Practical Information

Yamagata has a population of about 250,000, so it rarely feels overcrowded. It is basically a farming area, with almost no heavy industry. Unlike in Tokyo, foreigners in the city represent less than 1% of the population. As a consequence of this, signs and information in English are a little sparse, but things are improving, helped in part by the biennial Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival.

In early September it’s likely to be warm during the daytime (around 25-27°C), but cooling off in the evening (around 16-18°C). But there’s still a risk of catching the last of the typhoons, with a 50-50 chance of a dry day, and relatively high humidity after it rains. Of course, if you take one of the fieldtrips into the mountains the air temperature will be much cooler, so you might want to bring some warmer clothes.

You can check out the local weather at http://www.weathercity.com/jp/yamagata/

For those of you wishing to know about basic amenities such as banks, hospitals etc, why not take a look at the following website.

http://www.pref.yamagata.jp/ou/bunkakankyo/050001/kokusai/guidebook/guide.html

Most of you will arrive in Japan by airplane via Narita Airport. The airport is situated in Chiba Prefecture, so first you will need to transfer to Tokyo using the ‘Narita Express’ (N’EX). The Airport has two stations; Narita Airport (Airport Terminal 1) and Airport Terminal 2. Please check out the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) website at http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/nex/

Click on the ‘Narita Airport’ button to see which terminal your airline is associated with. The journey from Narita Airport to Tokyo Station is 53 minutes.

Note: When traveling back to Narita Airport on the N’EX after the conference has finished, please be sure to get off at Narita Airport (Terminal 1 or 2). Do not get off at the station called ‘Narita’ as this is the stop for the town not the Airport.

The N’EX arrives at the Sobu Line underground platform (Basement Level 5) at Tokyo Station (a map of Tokyo Station can be downloaded here, pdf), so you will need to ride the escalators to the main floor (elevators are also available). When you arrive at the main floor you need to follow the signs to the Shinkansen trains (these are the bullet trains). The trains to Yamagata leave from platforms 20-23.

The Yamagata bullet train is called the ‘Tsubasa’. At Tokyo it will be attached to the larger ‘Yamabiko’ train (which goes to Sendai). Please make sure you board the ‘Tsubasa’ not the ‘Yamabiko’, because at Fukushima Station the two trains will separate and go in different directions. Also, please be careful, as Yamagata Station may not be the last stop (i.e. the train may continue to Shinjo, a city further north).

When the train arrives at Yamagata Station you will be able to see the conference venue, Yamagata Terrsa, on the left. Use the escalators or elevators to reach the ticket gate (see map below).

For most of the day on 5^th September there will be several students (with a INA13 placard) waiting outside the ticket gate. They will help you find your hotel.

JR East Pass

We strongly recommend that all participants using the rail system acquire a JR East Pass (Flexible 4-day), since this is the cheapest option (open only to foreigners). The Flexible 4-day Pass currently costs 20,000 yen (or 16,000 yen for those less than 26 years old), and allows you to use the Pass on 4 consecutive or non-consecutive days. In addition to covering your travel to Yamagata (and back to Narita Airport), it will also cover any other JR East train journeys in eastern Japan that you may wish to make – for instance, those wishing to participate in either the Yamadera mid-conference excursion or the Boso Peninsula post-conference excursion (from Yamagata to Chiba).

Note 1: Without a JR East Pass you will have to pay the full amount. For instance (based on current rates), 5880 yen from Narita Airport to Tokyo (one way) + 11, 030 yen from Tokyo to Yamagata (one way, no seat reservation).

Note 2: Holders of a JR East Pass cannot pass through the automatic ticket gates. You must go through a staff-attended gate.

Please check out the JR East Pass website http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/eastpass/index.html for more information. The JR East Pass pamphlet can be downloaded from here (pdf).

For more information about the train system, please check out the JR East Home Page

http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/index.html

For those of you wishing to explore the Yamagata region during your stay here, why not take a look at the following website.

http://www.yamagatakanko.com/english/

Safflower, Cherry, Japanese Serow, Mandarin Duck, Cherry Trout