We look forward to your participation at the 2011 Japan-America Frontiers of Engineering Symposium, to be held June 6-8, 2011, in Osaka, Japan.

Meeting Format
The symposium runs from Monday morning through Wednesday lunch. In order to achieve the objectives of the program, we ask that you attend all sessions of the entire symposium. This meeting is unlike other meetings you may attend where it is possible to pick and choose the sessions in which you wish to participate. In addition to showing consideration toward all the speakers, who have worked hard preparing for this meeting, you will reap the maximum benefit from the symposium by participating fully in both the formal sessions and informal events over the course of the 2-1/2 day meeting. There is a welcome reception/registration on Sunday evening at the Nakanoshima Center Building, RIHGA Royal NCB.

Posters
In addition to the technical talks given at the symposium, attendees will have an opportunity to present their work in an afternoon poster session on Monday, June 6. These posters will be displayed throughout the meeting and provide an opportunity for every participant to share information about his/her work. The material presented can be on posters, but could also include – particularly for those from industry – videos, demonstrations of devices, etc. Please let us know in advance if you plan to use any sort of device and need a table. Unfortunately, NAE does not have funding available to cover the cost of poster production. If this is a factor, the information can be presented on individual sheets of paper. Velcro tape will be provided for affixing posters to the display boards.  Display board dimensions are H:  210 cm (6.9 feet) x W: 90 cm (3 feet).  

Tours
On Tuesday afternoon there will be a walking tour of Osaka and a Naniwa Exploration Cruise. 

Location
The meeting will be held at the RIHGA Royal NCB (Nakanoshima Center Building), Osaka, Japan. 

Nakanoshima Center Building
6-2-27,  Nakanoshima
Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0005, Japan
T:  +81 6 6443-2251 

It is served by Kansai International Airport (KIX).  

Click here for a walking map between the hotel and RIHGA Royal NCB.

Click here for a map of the RIHGA Royal NCB showing locations of meeting events.

Travel Information for US Participants
Participants are expected to attend the entire meeting, which runs from Monday morning through Wednesday lunch. There is a welcome reception on the evening of Sunday, June 5. As a result, you will want to take a flight that departs the U.S. on Saturday, June 4 and arrives in Japan at the latest on Sunday afternoon/evening, June 5. Please note: Return to the U.S. may be scheduled for late Wednesday, June 8, or Thursday, June 9.

Hotel

RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka
5-3-68 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku
Osaka 530-0005 Japan 
T: +81 (0)6-6448-1121
E: room@rihga.co.jp

Lodging costs for check-in on Sunday, June 5 through check-out on Thursday, June 9 (four nights) will be direct-billed to our hosts. There is nothing you need to do in this regard except to indicate on the travel form how many nights you will need a room. If you plan to arrive earlier or stay later than the above check-in and check-out dates, please so indicate on the form. We can reserve your room for extra days, but you will be responsible for those additional lodging costs. 

Ground Transportation between KIX and the RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka
You have two options for transportation upon arrival in Osaka:

1. Train + hotel shuttle/cab. You can take the JR West Kansai Airport Rapid Service (Don't take the Nankai Line) from the airport to Osaka (not Shin-Osaka) Station. From Osaka Station, you can catch the hotel shuttle that runs between Osaka Station and the hotel (see map to shuttle bus stop), or take a cab to the hotel.

All trains depart from Kansai Airport Station, located across the street from the airport arrivals lobby on the first floor. Click here for the JR West Kansai Airport timetable. The train takes approximately 65 minutes and costs 1,160 yen.

2. Airport limousine bus + cab. Another option is to take an airport limousine bus to Herbis Osaka, adjacent to the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Osaka. From there take a cab to the RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka.

The bus departs from bus stop #5 on the first floor outside the International Arrivals floor of the terminal. Click here for the bus timetable. Tickets can be purchased from the ticket vending machines located outside the passenger terminal building. The fare is 1,500 yen (2,700 yen round trip) and the ride to Herbis Osaka takes approximately 65 minutes. 

From Herbis Osaka, the cab ride to the RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka will take about 10 minutes and cost approximately 1,000 yen.

Return to KIX
If you are departing on Wednesday, allow at least 2 hours travel time and 2 hours for airport check in. As the symposium ends at noon, book your return flight no earlier than 4 p.m.

JR Timetables: 
JR West timetable (Osaka -> KIX) on June 8
JR West timetable (Osaka -> KIX) on June 9

Limousine Bus: Click here for information if you plan to use the airport limousine for transportation back to KIX. Please note that an advance reservation is not necessary but passengers may board only if seating is available. 

Payment for Ground Transportation
We recommend that participants  have enough Yen in cash to cover fares for ground transportation.  At the airport, if you buy a train ticket at the ticket counter, they will accept credit cards, but the vending machines might not. The same is true for the airport limousine.  Many airport taxis accept credit cards, but the card reader may not work.

Passport and Visa Information
Take a moment to be sure that your passport is up to date for travel to Japan. If you hold a U.S. passport, a visa is not necessary for business trips of less than 90 days. If you hold a passport from another country, you can check the website at www.mofa.go.jp or call the nearest Japanese consulate to see whether you need a visa. For a visa application, you need to submit the request for an invitation letter to the Engineering Academy of Japan before Friday, April 22.