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Travel Tips
The
main airport in Tokyo is Narita ( NAA ). This is a key hub in Asia
allowing good access from all parts of the world.
It is best to arrange a flight to arrive no later than
mid-day on October 10 to allow for check in and Congress
registration. Departures
and post-Congress tours can be planned for October 15.
Narita is a very modern airport and it is easy to find your way around. Signage is in Japanese and English and there are many airport workers around should you have questions. You will be escorted from the plane to go through immigration then bag claim and finally customs. You will enter an Arrival Hall as you leave customs. It is a good idea to stop at the currency exchange in the Arrival Hall as you will need Japanese money; remember to have your passport handy. Look for the Travel Desk along one side of the Arrival Hall. Show the attendant the name of the hotel where you will be staying. They will sell you a Limousine bus ticket and tell you where to stand to catch the bus. The cost is 2700 JPY or about $23.00 USD per person. Show your bus ticket to the attendant at the bus stop and they will instruct you further on boarding the bus. Once you are in the bus, watch the sign in the front as it displays the next hotel stop. Depending upon your time of arrival and local traffic, the ride is 60–90 minutes.
You
will need a valid passport, the expiration date being six months or
longer beyond your projected stay in Japan.
A visa is required for citizens of countries that do not have
a visa-exempt agreement with Japan.
Please contact the nearest Japanese Embassy or Consulate (Web
Sites are good resources) should you be in doubt.
Most travel agents will have this information, as well.
Some
may need a ‘Letter of Invitation".
Please contact:
Dr.
Shinji Seki
Kikuchi College of Optometry
2-5-5 Izumi Higashi-ku
Nagoya 461-0001
JAPAN
Travelers
Checks, Credit Cards, Tipping
Travelers Checks are only accepted by leading banks and major hotels in principal cities. VISA, Mastercard, Diner’s Club, and American Express are widely accepted at hotels, department stores, shops and restaurants. In Japan, tips are not necessary anywhere – not even at hotels and restaurants.
Personal
effects and professional equipment can be brought into Japan duty
free as long as the Customs Officer deems their content and
quantities reasonable. Watch
for weight limits on baggage. There
can be different rules as to the air carrier from your home country
and any subsequent air travel that you might do within Asia.
Electric current is uniformly 110 volts AC throughout Japan but with two different cycles: 50 in Tokyo and 60 in Kyoto, Nara and Osoka. Leading hotels in major cities have two outlets of 100 and 220 volts but the sockets only accept a two-prong (flat blade) plug.
Hot
Tip:
Contact the Japan Tourist Bureau (JTB) with travel accommodations
and tour questions Email
APOC 2005@jtb.co.jp
Please
complete and return the enclosed registration form and hotel form.
General
questions can be addressed to:
Dr.
Willard B. Bleything
EMail
<bleythiw@pacificu.edu>
Telephone:
+503-352-2170
Fax:
+503-352-2929
