Venue and Local Information

Welcome to Nara

Nara, city of World Heritage is one of the most historically- important cities in Japan. It was the location of the capital of Japan in ancient times, 710-784 A.D. Many important designated Cultural Assets and National Treasures can be found there, as well as temples, shrines, statues, carvings and paintings. In Nara Park, nature and history are beautifully preserved as they are, which include Todai-ji Temple, Koufuku-ji Temple, and Kasuga Grand Shrine. Nara park is also famous for its hundreds of tame deer that roam freely.

Information on Nara and Kyoto

Nara http://www.pref.nara.jp/nara_e/index.html

Kyoto http://raku.city.kyoto.jp/sight_e.phtml

General Information for Tourist to Japan http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/

Weather

http://www.jwa.or.jp/fcst/00305e.html

Access to Nara & Keihanna-Plaza

Transportation to Nara from abroad is shown in the following diagram. The most convenient means of transportation is to take a direct flight to the Kansai International Airport (KIX). From there, the simplest route to Keihanna-Plaza is by the Airport Limousine Bus, which takes approximately 80 minutes to arrive at Keihanna-Plaza or at Nara Station (Kintetsu and JR lines). This costs JPY 1,800 one way, per person. Buses depart from stop No.9 and are scheduled to depart approximately once every 60 minutes. Should there be any inquiries regarding access to Nara, please ask at the Information Desk at the airport on the first floor in front of the arrivals area.

• Limousine bus time table

If you use trains from Kansai airport or from Narita airport (Tokyo area), please look at hotel information to reach your hotel from train stations.

It is recommended that participants planning to travel around in Japan purchase a Japan Rail Pass. This pass encompasses all JR trains including the Bullet train (Shinkansen) and the Narita Express. Please note that this pass must be purchased prior to arrival since it can not be purchased in Japan. The price for a 7-day pass is about JPY 30,000.

Access Diagrams

Venue

Keihanna-Plaza, the Venue of Profes2004

Keihanna-Plaza, is a core building of Kansai Science City, having laboratory rooms, conference hall, restaurants, and a hotel. For detail, visit Keihanna-Plaza's site Information for Transportations From/To Shin-Hosono Station (JR/Kintetus Line) From/To Gakuen-Mae Station (Kintetsu Line) Arranged Transportation Timetable

Around Conference Site

Kansai Science City is an innovative cultural capital nestled in the hills between Kyoto, Osaka and Nara. Many research institutions including RD centers of major companies are located in the district of Kansai.

A memorial park and a Japanese garden are in walking distance of the conference venue. The famous cherry blossom can be experienced here and trips to nearby Nara downtown will be arranged.

Reception at Cherry Blossom Garden of CSK Okawa Center

Conference reception will be held at CSK Okawa Center*. Okawa Center is built in the big garden (approx. 2000m²) with hundreds of cherry trees.

You will enjoy the nice view of cherry blossom garden lighten up in the night. Pre-conference excursion's bus will finally arrive to Okawa Center.

*In April 2001 CSK Corporation and the Okawa Foundation for Information and Telecommunications established the Okawa Center research facility in the Keihanna Kansai Science City. CSK Group's founder, the late Isao Okawa sought to encourage children to draw on their boundless creativity to establish an advanced information society that would narrow the differences which are causing strife in the world. His vision is taking practical shape at the Okawa Center for Future Children, currently under construction at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Media Laboratory and at the Okawa Center in Japan. The Okawa Center in Japan is providing children the opportunity to experience various channels of expression and communication through its CAMP activities. At the same time it will serve as a facility for Internet and Information & Communication Technology (ICT) studies, allowing children from around the world to communicate freely with each other. See also http://www.mew.co.jp/Ebox/archijirei/okawa.html for its excellent architecture.

Photo Album

A Sunny Spring Day (Photos by Hajimu Iida)