1. Special Transportation
2. General Information about Japan
3. Access Information
1. Special Transportation arranged by the secretariat of ICC2009 for the conference participants
- Free Shuttle Bus From Naha Airport to Bankoku Shinryokan
Shuttle Bus service is available on June 21 (Opening day), June 25 (Final day) and June 26. - During the conference
Free Shuttle Bus service is available between the venue and hotels around the venue (Except Hotel Route Inn-Nago) in the morning and in the evening.
*The details of shuttle bus schedule will be notified later.
2. General Information about Japan
Passports and Visas
Every person entering Japan must have a valid passport. In addition, persons coming from certain countries must have a visa issued by a Japanese consulate in their country. Please be aware that in some cases, it takes more than one month to obtain a visa. For details, please inquire at your nearest Japanese Embassy or Consulate. Useful web site: http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html
Currency Exchange
Only Japanese yen is acceptable at stores and restaurants in Japan. You can exchange money at the airport, foreign exchange banks, and other authorized exchanges upon presentation of your passport. We encourage you to exchange your money at the airport upon arrival.
Credit Cards and Traveler's Cheques
Visa, Master Card, American Express, Diners Club and JCB are widely accepted at hotels, department stores, shops and restaurants. Only major banks and hotels in principal cities can accept traveler’s cheques, but their use in Japan is not as common as in some other countries.
Banking
Most banks are available for foreign currency exchange transactions from 9:00 to 15:00 on weekdays. Near the venue, there is a convenience store with ATM (It takes about 10 min by taxi) At Naha Airport, there are banks with ATM which open everyday.
Tipping
There is no custom of tipping in Japan. Instead, at places such as restaurants, bars and hotels, 10% service charge is usually added to your bill.
Insurance
Participants are advised to provide their own travel insurance, as the Organizing Committee will assume no responsibility for personal accidents, sickness, theft or property damage.
Climate
The congress will be held under the hot weather in early-summer especially in Okinawa, which is lied in a subtropical climate zone. The average temperature is around 28°C in daytime and 26°C at night. June is the beginning season of summer in Okinawa, so it becomes hotter and sometimes there are squalls.
Electrical Appliances
Japan operates on 100 volts for electrical appliances. The frequency is 60 Hz in western Japan including Okinawa.
Tax
5% consumption tax will be added to your bill.
Useful web sites for the travel in Japan
*Japan Travel Updates : http://www.jnto.go.jp/
At this site, you may find useful information to make travel plans, accommodation and shopping in Japan. Several regional maps are also available on this site. For about Okinawa, please visit the Okinawa Convention Bureau website; http://www.ocvb.or.jp/index.php
About Okinawa, a prefecture where the conference will be held;
Okinawa Prefecture is located in the southwest of the Japanese mainland and Kyusyu Island, and it extends from south of Kyushu Island.
Regarding the conference venue, "Bankoku Shinryokan", it is in Nago City, which is the central city of the northern part of Okinawa Island. The venue has become very famous by the summit held in 2000.
Access to the Venue;
1. To Okinawa by airplane To travel to Okinawa, means of transportation are mainly airplanes. they arrive at Naha Airport, the gateway of Okinawa.
| Domestic Transportation | |||
| From major airports to Okinawa (Naha) Airport | Haneda (Tokyo) | about 3.00 hrs | |
| Narita (Tokyo) | about 3.10 hrs | ||
| Nagoya | about 2.00 hrs | ||
| Kansai (Osaka) | about 2.00 hrs | ||
| Fukuoka | about 1.30 hrs | ||
| International Transportation | |||
| From airports to Okinawa (Naha) Airport | Taipei | about 1.20 hrs | *daily |
| Seoul | about 2.20 hrs | *3 flights per week | |
| Hong Kong | about 1.30 hrs | *2 flights per week | |
*More about the access to Okinawa...
http://www.ocvb.or.jp/card/en/0000211066.html
2. From Naha City to the Venue, Bankoku Shinryokan (by Public Transportation)
- By Limousine Bus (1.30 hrs)
Limousine Bus is available between Airport to hotels (the Busena Terrace Hotel and Kariyushi Beach Resort Spa Hotel).
- By Local Bus (1.30 ~ 2.30 hrs)
- By Taxi (1.30 hrs)
From Airport to the Venue, it costs about 13,000 JPY by taxi.