＊ General Information ＊

　Date : 12-16 May, 2002

　Conference Site : Karuizawa Prince Hotel

Karuizawa, Karuizawa-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano 389-0193, JAPAN

　Homepage : http://square.umin.ac.jp/ivbm2002

　　　　　 　 　 　 http://ivbm2002.umin.ac.jp/

　Passport and Visa :

Foreign visitors entering Japan must have a valid passport. Visitor from certain countries must have a visa issued by a Japanese consulate in his/her country. For further details, please contact your travel agent or the local consular office in your country.

　Customs :

Japanese customs is fairly lenient and allows bringing in items necessary for personal use. Duty-free imports are: 3 bottles of liquor; 400 cigarettes or 100 cigars; 2 ounces of perfume; gifts and souvenir other than the above whose total market value does not exceed JPY200.000. Strictly prohibited are firearms and other types of weapons, and narcotics.

　Insurance :

The organizer cannot accept responsibility for accidents. Delegates are encouraged to obtain travel insurance (medical, personal accident and luggage) in their home country prior to departure.

　Climate :

The temperature in Karuizawa, Nagano during the period of the Congress is around 20℃ (68F).

　Currency Exchange :

Only Japanese yen is acceptable at regular stores and restaurants. Certain foreign currencies and credit cards may be accepted at a limited number of hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops.

As FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE is inconvenient in Karuizawa, foreign delegates are encouraged to buy Japanese yen at foreign exchange banks at the Narita airport or in Tokyo.

　Travelerﾕs Checks and Credit Cards :

The use of travelerﾕs checks in Japan is not as popular as in some other countries. Travelerﾕs checks are accepted only at leading banks and major hotels in principal cities and may not be accepted in Karuizawa.

Visa, MasterCard, American Express are widely accepted at hotels, department stores, shops and restaurants. However, some shops, restaurants, local hotels and stations will not be available for credit card payment.

　Shopping :

Karuizawa Prince Hotel complex includes the Karuizawa Shopping Plaza, an outlet mall, with120 shops and 24 restaurants. Business hours are 10:00 to 18:00. They are open on Sundays and national holidays, but the shops in the East building are closed on Wednesdays and the shops in the West & New West Building are closed on Tuesdays.

　TIPPING :

In Japan, tips are not necessary, even at hotels and restaurants. Instead, at places such as restaurants, bars and hotels, a 10% service charge is usually included in your bill.

　Electrical Appliances :

Japan operates on 100 volts for electrical appliances. The frequency is 50 Hz in eastern Japan including Karuizawa, Nagano and Tokyo and 60 Hz in western Japan including Kyoto and Osaka.