IAPTC 2001 CONFERENCE

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

ü      Location:  All the meetings will take place at the United Nations University Centre (53-70 Jingumae, 5-chome, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan).  The IAPTC meetings (22nd and 24th October) will be held in the Elizabeth Rose Conference Hall (5th Floor) and the IAPTC/UN Day Conference (23rd October) in the U Thant Conference Hall (3rd Floor).

 

ü      Dates: 22nd to 24th October 2001.

 

ü      Directions: Once you leave customs and enter the arrival lobby at Narita International Airport, you will see in front of you several customer-service counters. These will include the ABC counter and Kuroneko (Black Cat) service counters (luggage delivery services), the Airport Limousine Bus counter where you purchase tickets for the bus to downtown Tokyo, the Keisei Skyliner ticket counter and JR information counters where you can purchase train tickets to Tokyo.  You will find good signs in English to guide you through the airport.  If in doubt, don’t hesitate to ask any airport official – if they don’t speak English, they will find someone who does.

 

Exit to the left out of the customs doors and about 30 meters down the hall to your left you will find the Tourist Information Center and a bank.  As this bank is not always open, you are advised to change money INSIDE the customs area.  Further down the main hall, you will see signs and escalators down to the basement levels where you can catch a train to Tokyo Station. For the Airport Limousine Bus you don’t have to take the escalators – the stop is right outside the main exit doors.

 

The ticket counter staff and the information desk staff should be able to help you in English.  If you need further assistance in English, you can call the JR East Info Line at 03-3423-0111, Monday through Friday, 10am to 6pm or you can simply call Ms. Yoshie Sawada at 03-5467-1263, (Monday through Friday, 9:30am to 5:30pm).  This is a long distance phone call from Narita Airport.  You will need ¥100 for a 10 minutes call to Tokyo.  However, we recommend buying a telephone card rather than using coins when making the phone call.  These are available at most of the shops in the airport and at the Kiosk on the train platforms.

 

Participants should make their own transportation arrangements from Tokyo International Airport (Narita) to the hotel.  Tokyo International Airport is located at Narita, about 65 km away from downtown Tokyo.  For trips to and from Narita, taxis are very expensive (approximately ¥30,000) and are not recommended.  Unless you are picked up from the airport by your embassy or some other persons, the following three economical and convenient ways are recommended:

 

(a)              Take the airport limousine bus to Tokyo City Air Terminal (TCAT), the subway to Shibuya Station and then walk to the hotel.

 

·        Runs every 10-15 minutes everyday.

·        The fare from the Airport to Tokyo City Air Terminal (TCAT) is  ¥2,900 (about US$25). It takes about 90 minutes from Narita Airport to TCAT.

·        From TCAT take a subway (Eidan Hanzomon Line) at SUITENGUMAE Station to SHIBUYA Station.  This train takes 21 to 25 minutes and the fare is ¥190. At Shibuya Station, please make sure that you take the Exit 9.  From Shibuya Station, you can walk to the hotel.

 

(b)             Take the Narita Express (N’EX) train to TOKYO station, the train to SHIBUYA Station and then walk to the hotel.

·        Runs from 7:43 to 21:43 everyday.

·        The fare from the Airport to Tokyo Station is ¥2,940. It takes about 55 minutes from Narita Airport to Tokyo Station.

·        The N’EX runs about every half hour and all seats are reserved. Your ticket will indicate, in order from left to right, the Car Number, Row Number and Seat Number. If the train you want has no seats available, you will be asked to wait and take the next available train.

·        Take another train from TOKYO Station to SHIBUYA Station: Once you arrived at Tokyo station, follow the signs (with a light green color stripe) for JR/Yamanote line.  The train takes 21-22 minutes to Shibuya and the ticket will cost ¥190.  At Shibuya Station, please make sure you take the SOUTH Exit.  This train runs at an interval of 3-5 minutes depending on the time of the day.

 

(c)              Take the Keisei Skyliner to UENO Station, Ginza line to SHIBUYA Station and then walk to the hotel.

 

·        The fare from Narita Airport to Ueno Station is ¥1,920.  It takes about 60 minutes to Ueno Station, and all seats are reserved. Buy your ticket at the counter in the airport arrival lobby.

·        From UENO Station to take the Ginza line subway to SHIBUYA Station. Once you arrive on the platform at Ueno station, look for English signs (an orange circle) for the exit towards Ginza line.  Exit the ticket gates and follow the sign through the underground passage (about 3 minutes), which will lead you directly to the Ginza line ticket gate. The ride to Shibuya Station costs ¥190 and will take about 27-29 minutes (with Shibuya being the last station).

