Megumi's (highly opinionated) guide to Japan for foreign participants

WARNING WARNING WARNING: This is not meant to be a complete guide; it's just to get you started. By all means get a real travel guidebook.

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(Note added in Oct. 2011 by M. Masuda: This guide was made by Megumi Harada for the international conference on Toric Topology held at Osaka City Univ. in May-June 2006. So some information is obsolete or inappropriate. But I hope you can enjoy reading. If you stay at Kansai Kenshu Center (KKC) or the Osaka City University Guest House, please also vist their websites Kansai Kenshu Center (KKC) or Osaka City University Guest House to get updated information. The Kansai Kenshu Center now accepts VISA and MASTER CARD, and towel and body soap are now provided at the Osaka City University Guest House but shampoo, toothbrush and detergent are not.)

Brief travel instructions from Kansai Airport (added in Nov. 2011)

The trains operated by Japan Rail (JR) provide a fast, cheap, and convenient way to reach Osaka City University from Kansai (Osaka) Airport. The station for Osaka City University is called Sugimoto-cho. The KKC and the Osaka City University guest house are ten minutes walk from Sugimoto-cho Station. After arriving at the airport, follow the signs for the JR station. You will need some Japanese cash to buy the train ticket (either from a ticket vending machine or the ticket office). Buy a ticket for 860 yen. Then:
  1. Get on a "Rapid" train heading for Osaka and go to Sakai-shi Station (about 40 minutes). The train usually stops at these stations: KANSAI AIRPORT, RINKUTOWN, HINENOKUMATORI, HIGASHIKISHIWADA, IZUMIFUCHU, OTORI, MIKUNIGAOKA(OSAKA), SAKAISHI then goes on to KYOBASHI. (Do not get on any "Express" train such as "Haruka"!)
  2. Transfer to a "local" train (going in the same direction) at Sakai-shi Station and get off at the second stop, Sugimoto-cho Station (4 minutes)
A map showing Sugimoto-cho Station, Osaka City University, and the KKC can be found here: a map around the KKC. The train timetable (in English) is available here: train timetable.

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  1. Getting started
  2. Basics: cultural (and metereological) matters
  3. Basics: getting around in Japan
  4. Getting to Osaka City University
  5. Useful maps and links
  6. Emergency contact information
  7. Financial matters
  8. Communications: internet, telephones, etc
  9. The conference center and nearby amenities
  10. The Kansai Kenshu Centre information
  11. The Osaka City University Guest House information

Getting started

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Basics: cultural (and meteorological) matters

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Basics: getting around

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Getting to Osaka City University

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Useful maps and links

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Emergency contact information

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Financial matters


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Communications: internet, telephones, etc.


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The conference center and amenities

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Kansai Kenshu Centre information

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The Osaka City University Guest House information

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