Design Summit/Mitaka/Travel Tips

For some general Japan travel tips and more summit FAQ, please see https://www.openstack.org/summit/tokyo-2015/faq/#Category-5

Electronics Retail Stores
Akihabara has so many electronics retail stores, but there are ones on/near major stations.


 * Bic Camera (ビックカメラ)
 * Yamada Denki (ヤマダ電機)
 * Yodobashi Camera (ヨドバシカメラ) (No English page)

"yes * " = Far from station

Sim Cards
If you're used to picking up a cheap local sim card when you travel, Japan might be a new experience.

As a non-resident, you're basically not allowed to have a voice service. Data-only sim cards are available, but expect to pay USD30-40. However, the speeds are enjoyably fast :)

http://prepaid-data-sim-card.wikia.com/wiki/Japan has all the details you'll ever need.

Options:
 * The simplest way TF has found is the "Japan Travel SIM (by Iijmio)". 1GB/30 days or 2GB/90 days validity options. https://t.iijmio.jp/en/index.html . You can purchase this from the Tokyo Tourist Information centre where they also speak English and Chinese and can give helpful travel advice for your stay in Japan. Just take the JR Yamanote line from Shinagawa Station near the venue to Tokyo Station ( http://www.tictokyo.jp/en/03_access/index.html).
 * http://www.bmobile.ne.jp/english/index.html is also available and can be sent to you at your hotel or the airport post office if preordered.

Taxis
Taxis in Tokyo are very expensive. Especially do not try and take a taxi from Narita Airport to the city, which will cost around USD 200.

Airport transit
The OpenStack Foundation staff has prepared video and pdf based directions for travel from both Tokyo area airports to the conference location. https://www.openstack.org/summit/tokyo-2015/tokyo-and-travel/#hotels

Narita
Video PDF

Haneda
Video PDF

Shuttle Bus
If you don't plan on taking a train from the airport, https://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/ seems to drop off at some of the hotels in the area of the conference centre.

Access
Using JR Shinagawa station is the most popular access method to visit the venue. But check around there with Google Map. There is Takanawadai (高輪台) Station (A-06) of Toei Asakusa Line on the northwest side of it.So, it will be useful if you use some subways below:


 * Toei Asakusa Line (A-01..20)
 * Tokyo Metro Mita Line (I-04..27)

Also, There is a Toei bus line (品93) from JR Meguro station to the venue. Note: you have to push any bell button in buses when you are going to get off the next bus stop.

Google Map is very useful to plan your transit in Tokyo.

Transport
Smart cards for transportation are useful in/around Tokyo, so I recommend you to buy one when you arrived at stations at Haneda Airport or Narita Airport. There are 2 type cards in/around Tokyo: SUICA is by JR EAST and PASMO is by the other trains and buses in Tokyo. But both can be used all trains and buses in/around Tokyo, so you can buy either one.

And... I have to tell you about an important thing. It's a terrible experience to take a train or a bus in weekday mornings in Tokyo. Most trains in Tokyo has lots of passengers at 7:30am-8:50am and JR Shinagawa Station is one of the biggest stations in Tokyo. So, I strongly recommend below:


 * Arrive at Shinagawa Station before 7:30am.
 * Defend your bag in a crowded train/bus, otherwise your laptop in it may be broken.
 * Say "o-ri-ma-su" when it's hard to get off a train or a bus. It means "I get off."

Clothes
A japanese weather forecast says that the temperature will be 13-20 degree Celsius (55.4-68 degree Fahrenheit) on the last weekdays of October in Tokyo. So, people may need a jacket or an overcoat. But don't worry even without suitable ones. There are many clothes stores in/on/near major stations and a small UNIQLO shop is in JR Shinagawa Station.

Food Shopping
Keikyu Shopping Plaza Wing Takanawa East is located on JR/Keikyu Shinagawa Station and it has Keikyu Store (京急ストア) at the B1 floor. It's good to buy various foods, meals, vegitables, drinks, liquors and so on.

Noodles
There are 3 major types of noodles in Japan.


 * Ramen (ラーメン、拉麺)
 * Soba (そば、蕎麦)
 * Udon (うどん、饂飩)

Ramen is one of the most popular foods in Japan now. Also, ramen is getting fans in the US or European countries. If you like ramen, you should go to:
 * Tokyo Tonkotsu Base (TOKYO豚骨BASE)...at the yard of JR Shinagawa Station. IPPUDO produced it.
 * Shinatatsu Ramen (品達ラーメン) .. 3 minutes from JR Shinagawa Station (Takanawa Exit)
 * Tokyo Ramen Street (東京ラーメンストリート) ... 3 minutes from JR Tokyo Station (Yaesu Minami Exit)
 * Tokyo Ramen Show (東京ラーメンショー)…12 minutes from Tokyu Komazawa Station

Soba and Udon are Japanese traditional noodles. Try them when you have an opportunity.
 * Suizan (水山)...at the yard of JR Shinagawa Station; Udon only
 * Marugame Seimen (丸亀製麺)...12 minutes from JR Shinagawa Station (Konan Exit); Udon only

Pharmacy
Shinagawa Prince Hotel has a pharmacy named Tomod's. It has many foreign visitors, so staffs may be able to talk in English.

Useful medicine words in Japanese:

Glasses
There are some optician's shops near Shinagawa:


 * JINS Atre Shinagawa...on Konan exit of JR Shinagawa Station
 * Zoff Remy Gotanda...1 minute from JR Gotanda Station
 * Zoff Atre Meguro...on JR Meguro Station

In Japan, you don't need to visit an eye doctor to buy glasses. Most optician's shop has eye test capability, so just go there and you will get a new glass. The basement price is about JPY 5000-6000 (USD 42-50), but it depends on the frame and lens.

Also, PC glasses are favorite in Japan. They have blue-light filtering capability and decrease eyestrain.

Restrooms
There are 2 types of restrooms In Japan and japanese manner may be different from yours. Two PDFs below describe how to use them in japanese, english, korean, simple chinese and traditional chinese.


 * Europian Style (洋式)
 * Old Japanese Style (和式)

And.... there are some way like below to flush water. Confused? No problem, even Japanese too.


 * Type 1: to push the lever down
 * Type 2: to hold your hand over the sensor
 * Type 3: to press the button to flush the toilet

Find japanese display "流す", "水洗" or "洗浄" for type 2 and 3 if non-japanese display is not found. Don't push "非常" or "SOS" buttons because they are for emergency call.

Souvenirs
Recently, japanese medicinal supplies and electric rice cookers seem the best souvenirs for asian people. I don't know what is your favorite, but I recommend some places to purchase japanese goods.

Department Stores:
 * Daimaru Tokyo Shop (大丸東京店) (location)
 * Ginza Mitsukoshi (銀座三越) (location)
 * Takashimaya Nihonbashi Store (日本橋高島屋) (location)

Misc. goods:
 * Kyu-kyo Dou (鳩居堂) (location) ... Stationeries
 * Kamawanu (かまわぬ) (location) ... Japanese clothes and towels