·        When you leave the train, go to the “South Entrance” exit. Outside the ticket gates you will see a green clock.  Go right to the “East Exit.”

 

 

Note: Whenever you travel by train in Japan, you must keep your ticket all the way to your destination and insert it at the destination exit gate. If you lose your ticket you will be charged the entire fee again. Most trains and subways stop shortly after midnight.

 

·        To the United Nations University: The University is located between Omote-Sando and Shibuya subway stations.  It is a very big, pyramid shaped granite building—you cannot miss it when walking eastwards (up the hill) on Aoyama-dori from Shibuya station.  It is opposite Aoyama Gakuin University.

 

ü      Transportation: Participants are advised to use local transportation (subway and taxi) while attending the conference. Tokyo has one of the best and most efficient railway services.  The trains serve virtually all parts of the city.  While all signs will be marked in English and Japanese, the subway may be a bit daunting for those who have not visited Tokyo before.  It is advisable to purchase a map of Tokyo subway/railway system at the airport.  Taxis are convenient if you are going to short distances, but they are expensive.

 

ü      Banking Information: can be provided upon request. Exchange rate: 1 US dollar = about ¥120.

 

ü      Payment Mode: Cash is the common method of payment in Japan. Credit cards issued in Japan will also be accepted at most of the restaurants, and department stores.

 

Travelers’ cheques or foreign currency can be exchanged in most banks.  There is a Mitsui-Sumitomo Bank located in B1, and a Dai-Inchi Bank in the first floor of the Oval Building (next to UN House).

 

ü      Grocery Store: Kinokuniya—an international supermarket along the street to Omote-sando Station.

 

ü      Convenience Store: There is an AM/PM in the Oval Building (1F), that is next to UN House to the left as you exit from the building. There are several other convenience stores within a 5-minute radius by foot.

 

ü      Fax Service (domestic and international), Stationary Shop, and Post Office: Oval Building 1F

 

ü      Bookstore: Aoyama Book Center—B1 in the building behind UN House

 

ü      International Phone Calls: can be made from public telephone booths.  There are either gray or green. The green telephone has a gold face.  There is one public phone in the lobby of the UN House from which you can make international calls.  Public phones accept pre-paid telephone cards or Yen 10 coins and Yen 100 coins for international calls. Some public telephones also accept payment by credit cards.

 

To call overseas, deal 001 0r 0041 or 0061, then the country code, area code, and telephone number.

 

ü      Internet Service: Limited access to the Internet will be provided. 

 

ü      Medical Facilities: For minor out-patient requirements or any medical emergencies, King Clinic is the closest.  However, it is recommendable that each participant carry an updated medical insurance that is applicable outside their home countries.

 

ü      Drug stores:

There are a few drug stores along the streets on Omote-sando and Shibuya stations. You may wish to ask any member of the Conference Organizing Committee to assist you should you face difficulties in communicating with pharmacists.

 

ü      Clinic:

 

·        Hirahata Clinic—Dr. Hirahata (he speaks English)

Doctor’s Building 6F (towards Shibuya Station)

1-24-5 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Tel: 03-3400-3288

 

·        King Clinic-Dr. King (he speaks English)

Tel: 03-3409-0764 (towards Omotesando)

 

ü      Eating Places: The UN House is conveniently located in Shibuya, a lively section of Tokyo with numerous restaurants offering Western and Asian cuisine within short walking distances.  Tipping is not accepted.

 

ü      Clothes: normal office/working clothes (e.g., coat & tie, uniform class A) will be worn during all the meetings.  

 

ü      Weather: During the month of October, mild (averages between 14-20C or 58-69F) and wet weather is usually expected.

 

ü      Facilities Inside the UN House: 

 

·        Public phone in the lobby

·        Vending machines on 6F

·        Library on 2F (Monday-Friday, 9:30-13:00, 14:00-17:30)

·        Smoking is prohibited in the UN House, except for designated area on the 5th Floor

·        UN House is a restricted access building. If you need to visit rooms other than those designated for IAPTC conference you must be accompanied by your host.

 

ü      Registration for the Conference: participants are requested to register for the conference at the UN House on 22 October 2001 prior to 9:30 a.m. on the 2F. Note that there is no conference registration fee.

 

ü      Additional Information: will be provided on arrival at the conference.  In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, or would like additional information in regard to your accommodation arrangement, or on the conference, please feel free to contact IAPTC 2001 Conference Organizing Committee at Tel: +81-3-5467-1263 (Yoshie Sawada), 5467-1299 (Albrecht Schnabel), 5467-1248 (Wafula Okumu); Fax: +81-3-3406-7347; or E-mail: IAPTC2001@hq.unu.edu