- Contact:
Congress Secretariat - Japan Convention Services, Inc.
Keihanshin
Yodoyabashi Bldg. 4-4-7,
Imabashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka
541-0042, JAPAN
TEL+81-6-6221-5933
FAX+81-6-6221-5938
E-MAIL
aspire-jsfi2012@convention.co.jp
- ASPIRE 2012 HOME > About Osaka & General Information
About Osaka & General Information
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Passport & VISA Information:
- (1) Passport
- Any foreign visitor who wishes to come to Japan must have a passport.
Depending on your country or region, eligibility with the passport validity differs from country to country. Please check with your nearby Embassy or Consulate. - (2) Visa
- Depending on your country and region that you are travelling from, due to the treaty between Japan and your country, you might be subjected to apply for a visa. Please check the below website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA).
- MOFA Website:
- Exemption country list
- Visa requirements & application
NOTE: Upon applying for a visa, we will provide you with the documents including an official invitation letter for applying for your visa if required. In order for us to provide you with the documents and an invitation letter, you must meet either one of the following conditions. (1) Presenter (Speaker) of ASPIRE 2012 or JSFI 2012.
(2) If you have already paid for the registration fee for pre-registration.
- Please contact the Congress Secretariat if you need any assistance for your visa.
- Japan Convention Services, Inc.
Keihanshin Fudosan, Yodoyabashi Bldg., 4-4-7,
Imabashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 541-0042, JAPAN
TEL: +81-6-6221-5933 / FAX: +81-6-6221-5938
E-MAIL: aspire-jsfi2012@convention.co.jp
Travelers Checks and Credit Card:
Travelers Checks are accepted by leading banks, hotels, ryokan (Japanese inns) and stores in major cities.
International credit cards such as American Express, VISA, Diners Club and Master Card are also acceptable at these major establishments. However, credit card transactions are not always convenient outside big cities so obtaining cash beforehand is recommended when you travel to the countryside.
Foreign Currency Exchange:
There is no limit on the amount of any currency that may be brought into or taken out of Japan. However, if you transport (any currencies, checks, securities or other monies) exceeding 1,000,000 yen worth in Japanese currency into or out of the country then you must complete a customs declaration. You can buy yen at foreign exchange banks and other authorized money exchangers. At the international airports, currency exchange counters are usually open during normal office hours. The exchange rate fluctuates daily depending on the money market.
Climate:
The Japanese summer begins in June with a three to four week rainy season. This is an important time for farmers to plant rice. It becomes seriously hot and humid from July onward and many Japanese enjoy bathing in the sea and relaxing at cool resorts in mountainous areas. Summer is when many interesting festivals and other events are held all over the country.
Clothing: light clothes (cardigans and other similar kinds are handy, since indoors are mostly air-conditioned.)
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-down 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.
Time Differences:
All of Japan is in the same time zone, 9 hours ahead of G.M.T. No Daylight Saving Time is practiced in Japan.
Insurance:
The committees will not be responsible for individual medical expense, loss or accidents incurred during the conference. Participants are strongly advised to arrange their own personal insurance and bring their insurance policies with them.
Transportation & Access to Osaka:
| JR West: | Connects most parts of the Kansai area. Useful especially when traveling between cities or long distance. |
|---|---|
| Private railways: | Run by private railway lines including Kintetsu, Keihan, Nankai, Hankyu, and Hanshin. |
| Subway: | Available in Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe. Useful when traveling within cities. |
- How to use the Osaka Municipal Subway
- 1. Tickets are bought at tickets machines near the entrances. Please refer to the price list next to the machine (listed in Japanese and English).
- 2. Automatic ticket gates are installed at all subways. A gate opens when you insert a ticket. Retrieve you ticket after the gate opens and keep it until you get off at your destination.
- 3. Each station is displayed alphabetically and numerically. The alphabet represents the name of the subway line and a number represents the station number. Signs for stations are written in both Japanese and English. Also check the bilingual information board in the train.
Post Office Services:
Post offices are easily recognized by a sign with a double-bar red T on a white background (
). Office hours are between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. The Osaka Central Post Office, located in front of Osaka Station in Umeda, is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Red mailboxes can be found on many street corners. Shops that display the sign in their front window sell stamps and post cards.
A more convenient way to get cash is at post offices. The Japanese postal system, which also offers banking services, has recently linked its ATMs to the International Cirrus and Plus System cash networks, as well as some credit card networks. Postal ATMs are located in most large post offices. They operate between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.
Public Phones:
Although the number of public phones has decreased due to the spread of cell phones, pay phones that accept both pre-paid cards and 10 or 100 yen coins can be found in hotels, department stores, train stations and other facilities. To make a call, pick up the receiver, put in a coin or telephone card and press the number. A local call of approximately one minute in duration, costs 10 yen. Public phones that allow callers to make international calls are labeled as such. For international calls, the caller must first choose an access number from one of many international phone companies. After pressing the access number, press 010, followed by the country code, area code and telephone number.
- How to dial “from Japan to Abroad”
- Ex) 001(KDDI) or 033(NTT) +country code + phone number*
- How to dial “from Abroad to Japan”
- Ex) 001 + 81 + phone number*
*If the number starts with a 0, drop the 0 and dial everything else.
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