Local Info
| Passport and Visas | All foreign visitors entering Japan must have a valid passport. Delegates from countries requiring a visa should apply to the Japanese consular office or diplomatic mission in their country prior to departure. For details, participants should contact their local travel agents or consular offices. |
|---|---|
| Currency Exchange | Only Japanese yen is accepted at regular stores and restaurants. Foreign currency exchange is available at the banks and the hotels on presentation of your passport. Bank business hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. |
| Traveler's Checks and Credit Cards | Traveler's checks are not as popular in Japan as in other countries and are accepted only by banks and major hotels in principal cities. Master Card, Diners Club, Visa, American Express and Diamond Credit are widely accepted at hotels, department stores, shops, restaurants, and nightclubs. |
| Tipping | There is no custom of individual tipping in Japan. Tips are usually included in the bill as a service charge at hotels and formal restaurants. |
| Electricity | Japan operates on 100 volts AC for electrical appliances. The frequency is 60 Hz in western Japan, including Okinawa. There are no columnar-shaped plugs or 3-pin plugs used in Japan, instead plug with two flat parallel prongs is used in Japan. For travelers from outside Japan, it is advisable to bring plug converter/adapter. |
| Insurance | Conference organizers will not accept responsibility for individual, medical, travel or personal insurance, and participants are advised to take out their own insurance policies. |
| Climate | The climate is warm in Okinawa during the period of the conference with the average temperature ranging between 25 to 26 degrees C. |
| Local Time Zones | Japan Standard Time (JST) is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) plus 9 hours. |
| Conference Attire | Attire during the duration of the conference is business casual. |
| Cellular Phones, Pagers and Watch Alarms |
As a courtesy to our speakers and other attendees, please turn off any cellular phones, pagers and watch alarms during sessions. |
| Cameras and Video Tape Recording | Cameras and video tape recorders are strictly prohibited in the sessions, poster presentations and the exhibit area. Film or video will be confiscated. |
| Smoking | All meeting rooms and seated functions are smoke free. Please adhere to the smoking policy of the Okinawa Convention Center. |
[Page Top]