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IBMS General Meeting Information
IBMS General Meeting General Meeting of members of the International Bone and Mineral Society. All active members of the International Bone and Mineral Society (IBMS) or members of an IBMS Member Society (JSBMR, SEIOMM and ANZBMS) are invited to attend the biennial IBMS General Meeting of members held on the occasion of the 2nd Joint Meeting of the IBMS and JSBMR, on Saturday 1 June from 9:30 to 10:00 in Portopia Hall, Kobe Portopia Hotel, Kobe, Japan. The purpose of the General Meeting of members is to report on the following: a) IBMS activities undertaken since the last General Meeting of the members (Athens, May 2011) b) Financial status of IBMS c) Forthcoming activities
General Information
Official Language English, except the Japanese Day *The Japanese Day (Thursday, 30 May): Japanese only, no English available Cellular Phones, Pagers, Filming, Taking of Photos and Recording of Sessions Attendees are reminded that mobile phones and pagers should be switched off during sessions and that recording sessions and taking film and photographs during sessions is strictly forbidden. Credit Cards All major hotels and most restaurants and shops accept credit cards. It is advisable to carry an identity card, passport or some other form of photo identification at all times. Currency The official currency of IBMS-JSBMR 2013 is the Japanese Yen. For the latest exchange rates, visit online conversion services such as . Traveler’s checks and credit cards are also widely accepted. A foreign currency exchange service is available at major banks and hotels, and traveler’s checks can be also cashed for Yen on showing your passport. The major banks handling foreign currencies are located in the downtown area of Osaka and are open between 09:00 and 15:00 on weekdays but close on weekends and national holidays. The IBMS-JSBMR 2013 meeting and/or its agents have the right for any reason beyond their control to alter or cancel, without prior notice, the meeting or any of the arrangements, timetables, plans or other items relating directly or indirectly to the meeting. The meeting and/or its agents shall not be liable for any loss, damage, expenditure or inconvenience caused as a result of such alteration or cancellation. Dress Code The dress code of IBMS-JSBMR 2013 is business casual. Please dress casually and according to the weather for tours and sightseeing trips. Electricity The voltage used throughout Japan is 100 volts, A.C which is different from North America (120V), Central Europe (220V) and most regions of the world. There are two kinds of frequencies in use; 50 Hertz in eastern Japan and 60 Hertz in western Japan (including Nagoya, Kyoto, Kobe, and Osaka). There are no columnar-shaped plugs or 3-pin plugs used in Japan; 2-flat-pin plugs are used instead. International attendees are advised to bring their own adapters. Insurance Participants, attendees and guests are encouraged to purchase traveler’s insurance before leaving their home country. Insurance typically covers accidental loss of belongings, medical costs in case of injury or illness and other possible risks of international travel. The meeting organizers will not provide travel insurance. Public Transportation 18 minutes to the Sannomiya area by Port Liner The Kobe Municipal Subway operates in the mid-western area of the city (Nishi-ku, Suma-ku, Nagata-ku, Hyogo-ku and Chuo-ku). Kobe City Bus The Kobe City Bus is a means of municipal transportation and it covers almost all areas of the city (Higashinada, Nada, Sannomiya/Kobe, Maiko, Suma, Nagata, Hokushin, Seishin, etc.) City Loop Bus This bus’s route runs by most of the major tourist spots in the city. It looks like an old trolley. Route: Fare: The Port Liner connects Port Island and Sannomiya and is very convenient for getting around the island. It also connects Kobe Airport and Sannomiya in about 18 minutes. Rokko Arima Ropeway The ropeway connects Arima Onsen Station and Mt. Rokko Sancho Station in 12 minutes. The cable car connects Rokko Cable Shita and Rokko Cable Sanjo in about 10 minutes. Shopping
Weekdays Saturday Sunday and National Holidays Banks 09:00 – 15:00 Closed Closed Post Offices 09:00 – 17:00 Closed Closed Department Stores 10:00 – 19:30 10:00 – 19:30 10:00 – 19:30 Shops 10:00 – 20:00 10:00 – 20:00 10:00 – 20:00 Museums 10:00 – 17:00 10:00 – 17:00 10:00 – 17:00 Offices 9:00 – 17:00 Closed Closed Drugstores, which the Japanese refer to as convenience stores, are open 24-hours per day. Taxes Purchases in Japan are subject to a 5 percent consumer tax. For tourists, many urban shopping districts offer tax-free shops that cater to English-speaking individuals. If you eat at expensive restaurants and stay in top-end accommodation, you will encounter a service charge which varies from 10% to 15%. Time Difference All of Japan is in the same time zone, and is nine hours ahead of GMT. Daylight Saving Time is not observed in Japan. Tipping Tipping at restaurants and in taxis is not required in Japan. However, when traveling in a taxi with luggage, it is customary to leave a tip of approximately JPY 200. Weather The Japanese summer begins in June with temperatures averaging 23 degrees Celsius (73 degrees Fahrenheit) and the potential of rain.
Helpful Websites
Japan Japan National Tourist Organization Trends in Japan Guide to Japan
Kobe Kobe Convention Center Kobe Tourist Guide Kobe Tourist Information Kobe Practical Travel Guide Hyogo Tourism Guide Kansai International Airport
General Japan Weather Information Currency Converter IBMS-JSBMR 2013 Meeting http://www.ibmsonline.org
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