General Information

Information on Asahikawa

Asahikawa, surrounded by the beautiful nature of the Daisetsu Mountain Range and known for the largest national park in Japan, is located in Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan. The city is the second-largest city in Hokkaido Prefecture.
Asahikawa is particularly well-known for Asahiyama Zoo, which attracts over 2.5-million visitors every year from Japan and all over the world. With its unique interactive viewing facilities, you will be surprised to find lively penguins, polar bears, orangutans and other animals in natural surroundings.
The symposium will be held in July, the best season for tourists. The Furano area is covered with beautiful lavender flowers and the rolling hills of Biei resemble a colorful patchwork. Sounkyo Canyon and Asahidake are also ideal places for trekking and hot springs (onsen). Asahikawa is a great food center where marine products from the three seas of Hokkaido as well as agricultural and livestock products from all over Hokkaido can be found. You can sample them on 3.6 Street (Sanroku-dohri), the largest entertainment area in Northern Hokkaido, where a special brand of local sake (rice wine) is brewed with pure water from an underground spring at Mt. Daisetsu.
Asahikawa warmly welcomes everyone to the Symposium!

Climate and Clothing

The weather during the symposium period, end of July is comfortable with an average daily temperature range of 15.9-25.8℃. Dress will be informal for all Symposium events.

Passport and Visa

Every foreign visitor entering Japan must possess a valid passport. Visitors from countries requiring visas should apply to a Japanese consular office or the diplomatic mission in their countries. For further details, please contact our travel agent or local consular offices in your country.

Currency Bank Service

Foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks and major hotels. For online and onsite registration, only credit card payment is acceptable and the payment should be made in Japanese yen.

Tips

In Japan, tips are not necessary anywhere, including hotels and restaurants.

Shops

Most department stores and retail shop are open 10:00~18:30.

Electrical Supply

100V, 50Hz in eastern Japan (e.g., Asahikawa, Sapporo, Tokyo) and 100V, 60Hz in western Japan (e.g., Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka)