The 5th MSJ-SI
Mathematical Society of Japan
Seasonal Institute

Schubert Calculus


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Getting started
Culcure
Traveling basics
Access to OCU
Useful maps
Emergency contact
Internet, tel, etc
KKC (hotel)
OCU GuestHouse

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Getting to Osaka City University

  • From Kansai International Airport (KIX) to OCU area:

    At the Kansai international airport (KIX), you will come out of the International Arrivals level once you clear immigration, get your baggage, and clear customs.

    DO NOT take a taxi. Kansai International Airport is very far from OCU and you will pay an arm and a leg if you take a taxi.

    If you haven't already obtained some Japanese yen (JPY), now is the time to do so. There should be ATMs in the area right as you come out of customs. Most ATMs in Japan don't accept foreign cards, but certainly the ones at the Kansai airport do accept them, so get your cash now! Another option are the currency exchange booths, which open at 06:00. You won't need small change to get on the train; the ticket vending machines will give you change for even large bills (such as a 10,000 JPY bill). The vending machines do NOT accept credit cards!!! (See "Culture" section regarding the Japanese preference for cash and the lack of credit cards and ATMs.) Note that you will be receiving your travel reimbursements (if any) in CASH (see "Financial Matters" section below).

    You will walk across a pedestrian walkway connecting the airport to the JR station. (There will signs for the train station; follow these.) Once you get to the train station, you will see that there are two train companies operating; one is private, and the other is the Japan Rail ("JR") system. You want to take the JR system.

    There are automated vending machines selling tickets, on your left as you walk into the vending area from the airport. Again, there are ticket machines for the private company and for the JR system; use the JR ticket machines. You want to purchase a ticket that will take you from Kansai International Airport ("Kansai Kuko") to Sugimoto-cho station, which is a small station en route to Tennoji (a slightly bigger station). (Note that what you'll actually be doing is to take the Rapid/Express ``Kanku Kaisoku'' train from KIX to Sakai-shi Station, and then transferring to a Local train that will take you to Sugimoto-cho Station, but this isn't relevant for purchasing the ticket.) Train tickets in Japan are sold according to the distance you travel, so be careful to pay the right amount. It should be 860 JPY.

    Whatever you do, DO NOT take the ``Haruka'' express train.

    If you are finding the automated vending machines difficult to navigate, another option is to purchase your ticket directly from a JR station agent. You will find agents if you go into the JR station office through the glass doors (which are to your right if you are facing the automated ticket machines). The agents should be able to speak enough English to help you. Tell them you need to take the Rapid/Express Kanku Kaisoku to Sakai-shi Station ("Sakai-shi Eki"), and then transfer to the Local train to Sugimoto-cho Station ("Sugimoto-cho Eki") to the Osaka City University ("Osaka Shidai") area.

    Once you purchase your ticket, walk across to the JR Railway entrance, and put your ticket through the feeder. Make sure to take and keep your ticket as it emerges from the feeder. Go down the stairs to the train platforms and get on the next Kanku Kaisoku (there are other trains that stop there, so be careful to get on the right one) going towards Sakai-shi, Tennoji. In particular, do NOT take the ``Haruka" train if you see one, and do NOT take any ``Local'' train that leaves from the airport. Haruka will take you to downtown Shin-Osaka (which is not what you want), and some ``Local'' trains do NOT go all the way to Sugimoto-cho Station . Since KIX is on an island, trains leaving from KIX only go in one direction, you do not need to worry about orienting yourself in that way.


    On the Kaisoku (Rapid/local express), you will get to Sakai-shi station from KIX in about 40 minutes. Get off at Sakai-shi and stay on the same platform. You are not transferring from one train line to another! The Kanku Kaisoku ("Rapid/Local Express" Train) only stops at certain major stations; now you need to transfer to a Futsu ("Local") train that stops at all stations, but you are going along the same route. Watch the signs above the platform to determine whether the next train that is stopping at this platform is a Rapid or a Local. Often, a ``Rapid'' train, which is different from the Kanku Kaisoku, will pass through the same platform before a ``Local'' (``Futsu'') train, so please pay attenion! (On the electronic signboard, the next train that is stopping is always listed first; the train listed second is the train after that. See also the "Traveling basics" section of this website.) Get on the next Local train and get off after two stops at Sugimoto-cho station.

    When coming out of Sugimoto-cho station, there are two staircases. Use the one to your right (when you face the staircases). As you come down the stairs you will see and pass a bicycle parking lot, and in a moment you will find yourself at a small street. You should immediately see, to your right, the train tracks. Take a right and walk along this street, crossing the train tracks. The Guest House and KKC (Kansai Kenshu Centre) will be about a 10- to 15-minute walk from Sugimoto-cho station, and all you need to do is walk along this street, going straight. You will pass the campus of Osaka City University, e.g. the main entrance of Osaka City University, on your right as you walk. After passing one traffic light (keep going straight), you will pass 2 big OCU lecture halls on your right. When you pass the lecture halls and are walking past a somewhat large empty lot, then you are close to the Guest House. If you are staying at the Guest House, take a right on the next small street, and the Guest House is the first building on your right. There will be a small sign on the left side as you face the building that indicates that it is the Guest House. If you are staying at the KKC, keep walking straight until you get to the second traffic light. There is a small sign on your right at that street intersection for the KKC. Take a right on this street; the KKC is the first (big) official-looking building on your right. Here is a webpage where you can see what the KKC looks like from the outside.

    NOTE: We will let you know before your arrival whether you are staying at KKC or the OCU Guest House.

    Here is a Osaka City University campus map. The Guest House is building number 25 and the JR (Japan Rail) Sugimoto-cho station is clearly indicated on the right-hand side of the map. Unfortunately the KKC is not indicated here, but it is on the next street after the Guest House.

    NOTE: There is no front desk at the Guest House. If you are staying there, prior arrangements will be made for your arrival. There is a front desk for check-in at KKC, so you should have no problems.

  • From Shin-Osaka JR Station to OCU area:

    From the Shin-Osaka JR station, if you are coming out of the Shinkansen area, you will be looking for signs that say "Subway." Follow these signs. You will eventually come down a flight of steps and find yourself in the ticket-vending area of the subway. Even if you have a JR Pass, you will have to buy a ticket to get on the subway, since the Osaka subway is a separate system (run by the city of Osaka), NOT covered by the JR pass. (See also the ``Traveling basics'' section of this website.)

    Here is a map of the Osaka subway system.

    You need to get on the ("red") Midosuji subway line, going in the direction of Tennoji, Nanba, and/or Abiko. You will be getting on at the Shin-Osaka subway station, which is station number M13, and getting off at Abiko station (M27). The subway announcements will announce both the station name and the station number.

    Once at Abiko station, come out of Exit Number 4. As you come out, you should be standing next to a "99 Shop" supermarket. The Kansai Kenshu Centre is actually one of FOUR such ``AOTS Centres'' distributed around Japan. You may therefore see signs for ``AOTS'' instead of ``Kansai Kenshu Centre.'' It takes about 10-15 minutes to walk from Exit Number 4 of Abiko subway station to the AOTS Kansai Kenshu Centre.

    Here is a rough map of the OCU area, which indicates Exit Number 4 of Abiko Station and shows you how to walk to AOTS Kansai Kenshu Centre. WARNING: the side streets that are indicated are very small -- almost alleyways -- by north American standards. There are very few sidewalks to speak of, but cars, bicycles, and mopeds do come by (and one is meant to be mindful of them) so please be careful. The symbol that looks like a swastika is a Buddhist symbol and indicates a Buddhist temple.