GENERAL INFORMATION
About IRMA VIII
Secretariat
The secretariat will be open in room 157 on the 1st floor of KICH during the following hours:
August 31, Sunday 8:00 - 20:00
September 1, Monday 7:00 - 20:00
September 2, Tuesday 7:00 - 19:00
September 3, Wednesday 7:00 - 19:00
September 4, Thursday 7:00 - 17:00
Tel: 075 - 705 - 1230
Fax: 075 - 705 - 1231
Banks
There will be no banking service available at KICH. Participants are requested to change money in their hotel or a bank. Please note that banks will be closed on Saturday, Aug.30 and Sunday, Aug.31. Banking hours are 9:00 - 15:00 on Monday to Friday. Also, registration and other fees are to be paid in Japanese yen only. Credit cards will be accepted for registration only. Other fees such as for excursions, the accompanying persons' program, lunch, etc. must be paid in cash.
Certification of Attendance
The general information desk in the registration area will issue certificates of attendance. You can get yours right away.
Cloak Room
A cloak room will be located at the KICH entrance. Participants are requested to observe the time limit.
Coffee Breaks
Free coffee, tea and light drinks will be served in the Event Hall Lounge where Poster Presentation and Technical Exhibitions will be held:
September 1 -3 10:00- 11:00, 12:30- 13:30, 15:00- 16:00
Smoking Area
Smoking will be allowed only in the designated smoking areas.
Breakfast and Lunch
Free breakfast and lunch will be served in the Event Hall lounge during the following hours:
Breakfast: September 1 - 4 8:00 - 9:00
Lunch: September 1 - 3 12:30- 13:30
Please note that the number of both breakfasts and lunches we can serve is limited.
First Aid
A first-aid station will be located on the 1st floor of KICH. Please do not hesitate to contact the Secretariat if you have a need for their services.
Lost and Found
Recovered items should be given to the message corner located in the lobby (1F), near the registration area. Should you lose anything, please report to this desk for assistance.
Messages
Should you wish to leave a message for another participant, please go to General Information Desk in the lobby (1F) at KICH, where special forms will be provided for this purpose. There will be neither paging of personal messages over the loudspeakers nor projection on the side screens in the session rooms.
Travel Information Desk
A travel information desk will be set up near the registration area. Concerning the excursions and accompanying persons' program, please contact this desk. As for other information, such as hotel reservations,optional tours, post-congress tours, flight reconfirmation, etc., please contact the JTB booth located in the corner next to the souvenir shops (1F) at KICH.
Photo Souvenir Service
Pictures taken by the official congress photographer will be displayed in the lobby near the registration area, starting Tuesday morning. Copies may be purchased for \ 800 on site.
Press Room
A press room will be set up in room 558 on the 5th floor.
About Japan
Taxes
There will be a value-added tax of 5 percent on all expenditures after April 1, 1997.
Currency Exchange
Only Japanese yen (\) is acceptable at regular stores and restaurants. Some credit cards will be accepted at many hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops. You can exchange money at banks and other authorized money exchangers and hotel cashiers on presentation of your passport. For your reference, $1 = 115 yen (as of August 9, 1997)
Tipping
In Japan, personal tips are not necessary even for hotel porters or taxi drivers. Porters at stations, however, require a standard charge. A 10% charge for all services instead of tips is included in bills at hotels and restaurants.
Shopping
The business hours of most department stores are 10:00 to 19:00. They are open on Sundays and national holidays, but alternately closed on Mondays, Wednesdays or Thursdays. Business hours for retail shops differ, but most operate from 10:00 to 20:00 and are open on Sundays and national holidays.
