Directions from major Japanese airports and train stations: Access maps
VISA
Please email cmb-lss@yukawa.kyoto-u.ac.jp if you need a letter for visa application.
Accommodation
April is the peak season for tourism in Kyoto. We strongly suggest you book your hotel well in advance. For hotel reservation, we recommend using popular booking websites, many of which allow free cancellation. There are some options near campus (see accommodations). If you would like to stay near downtown, we suggest hotels within walking distance from Kawaramachi Sanjo, which is approximately a 30 minute commute by bus.
If you requested YITP housing during registration, we will inform you of the availability in late February. Due to the limited availability, we will not be able to satisfy all requests.
Practical Information
The Japanese Yen is the currency of Japan. The currency code for Yen is JPY, and the currency symbol is ¥. As of January 2023, 1 Euro/USD is roughly 130 JPY, but the rate is rapidly changing in recent months.
Even though credit cards are becoming common, Japan remains a cash-based society. Many small shops and restaurants do not accept credit cards. You can exchange money at the airports or withdraw cash at ATMs in convenient stores such as Lawson, 7-11, and Family Mart. They exist everywhere in Kyoto. It is also useful to know that almost all Japanese convenience stores have bathrooms − a great convenience for tourists.
The train system in Japan is extremely reliable with good English signage. It is punctual and its typical systematic error is less than a minute (talking about systematics!).
For local transportation, we recommend purchasing a prepaid transportation IC card such as Suica or Pasmo, available at airports and train stations. They can be used for bus and train, as well as in some cafes and convenient stores.
Throughout Japan, an emergency phone call can be made free of charge from any phone including public pay phones:
Ambulance - Dial 119
Fire - Dial 119
Police - Dial 110
Cosmologists’ Guide to Japan
Finally, if you would like to do some sightseeing, take a look at the Cosmologists’ Guide to Japan, kindly compiled by the Kavli IPMU CMB group members.
