Below we list some travel tips which we hope will prove useful and convenient during your travel to Japan and to Tsukuba. Additional travel information is available at the web site of the Japan National Tourist Office and the English language versions of the web sites of the University of Tsukuba and Tsukuba City Hall.

• Access to Tsukuba From Narita Airport

  There is an express bus service (NATT's Airport Liner) from Narita Airport to Tsukuba Center. At Narita Airport, tickets can be bought at the Keisei counter, which is located in front of the customs exit in the arrivals area in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The fare is ¥2540. The bus departs from Bus Stop #15 in Terminal 1 and Bus Stop #12 in Terminal 2. The trip takes approximately 100 minutes. Here is the NATT's timetable.

• Narita Express

  To reach Narita Airport from Tokyo it is most convenient to take the Narita Express train, which runs frequently throughout the day. The Narita Express stops at several stations in Tokyo, including Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, and Shibuya Stations. The fare from these three stations is ¥3110.

• ATMs and Cash

  Japan is largely a cash-based country, and most shops and restaurants do not accept credit cards. It will therefore be necessary for you to carry lots of cash. Fortunately, Japan is one of the safest countries in the world, so this should be no cause for worry. We do not recommend carrying travelers checques, as very few places accept them, and it may take some time for banks to cash them. Instead, we recommend that, upon arrival at Narita Airport, you withdraw cash, using your US ATM card, from the Citibank ATMs located in the arrivals area, outside customs, in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The Narita Airport web site provides information about the exact locations of the Citibank ATMs in both terminals. (The total transaction fee is around $5.00, and their exchange rate is quite good.) The ATMs of most Japanese banks do not accept foreign bank cards. In case you need cash, you can use the various Citibank ATMs located in Tokyo. In addition, the National Post Office also functions as a bank, and many post office branches have ATMs which accept Cirrus bank cards. Since these are more numerous than Citibank branches, you can obtain cash from them more easily. To be on the safe side, plan for a petty cash budget of about ¥10,000 per day.
  While most hotels do accept credit cards, university lodging establishments, including the ones at Tsukuba University, only accept cash.

• Tipping

  There is no tipping of any sort in Japan. In addition, restaurant and hotel prices already include the tax in many cases.

• Tsukuba Express

  In August 2005, express train service was inaugurated from Tsukuba Center to Akihabara Station in Tokyo, allowing rapid and convenient travel between Tsukuba and Tokyo. The Tsukuba Express takes between 45 and 57 minutes, and the fare is ¥1150. Here is their timetable. In Japan, train fares are proportional to the distances travelled, so your ticket needs to be scanned by the turnstile machine as you enter and exit the train station. Thus it is important that you retrieve your ticket from the machine as you go through the turnstile when entering a train station. (Otherwise, you will end up paying the maximum fare!)

• Buses Between Tsukuba Center and the Institute of Mathematics

  For travel between the Institute of Mathematics and Tsukuba Center, we recommend that you take the loop line buses around the university, called Tsukuba Daigaku Junkan (Migimawari). The Tsukuba Center bus terminal is located at Exit A4 of the train station, and the Institute of Mathematics is located in the First Cluster of Colleges (the bus stop is Daiichi Gakuguntou Mae). For more information, see the access page to the Mathematics Institute. Here is the timetable, and a guide to the system for paying bus fares in Japan.

• Prepaid Mobile Phones

  It is not possible to use US or European mobile phones in Japan. However, one can buy a prepaid mobile phone at any 7-11 convenience store. There are two kinds: Tuku and Vodaphone. You will need to purchase both the phone and a special card providing prepaid calling time. Phones typically cost about ¥8000, and the cards cost ¥3000. The per-minute cost of each call depends on the number dialed, but incoming calls are always free.

• Supermarkets, Convenience Stores, and Pharmacies

  Tsukuba has several supermarkets and pharmacies, and numerous convenience stores (konbini). At Tsukuba Center, we recommend shopping at Jusco, which also has a small pharmacy. The supermarket and drugstore closest to the Institute are, respectively, Kasumi and Hawachi. They are located on the south side of Hiratsuka Street, about a 10-minute walk to the east of the Institute and University Hall.

• University Hall

  University Hall is conveniently located very close to the Institute, just across the footbridge over Hiratsuka Street. Please note that breakfast is not provided, so you will either have to find a nearby cafe (on Hiratsuka Street there are several, such as Coco's and Mr. Donut, and there is a Starbucks at Tsukuba Center), or buy some breakfast food at a convenience store or supermarket. Also, and this is important: University Hall closes its doors at 11:00 p.m., and you cannot enter the premises after that time, even with your room key. Finally, there is no internet access at University Hall.

• Wireless Internet Access

  We expect to provide the conference participants with wireless internet access near the conference venue. (However, you have to bring your own laptop.) A temporary password allowing access will be provided at the start of the conference.