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 G8 Summit was also held at Toyako on the same days in 2008. 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, early July, is comfortable with an average daily temperature range of 16°C to 26°C.
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 your travel agent or local consular offices in your country.
» Currency Bank Service
Foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks and major hotels. Banks are open from 9:00~15:00 from Monday until Friday. Credit cards, like VISA, MASTER, AMEX and Diners are also acceptable in most restaurants and stores. The secretariat will accept only Japanese yen cash.
» Tips
In Japan, tips are not necessary anywhere, including hotels and restaurants.
» Shops
Most department stores and retail shops are open from 10:00~18:30.
» Taxes
There is a value added tax of five percent on all expenditures.
» Electrical Supply
100V, 50Hz in eastern Japan (e.g., Asahikawa, Sapporo, Tokyo) and
100V, 60Hz in western Japan (e.g., Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka)