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Workshop on

Axiomatic set theory and its applications

Travel Information

Travel inside Japan

The most convenient international airport for coming to Kyoto (and also for the whole Kansai region including Osaka and Kobe) is Kansai International Airport (KIX).

The fastest connection from Kansai International Airport to Kyoto is by JR train: take the Haruka express train bound for JR Kyoto station. Trains depart every 30 minutes, and the journey takes about 75 minutes. The fare is 3,370 yen with seat reservation.

Alternatively, but still on the JR line, you can take the Kanku Rapid (Kanku Kaisoku) train to Osaka and change there to the Special Rapid Service (Shinkaisoku) for Kyoto. This is a bit more complicated, more time-consuming (about 2 hours), but much cheaper (1,840 yen).

There are also limousine buses running from Kansai airport to Kyoto.

NB:

  • There are two train stations at Kansai Airport: the JR station and the Nankai station. For going to Kyoto, JR is much more convenient.
  • Train tickets in Japan always have to be kept till the end of the trip. They are needed for getting out of the train system, and then disappear automatically in the exit gate. Thus, if you need proof of your trip for later refund, please insist on obtaining a separate receipt when buying the ticket.
  • Express trains in Japan (= trains for which seat reservation is possible), like the Shinkansen superexpress or the Haruka express (see above) etc., have cars with reserved seats and cars with non-reserved seats. This is simple if you buy a ticket with seat reservation (shiteiseki) because the ticket says the car number. If you have a ticket without seat reservation, make sure you get on one of the cars with non-reserved seats (jiyuseki).

    • For train schedules in Japan look at: Japan Transit Planner.

    How to get to RIMS (and transport in Kyoto)

    Here is access information of the Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences (RIMS), including a map showing the exact location of the institute. The most convenient way to get to RIMS from either JR Kyoto station or from downtown Kyoto is by city bus No. 17 bound for Ginkakuji/Kinrin Shako-mae. At JR Kyoto station take this bus on platform A2 of the bus terminal. If you are staying in downtown Kyoto (the Shijo - Sanjo, Kawaramachi - Karasuma area), you should take this bus either from Shijo Kawaramachi bus stop or from Kawaramachi Sanjo bus stop. Get off at either Kyodai Nogakubu-mae bus stop or Kitashirakawa bus stop and walk to RIMS. The bus fare is 230 yen.

    NB:

    1. Lately, we have had heavy traffic jam around Kawaramachi. If you will stay around Kawaramachi and you would like to arrive at RIMS without delay, it is better to use Keihan Main train line. You get on Gion-Shijo or Sanjo on the Keihan Main line and get off Demachiyanagi. It takes about twenty minutes walk from Demachiyanagi to RIMS.
    2. There are other bus companies operating in Kyoto, like Kyoto bus, Keihan bus, Hankyu bus etc. Do not mix city bus No. 17 with bus No. 17 of other bus lines.
    3. In Japan, one usually enters the bus at the back and exits in front next to the driver. One pays the driver when getting off. If you don't have exact change, coins and 1000 yen bills can be changed at the machine next to the driver.

    Here are some webpages with information on public transport in Kyoto.

    If you have time and leisure when going back to downtown from RIMS, you may also walk down along the Kamo river instead of taking public transport.

    Accomodation

    We reccommend using booking.com and airbnb.
    There is a special exhibition of "Swords of Kyoto" at Kyoto National Museum on November. Japanese Swords are so popular that it will be difficult to find hotel around Kyoto National Museum.

    Miscellanea

    Please be aware that credit card acceptance is much lower in Japan than in many other countries. For example, many small restaurants do not accept credit cards. Similarly for many shops. Hotels mostly do accept credit cards, but may charge more or require cash payment for special discount rates.

    There is no tipping in Japan, neither for taxis, nor in restaurants.

    Japanese electric current is 100 V. Most North American appliances will work reasonably well on Japanese current. Plugs are also identical to North-American plugs.

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