Osaka is the site of Japan's oldest capital since the 7th century. Although in the 17th century, the political center shifted to Tokyo, called Edo at the time, Osaka continued playing a vital role in managing the nation's economy and distribution of goods, and was therefore named the "kitchen of the nation". It has a population of 8.8 million, or 7% of the entire population, making it the second most populous prefecture after Tokyo. People in Osaka spend a lot of their money on food and drinks. You would expect, therefore, to find a decent concentration of delicacies. There are many local specialties in Osaka, from inexpensive but tasty Kitsune udon (wheat noodles with sweet fried bean curd) to an expensive dish "Tessa & Tecchiri" prepared with globefish. When it comes to landmarks, the park surrounding the castle is known for cherry and plum blossom viewing. Also within the castle grounds are Peace Osaka (Osaka International Peace Center), reminding people of the dignity of peace through valuable WWII documents, and Osaka City Museum, presenting an overview of the city's history. The castle area is a great contrast to the high-rise buildings of the neighboring Osaka Business Park. For shopping and eating, you can visit the place called "Doutonbori" with various kinds of shop stands in a row. OFFICIAL LANGUAGE The official language of the Congress is English. CLIMATE Japan has four distinct seasons. In late November, the weather is quite dry and is starting to get cold after the cool temperature of autumn. The temperature in Osaka during the period of the Congress ranges between 7℃ to 19℃, an average of about 12℃. It is quite cold in the mornings and evenings. You will need a jacket. In the daytime, when sunny, a sweater will keep you warm. PASSPORT AND VISA Every foreign visitor entering Japan must have a valid passport. Visitors from countries whose citizens must have visas should apply in person to the Japanese Embassy or consulate, usually in their country. For further information, please contact the Japanese Embassy in your country. Invitation Letters will be made by the secretariat if needed. For visa application to go smoothly, we advise you to request for the Invitation Letter at least 2 months prior to your visit. CURRENCY EXCHANGE The unit of Japanese currency is "yen" (symbol ￥). Coins are available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 yen, and bank notes of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000 yen. You can buy yen at foreign exchange banks and other authorized money exchangers upon presentation of your passport. TRAVELERS CHECKS AND CREDIT CARDS Travelers Checks are accepted by leading banks, hotels, ryokan (Japanese inns) and stores in major cities. The use of Travelers Checks is not so popular as in some countries. American Express, VISA, Diners Club and MasterCard are widely accepted at hotels, department stores, shops and restaurants. CONSUMPTION TAX A 5% consumption tax is added to all purchases. TIPPING Tipping is not necessary anywhere, even at hotels and restaurants. ELECTRICITY Japan operates on 100 volts for electrical appliances. The frequency is 50Hz in eastern Japan and 60Hz in western Japan including Osaka, Nagoya and Kyoto. There are no columnar-shaped plugs or 3-pin plugs used in Japan but 2-flat-pin plugs are used instead. BUSINESS HOURS Banks Post Offices Dept. Stores Shops Museums Weekdays 9:00-15:00 9:00-17:00 10:00-19:30 10:00-20:00 10:00-17:00 Saturdays closed closed 10:00-19:30 10:00-20:00 10:00-17:00 Sun. and National Holidays closed closed 10:00-19:30 10:00-20:00 10:00-17:00 EMERGENCIES There are two different numbers to dial in an emergency, which are 110 for the police and 119 to report a fire or to call an ambulance. The hotel front desk or hotel manager can arrange for doctors or ambulances. DRINKING WATER Tap water is safe to drink anywhere in Japan. Mineral water including major imported brands can be easily purchased in supermarkets, convenience stores and other similar places.