Passport and Visa

To visit Japan, you must have a valid passport. A visa is required for citizens of countries that do not have visa-exempt agreements with Japan. For details, please check the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html .

Insurance

The organizer cannot accept responsibility for accidents that might occur. Delegates are encouraged to purchase travel insurance before leaving their home country. Insurance plans typically cover accidental loss of belongings, medical costs in case of injury or illness, and other possible risks of international travel.

Climate

The temperature in Kyoto during the period of the Congress usually ranges between 16 – 26℃ degrees Celsius.

Currency Exchanges

Only Japanese yen (JPY) is acceptable at regular stores and restaurants. Certain foreign currencies may be accepted at a limited number of hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops.
You can buy yen at foreign exchange banks and other authorized money exchanges on presentation of your passport.

Traveler’s Check and Credit Cards

Traveler’s check are accepted only by leading banks and major hotels in principal cities, and the use of traveler’s check in Japan is not as popular as in some other countries. VISA, MasterCard, Diners Club, and American Express are widely accepted at hotels, department stores, shops, restaurants and nightclubs.

Banks

Most banks are open from Monday to Friday, 9:00-15:00 (close on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays). Automatic teller machines (ATMs) are available for withdrawing by credit card every day usually from 9:00 to 20:00 at major banks.

Electricity

The voltage used throughout Japan is uniformly 100 volts, A.C. There are two kinds of frequencies in use; 50 Hertz in eastern Japan and 60 Hertz in western Japan (including Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka). A convertible type of electrical appliance such as a hair dryer, travel iron and shaver will therefore be handy; otherwise a step-up transformer is required to convert the voltage. There are no columnar-shaped plugs or 3-pin plugs used in Japan but 2-flat-pin plugs are used instead. It is therefore advised to purchase a plug adapter beforehand.

Tipping

Generally, tips are not expected anywhere in Japan, even in hotels and restaurants.

Taxes

The consumption tax in Japan is 8%.

Time

Japan Standard Time is nine hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.