestic flight to Osaka (Itami) Airport, and then take an airport limousine to Kyoto.
- (Route 3) Take an airport limousine or a Narita express train to JR Tokyo Station, the traveling time is about 100 minutes and 60 minutes, respectively. Board on JR Shinkansen (Bullet Train) to JR Kyoto Station, which runs every 15 minutes, the traveling time is 2 hours and 45 minutes. The total train fare between Narita Airport and JR Kyoto Station is about 16,000 yen.
- (Route 2) From NARITA, take an airport limousine to Haneda Airport which takes about 75 minutes. Take a domestic flight to Osaka (Itami) Airport, and then take an airport limousine to Kyoto.
- Participants planning to travel in Japan by railway are recommended to purchase a Japan Rail Pass before departure. This pass encompasses virtually all JR trains, including the Narita Express, the Shinkansen and the Haruka, but cannot be purchased within Japan. A 7-day pass (ordinary class) costs approximately 28,000 yen. It can be used for the round trip or any other local trip by JR systems.
ACCESS TO KICH (Kyoto International Conference Hall)
- Take the subway (Karasuma line) to the terminal station, Kokusaikaikan (whose construction is under way), which is linked to KICH by a walkway.
CLIMATE and CLOTHING
- The climate in Kyoto around the time of the conference is still hot and humid. The average temperature in September is 27.5 C (81.5 F) and the average humidity is 77%. Accordingly light and casual clothing is appropriate. The conference Hall and all major hotels are well air-conditioned.