Travel Information
Weather | Attire | Meals | Venue Access | Transportation | Visa | Scholarships
Weather
Travelers to Kyoto in late October can expect crisp, pleasant autumn weather with sunny days, cool evenings and trees and foliage turning orange, red and yellow. Daytime temperatures will be in the high teens (17-19 C or 66-72 F) with nights dropping to around 10 to 13 C (50-55 F). It’s the perfect weather for exploring Kyoto.
Attire
During the event sessions, the expected dress code is business casual. If you will be traveling around the city in the evening, we suggest wearing comfortable shoes and to bring a light jacket and hat.
Meals
Networking Dinner Reception
Join us for an experience filled with Kyoto hospitality, local cuisine, and lively conversations. It’s a great opportunity to relax, eat and meet new people. Please note that due to limited seating, this dinner reception is only open to registered participants only. Alcohol can be purchased separately. No refunds for cancellations.
Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Time: 17:00 to 19:30 (JST)
Location: TBD
Capacity: 25 participants (registrants only)
Restrictions: No smoking. Alcohol is separate.
RSVP: Required
Ticket Price: ¥3500* (free for the first 10 registrants)
Kyoto Bento Lunch
During the main conference day on Thursday, October 29, 2026, all registered participants will receive a unique Kyoto bento box lunch. This special box lunch includes Kyoto cuisine made with locally produced foods, including meat, fish, rice and an assortment of fresh vegetables. Let us know if you have any dietary restrictions.
Date: Thursday, October 29, 2026
Time: 11:30 to 12:30 (JST)
Location: Kyoto Research Park
Beverages: Green Tea, Water
Bento Price: Free (registered participants only)
Venue Access
From JR Kyoto Station to the Kyoto Research Park (KRP)
By Taxi: 10 minutes (¥1000~¥1500)
By Train: JR San-in (Sagano) line (¥150)
Kyoto Station to Tambaguchi Station
Take the JR San-in (Sagano) line (Local), which is color-coded as the purple line. This route takes less than 5 minutes and only costs 150 JPY.
The main exit at Tambaguchi Station connects to a pedestrian path that leads directly to Kyoto Research Park (KRP). The distance between the station and KRP is short. Simply, take the main road and turn left at ‘MOS Burger’ and you will see KRP on the left side. Go to ‘Kyoto Research Building #1’
Flying to Japan?
Kansai International Airport
Thought once inconceivable, it is now possible to visit Japan without stepping foot in Tokyo at all. Kansai International Airport (KIX) serves the western area of Japan housing the tourist-magnet city of Kyoto and the urban powerhouse of Osaka, along with the deeply spiritual ground of nearby Nara prefecture.
Though there are no direct trains between Kyoto and Haneda Airport, it is very easy to make a transfer in Tokyo. From Haneda Airport you can take the Keikyu Airport Line’s Rapid Limited Express train to Tokyo’s Shinagawa Station. From there, you can take a shinkansen (bullet train) directly Kyoto. Times vary, but normally this journey takes less than 3 hours. When traveling from Haneda Airport, we recommend taking the Keikyu Airport Line’s Rapid Limited Express train. This will get you to Shinagawa Station in 16 minutes for just 410 yen. At Shinagawa Station you can then transfer to the shinkansen (bullet train).
It is possible to fly from Narita International Airport to Kansai International Airport, but this risks missing connecting flights or waiting for many hours in the terminal. The preferred alternative for many Kyoto bound travelers is simply to take the train. While there are no direct trains from Narita International Airport to Kyoto, you can take the Narita Express line directly to either Shinagawa Station or Tokyo Station and then connect to the shinkansen to Kyoto. The Narita Express is the fastest way of getting into the capital, it only takes approximately an hour and it’s covered by your JR Pass (3,020 yen if you don’t have one). Traveling via Shinagawa Station can be quicker as it’s a much smaller station than Tokyo (which saves you time when changing trains).
Getting Around Kyoto
Kyoto Trains
The city is served by six train lines. While some of these are intended for intercity commuting, they all can be used to get around the city. For details on Kyoto’s train system, see the Kyoto Trains page.
Kyoto Subways
The city has two subway lines that are the best way to move north-south and east-west in the city. For details on Kyoto’s subway system, see the Kyoto Subways page.
Kyoto’s Bus System
It is incredibly extensive: you can get almost anywhere by bus if you know where to board and which bus to board. However, most travelers find the train and subway systems to be faster and easier to use.
Kyoto Taxis
Taxis are plentiful and reasonably priced in Kyoto. And when you have three or four people, they can be a good value. They also allow you to cover a lot of ground fast and they can be used to connect areas that aren’t well served by public transport (for example,
Cycling Kyoto
The city regularly appears on lists of the world’s best bicycle cities and for good reason: it’s a great place to explore by bicycle. It’s flat, the weather is usually good for cycling, and drivers are relatively sane.
Invitation Letters
If you are from a country without a visa exemption, then you will need an invitation letter when applying for visa permission to travel to the USA, which can be prepared for registered presenters and audience on a case-by-case basis by the event organizer. Foreign nationals entering the United States must have valid visas unless they qualify for travel under the Visa Waiver Program. For further details about traveling to the US, please consult the US State Dept Bureau of Consular Affairs
Scholarships, Funding & Waivers
- Is a discount registration rate available for students? Yes. Through a generous grant, the registration fees for students and postdoctoral fellows / researchers is available. The discount is reflected in the reduced rates as shown on the Registration page.
- Is travel funding such as airfare and accommodation available? No. Participants lacking the financial means to attend in-person or lacking university support should apply for virtual participation.
- Can the registration fee be waived for participants from low income countries? Yes. The organizers will offer a limited number of registration fee waivers for virtual presenters who hold citizenship from a country on this World Bank List. An accepted submission is necessary.