*** "Mapping the Galaxy and Nearby Galaxies" *** *** last-minute information *** 1) Symposium program updated Latest version of the symposium program is updated. Please visit the conference web site. 2) Presentation Both PC projector and OHP are available for oral presentations. Poster presentation has a space of 90cm (width) x 120cm (height). A0-portrait paper is suitable to the space. Note that poster room is available from June 26, so you cannot put on your poster on your arrival day (June 25 or earlier). 3) Weather in Ishigaki At the end of June it will be in the middle of summer and very hot there. The highest temperature will be ~31 centi-degree (~90 deg Fahrenheit) and the lowest will be ~26 degree (~80 deg Fahrenheit). When it is sunny, the UV ray is extremely strong. We advise you to bring items to avoid sunburn, such as hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, long-sleeve shirts etc. 4) Currency exchange We strongly encourage you to have enough cash (JPY) before arriving Ishigaki. Banks in Ishigaki do not provide currency exchange service. Currency exchange can be made at Hotel Nikko Yaeyama, but only US dollars is accepted (no EURO or other currencies). At the central post office in Ishigaki, there are cash dispensers which accept international credit card such as VISA, but it is 20 minutes walk from both Hotel Nikko Yaeyama and Sleep-inn. At Kansai, Narita, and Haneda airports you can find exchange counters and banks. Please be aware of their office hours (9:00am-5:00pm). 5) From Ishigaki airport to your hotels For those arriving at Ishigaki with the package tour flights on June 25, there will be free shuttle bus services from Ishigaki airport to Hotel Nikko Yaeyama / Sleep-inn Ishigaki, which are kindly provided by Ishigaki city -- the whole city is welcoming you ! Departure time at Ishigaki airport is: ~13:00, ~15:10, ~20:00. At the airport exit, you will find a person with the conference poster (the airport is small and you cannot miss it), and then he/she takes you to the bus. Those taking non-package-tour flight can also take the shuttle bus if the departure time fits your schedule. Alternatively, you can take a taxi to your hotel. Please print the hotel-name card at the web site below and show it to the taxi driver. Taxi fee is around 1000 JPY. http://www.ioa.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/galaxy2006/practical/taxicard.gif 6) Welcome reception On June 25, we will have a welcome reception at Hotel Nikko Yaeyama from 18:30 (just a drink and snack). We will also open the registration desk from 17:00 to 21:00. Please make your registration on June 25 (which helps us a lot !) and then join the welcome reception. 7) Commuting from Sleep-inn to Hotel Nikko Yaeyama From June 26 to 30, there will be shuttle bus services by Ishigaki city between Hotel Nikko Yaeyama and Sleep-inn in the morning and evening. Morning bus leaves Sleep-inn 20~30 minutes before morning session starts, and evening bus leaves Hotel Nikko Yaeyama after daily session ends. 8) Internet connection During the symposium, there will be an internet corner next to the conference room. An internet hub and LAN cables are available there. In your rooms at Hotel Nikko Yaeyama, network connection may not be available as the number of rooms equipped with internet is not large. At Sleep-inn internet connection is fully available. 9) Contact LOC cellular phone: 090-3361-1481 (valid from June 25 to July 1, reachable only inside Japan) Looking forward to seeing you in Ishigaki ! LOC e-mail: galaxy2006-loc-ex@ioa.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp URL: http://www.ioa.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/galaxy2006/