Venue
Conference location: Yokohama Media and Communication Center
(横浜情報文化センター)
Yokohama, that now-a-days can be accessed from Tokyo within an hour by train, was the first port to open up to the World in 1859 after more than two centuries of the government’s isolation policy. Since its opening, it has been the international gateway of the Country towards the World until recently, following the change in the means of transportation. Although it is now-a-days considered as one of the satellite cities that compose the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan area, it still keeps the nostalgic atmosphere of the good-old-days with historical buildings and monuments standing here and there. The Conference is planned to be held at Yokohama Media and Communication Center, a historical building built in the 1920s situated in the heart of the port-town Yokohama.
Reception
- Fisherman's Market. Located inside Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse
- 11 mins walk from the conference location.
Banquet
- Hotel New Grand.
- 9 mins walk from the conference location.
Transportation
Travelling to Yokohama
The Greater Tokyo Metropolitan area is served by the following two international airports:
HND: Haneda, Tokyo International Airport
Located 20 km away from the venue. Mostly served by domestic (49 destinations) and short-haul international flights (17 destinations). Some long-haul flights (2 Asian, 7 American, 4 European, and 4 Oceanian destinations) are also available.
- Taxi (30m, 50–60 USD)
Share-ride services such as Uber and Grab are not available in Japan. -
Airport Limousine Bus (30m–50m, 5–6 USD)
Direct access to major hotels and touristic sites available (19 trips per day). Direct access to/from venue is also possible at “Osanbashi” bus stop. More frequent service (60 trips per day) is available via YCAT (Yokohama City Air Terminal), next to Yokohama main station. -
Keihin-Kyuko Train (25m, 4 USD)
Direct train ride to Yokohama main station. May encounter congestion during rush hours.
NRT: Narita International Airport
Located 100 km away from the venue. Mostly served by international flights (58 Asian, 20 American, 16 European, 13 Oceanian, and 2 African destinations). Some domestic flights to major cities (19 destinations).
- Taxi (1h 30m, 210–250 USD)
Share-ride services such as Uber and Grab are not available in Japan. -
Airport Limousine Bus (1h 30m–2h 10m, 30 USD)
Direct access to major hotels in the area available (16 trips per day). See "Accomodations" for details. More frequent service (52 trips per day) is available via YCAT (Yokohama City Air Terminal), next to Yokohama main station. -
JR "Narita Express" Train (1h 30m, 35 USD)
Comfortable train ride to/from Yokohama main station (22 trips per day). All seats require reservations. -
JR Rapid Train (2h 00m, 16 USD)
Direct train ride on a commuter train to/from Yokohama main station (19 trips per day). May encounter congestion during rush hours. -
Local Private Trains (2h 00m, 12 USD)
Recommended only for challengers and locals. Requires one or two transits through Keisei, Tokyo Toei Metro Asakusa, and Keihin-Kyuko lines to Yokohama main station. May encounter congestion during rush hours.
Those who wish to travel inside the Country before/after the Conference, can also consider taking the Shinkansen (Bullet train) from the following two stations:
Shin-Yokohama Station
Located 10 km away from the venue. All Shinkansen trains to/from the West (Tokaido and Sanyo) stop at this station.
- Taxi (25m, 25 USD)
Share-ride services such as Uber and Grab are not available in Japan. -
JR Negishi + Yokohama lines (20m, 2 USD)
Direct train ride from JR Kannai station to Shin-Yokohama station. Some trains require transfer at Higashi-Kanagawa station. Through-fare Shinkansen tickets can be booked and bought at JR Kannai station. May encounter congestion during rush hours. -
Yokohama Metro Blue line (20m, 2USD)
Direct metro ride from Metro Kannai station to Shin-Yokohama station. May encounter congestion during rush hours.
Tokyo Main Station
Located 40 km away from the venue. All Shinkansen trains to the North (Tohoku, Hokkaido, Akita, Yamagata, Joetsu, Nagano, and Hokuriku) depart from this station.
- Taxi (45m–1h30m, 90–100 USD)
Share-ride services such as Uber and Grab are not available in Japan. -
JR Negishi + Keihin-Tohoku line (45m, 5 USD)
Direct train ride from JR Kannai station to Tokyo main station. Through-fare Shinkansen tickets can be booked and bought at JR Kannai station.
Moving inside Yokohama
Local trains are the most convenient means of travelling in downtown Yokohama. Two stations closest to the venue are Nihon-Odori station on the Minato-Mirai line, and Kannai stations of the JR Negishi line and the Yokohama Metro Blue line. All three lines go through Yokohama main station where trains to/from HND and NRT airports depart/arrive and also close to YCAT (Yokohama City Air Terminal) where Airport Limousine buses depart/arrive.
Buses run in a denser network in the area with a fixed price of 2USD, but could be difficult to use for foreign visitors.
Places of interest
Accommodations
Various hotels are available within walking distance from the venue. Please book either yourself (for example through online booking services such as Rakuten Travel) or through our travel agent from the online registration page.
The following hotels offer Airport Limousine Buse services to/from the corresponding hotels from/to Haneda [NHD] and/or Narita [NRT] airports.
- The Royal Park Hotel [HND, NRT]
- Yokohama Royal Park Hotel [HND, NRT]
- The Yokohama Bay Hotel Tokyu [HND, NRT]
- InterContinental Yokohama Grand [HND, NRT]
- Hotel New Grand [NRT]
VISA to Japan
Depending on the attendee’s nationality, a VISA may be required to enter Japan. However, currently (as of July 1, 2017) VISA exemption arrangements are made with 68 countries and regions for a stay shorter than 90 days (15 or 30 days for certain countries). See this for further information.
ICMR2018 organizers will provide official letters of invitation to persons who have completed registration and for which payment has been received.
General information
Cash dispensers
JapanPost Bank, Seven Bank, and Prestia (former Citibank Japan) provide international ATM services (cash dispenser). Some other banks offer international ATM services at selected locations. UnionPay is also accepted by other major banks such as MUFG, Mizuho, and Sumitomo-Mitsui banks (except for newly issued cards without magnetic stripes). See some ATM locations that provide international cashing service in the map above.
Currency exchange
See some banks that provide foreign exchange service in the map above.
IC transportation cards
Most trains, metros, buses accept common IC transportation cards. It could be bought at train/metro stations and bus depots with the initial cost of 4USD (refunded upon returning the card). It could be charged at ticket vending machines (only) in train/metro stations. Since it is cheaper and also very convenient, we recommend the attendees to get one of them. The major cards in the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan area are the following two:
- Suica: Sold at JR stations
- PASMO: Sold at private line / metro stations
Time zone
GMT +9. Daylight saving time is not used in Japan.
AC sockets (Outlets)
Physical type: A (identical to the type in North America), 100 V, 50 Hz in Yokohama.
Printing
We will not provide printing services, but Kinko's is located a few blocks away from the Conference venue. Please find its location in the map above.
Language
Japanese. English is understood at most stores and restaurants in Yokohama. Chinese is also spoken in some areas of the city around Chinatown.
Credit cards / Checks
Major stores and restaurants in the city accept credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, UnionPay, American Express, Diners Club, and JCB. However, obtaining cash beforehand is recommended because some local stores do not accept credit cards. Alipay is accepted at some shops and restaurants. Checks are not accepted at most places.
Weather
Average high temperature in June is +25°C (+77°F), and low temperature is +19°C (+66°F). Since June is the rainy season in this area, there are twelve rainy days in a month on average.
