Rikkyo University (Tokyo), July 4-7 2017
There are two main airports in Tokyo: Haneda and Narita. Between these
two options, there is an important difference in the planning of the
trip from the airport. While Haneda Airport locates in the city,
Narita Airport is relatively far away. Thus, the Haneda Airport is
connected
to the Tokyo transport system. From Narita Airpot one
needs to take a considerable train or a bus ride. Several
railway companies provide the connection. To reach the
conference venue, the
option Narita
Express (or "N'EX") to Ikebukuro Station is probably the
most convenient (please note that there are two directions
of Narita Express).
"Skyliner"
is the fast train connection to the city center from the airport (to
the station "Nippori" or "Ueno"). From Nippori one can reach Ikebukuro
Station by JR Yamanote line (please note that train grid in Tokyo is
extensive and effective, but may look confusing).
Alternatively one can use
a bus
connection directly to Ikebukuro, but it can be affected
by traffic.
Google maps can be used to obtain actual directions to reach the
Campus. Just ensure searching for "Rikkyo University Ikebukuro Campus,
Toshima, Tokyo" (or just "Rikkyo University Ikebukuro", which is the
required minimum). Here are some useful links on the university webpage.
In addition to Google maps, one can
use this
travel planner (it can also be used to plan your travel
from/to the airport).
To reach the campus, you need to head to the exit C3. If you arrive at the JR Ikebukuro station, you will have to walk through an underground passage for a while. From the exit C3, the campus is very close:
The workshop will take place in "Tachikawa Hall", which is
highlighted in the map.
Also one can use this googlemaps link that points to the correct building.
One does not speak much English in Japan, so using a smartphone for
translation can be useful. The current version of the Google Translate
is very helpful, especially the option of the text recognition with
the camera. Just ensure downloading the English-Japanese dictionary.
The Japanese currency is yen. The current exchange rate is 125 yen for
1 euro and 110 yen for 1 USD. People here are very accurate with
money, and it is very unlikely that someone will try to cheat
you. Also, it is worthy to mention that one doesn't give any tip in
Japan.
One typically uses cash in Japan, so don't rely too much on
credit/debit cards and NFC payments. At the same time, it
might be complicated to find an ATM that accepts foreign
cards. A functional option for foreign cards can be
a post
office or
a 7/11
shop. Of course, in the airport, it should be easy to
find an appropriate ATM.
If you consider some sightseeing in Japan, you can find a lot of
useful information here.
In particular, fast trains in Japan are expensive, but tourists have a
possibility to purchase a 1-, 2-, or 3-week tickets. A price of a
weekly ticket approximately corresponds to the price of a ticket
"Tokyo-Kyoto-Tokyo" on a fast train. You can find information here and here.