Combinatorial set theory and forcing theory

Depending on what country you are coming from you may need a visa for entering Japan. Here is visa information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Participants who are unsure whether they need a visa should contact the organizer. If you do need a visa, please contact us as early as possible because we need to fill out some forms and mail them to you.

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). Here is a list of airlines flying into Kansai Airport. And here is KIX's flight network, a map of cities which have direct connections to Kansai Airport.

If you arrive at another international airport, try to get a connecting flight to either Kansai Airport or Osaka-Itami Airport (ITM) or even Kobe Airport (UKB). If you cannot get a connecting flight, take the Shinkansen (bullet train) to JR Kyoto station (see below).

Here are some webpages where you can find train schedules in Japan.

• Norikae-Annai (Train Route Finder)
• HYPERDIA-timetable
• JR odekake net (Japanese only)
• JR-West (West Japan Railway Company)

NB: 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 below) etc., have cars with reserved seats and cars with non-reserved seats. This is simple if you buy a ticket with seat reservation 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).

The most convenient 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 3,690 yen with seat reservation and 2,980 yen without (as of March 2008).

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 (1,830 yen).

NB: There are two train stations at Kansai Airport: the JR station and the Nankai station. Please make sure you go to the JR station.

Here is access information of Kansai International Airport. Some more webpages:

• Train connections from Kansai Airport (with timetable)
• Bus connections from Kansai Airport

Some airport shuttle services:

• MK Taxi Skygateshuttle (KIX or ITM <--> Kyoto, KIX <--> Kobe)
• YASAKA TAXI Kansai Airport Shuttle (KIX <--> Kyoto)

NB: Both shuttle services require a reservation.

If you arrive at Osaka-Itami Airport, the most convenient way to go to Kyoto is by bus (click here for the timetable). If you arrive at Kobe Airport, first take the Port Liner (see also here) to Sannomiya Station and then the JR train (special rapid service = Shinkaisoku) to JR Kyoto.

To get back to the airport, use the same algorithm backwards.

Workshop hotel, SUPER HOTEL KYOTO/SHIJO KAWARAMACHI, is in Shijo Kawaramachi. Here is a map of the hotel. Here is information how to get to Shijo Kawaramachi from Kyoto station.

The most convenient way to get to Shijo Kawaramachi from Kyoto station is by city bus. Here is a map of Kyoto Station Bus Terminal. Many bus stop at Shijo Kawaramachi. Maybe, the most convenient city bus is No. 5. The bus stop is (A1) in the map. The bus fare is 220 yen.

NB: There are other bus companies operating in Kyoto, like Kyoto bus, Keihan bus, Hankyu bus etc. Do not mix city bus No. 5 with bus No. 5 of other bus lines.

NB: Kyoto station and Shijo Kawaramachi have many different bus stops. Please take care when you take on buses.

A taxi is also convenient, but it is expensive. Taxi drivers are not tipped in Japan. (Neither are waiters in restaurants etc.)

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

• Public transport in Kyoto (city bus and subway)
• Map of the city bus system
• Subway Map

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.

The most convenient way to get to Rakuyu Kaikan from Shijo Kawaramachi is by city bus No. 201 or 31. Here is a map of bus stops. The bus fare is 220 yen.

NB: There are other bus companies operating in Kyoto, like Kyoto bus, Keihan bus, Hankyu bus etc. Do not mix city bus No. 201 with bus No. 201 of other bus lines.