The 9th GEWEX Open Science Conference will take place from 7 – 12 July 2024 at:
Within the vicinity of the meeting venue, there are many types of accommodations available, including the venue itself.
For your convenience, we have selected a number of accommodations in the vicinity of the meeting location where you can book your stay between July 2 and 14. For information and to book your stay, go to https://sankeikaigai.jp/gewex_osc2024/
Or you can of course use your own preferred booking method or look at for example AirBnB and VRBO options to find suitable accommodation.
By Air
New Chitose Airport serves an important role as the gateway to Hokkaido and is located approximately 45 kilometers from the Sapporo city center.
To travel from New Chitose Airport to the meeting venue in Sapporo you can go by:
Train
The fastest way to travel from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo and the Keio Plaza Hotel is to take train to Sapporo Station. The Chitose Line will take you in about 37 minutes from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo Station which is just a 5-minute walk from the meeting venue.
For more information about JR Hokkaido Rail, tickets & rail passes, departure times and an overview of the different rail lines click here.
Airport Shuttle Bus
Operated by Chuo Bus and Hokuto Kotsu. Click here for the busstop and time schedule to go directly to Keio Plaza hotel which will take about 90 min.
Another and faster option (65 min.) is to take the Airport Shuttle Bus to Sapporo Station which is about a 6 min. walk from Keio Plaza. Additional information about the Airport Shuttle Bus can be found at counters in the Domestic Terminal Building.
Rental Car
The Keio Plaza hotel has a multi-story, drive-in parking garage that accommodates 300 vehicles. The garage is directly connected to the hotel and easily accessible in any weather. Unlike with automated parking, drivers can pick up their cars themselves. To enter the parking garage, take the road on the east side of the hotel. For the current parking fees contact the hotel.
You can find a list of rental car companies with counters at the New Chitose airport here.
Get on Hokkaido Jukan Expressway/Hokkaido Expressway in Heiwa from Route 130 and Route 1091
12 min (8.7 km),br>Continue on Hokkaido Jukan Expressway/Hokkaido Expressway to Sapporo City North 33 East. Take exit Sapporo-kita IC from Sasson Expressway
32 min (45.9 km)
Take Higashi 3-chome and Nishi 5-chome, Tarukawa-dori to Kita 5-jo, Teine-dori in 7-chome
16 min (5.1 km)
Taxi
Tourist taxis and large taxis are available at the information desk in the arrival hall. There are taxi stands in two locations outside the domestic terminal exits and at one location outside the international terminal exit. The trip from New Chitose Airport to JR Sapporo Station takes around 60 minutes by taxi. Note that a separate expressway fee is required on top of the taxi fare. Some taxi companies also offer a fixed-price service to Sapporo city, a booking and separate expressway fee are required.
Sapporo Okadama Airport is located within the Sapporo city. Hokkaido Air System (HAC) currently operates routes that connect Sapporo with Hakodate, Kushiro, Rishiri, and Misawa. In addition, Fuji Dream Airlines offers flights between Shizuoka,Matsumoto and Sapporo (summer time only). The airport is about a 20-minute drive from central Sapporo. Bus and subway access is good and the airport is convenient for fast transit.
By Car
The Keio Plaza hotel has a multi-story, drive-in parking garage that accommodates 300 vehicles. The garage is directly connected to the hotel and easily accessible in any weather. Unlike with automated parking, drivers can pick up their cars themselves. To enter the parking garage, take the road on the east side of the hotel. For the current parking fees contact the hotel. Click here for directions.
By Subway
For traveling around Sapporo the first options is the subway which is open between 6:00 and 24:00 hrs. The Sapporo Subway has three lines: the Namboku Line which runs north-to-south through the city and is color-coded green, the Tozai Line which runs east-to-west through the city and is color-coded orange, and the Toho Line which follows a more irregular north-south route on the city’s east side and is color-coded blue. The Namboku and Toho Lines connect at Sapporo Station, a 5-minute walk from the meeting venue, while all three lines meet at Odori Station in the city center.
By Train
In Hokkaido the train system is operated by JR Hokkaido Rail. Sapporo Station is just a 5-minute walk from the Keio Plaza Hotel.
For more information about JR Hokkaido Rail, tickets & rail passes, departure times and an overview of the different rail lines click here.
Visa
Any foreign visitor entering Japan must have a valid passport for the duration of their stay, and all visitors must comply with the conditions of their visas.
For visa information for a stay of up to 90 days for tourism, business, visiting friends or relatives, etc. that does not include remunerative activities, visit https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html.
An overview of countries that are visa exempt can be found here. If you have any other questions or concerns, send a message to support_gewex@ec-mice.com
| Ambulance or Fire Truck: | Phone 119 | In case of injury, sudden illness or fires. Calls are toll free. |
| Police: | Phone 110 | In case of traffic accidents and crimes. |
| Emergency Relief Center Sapporo: | Phone #7119 or 011-272-7119 | A 24-hour telephone health hotline. |
| Pharmacy: | Click for an overview | Overview and contact information of pharmacies near Keio Plaza Hotel. |
| Sapporo Citizen Contact Center: | Phone 011-222-4894 | Call center that can accommodate foreign languages when having a problem during your travels |
| Sapporo Higashi Tokushukai Hospital | Phone 011-722-1110 | Hospital that accepts foreign nationals during nighttime hours and on holidays, call in advance |
| Natural disasters | When you are in your hotel, follow instructions of staff. | When you are outdoors, either return to hotel or go to nearest evacuation shelter. |
For additional information go to https://www.sapporo.travel/en/info/about/in-case-of-emergency/
The Sapporo area was settled by the indigenous Ainu people, beginning over 15,000 years ago. Sapporo, capital of the mountainous northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, is the northern-most city designated by government ordinance. It has the 5th largest population in Japan and is famous for its beer, skiing and annual Sapporo Snow Festival featuring enormous ice sculptures.
The city offers a comfortable summertime weather, which is dry and often can be windy with an average temperature ranging from of 76°F (24°C) to a low of 60°F (16°C). There is no rainy season and the climate is not affected by Typhoons.
In July, there are a lot of events and activities in Sapporo including walking and bus tours, festivals, foods, and cultural escapes. Some of the many attractions and events in Sapporo are:
Hokkaido’s unique culture has evolved in harmony with its dynamic natural environment, which is characterized by comfortable summer weather in the northern fringe of the East Asian summer monsoon and abundant snowfall during the winter monsoon. GEWEX-OSC 2024 in Sapporo offers a variety of tour opportunities during and after the conference to enhance your understanding of Hokkaido’s culture. The tours listed below are exclusively available for GEWEX-OSC attendees and their guest(s). Reservations must be made directly at the travel agency, except for the Technical Tour “Establishment of Hokkaido: Water Management in the Past and Future”, which is hosted by the Local Organizing Committee.
Technical Tour “Establishment of Hokkaido: Water Management in the Past and Future”
Date: July 13, 2024
Price: 5,000 JPY per person, including lunch
Group size: min. 40 – max. 80
This tour is specially designed for GEWEX scientists and is hosted by the Local Organizing Committee. The tour aims to embody the conference theme of “Water・Climate” and Anthropocene by exploring dynamic natural zones, farms, and infrastructure facilities along the river. Participants will learn about the practical application of scientific knowledge to societal adaptation to climate change.
Set against the backdrop of a beautiful park where nature and art seamlessly intertwine, lunch features Japanese cuisine, meticulously prepared by a chef, using Hokkaido’s world-famous seasonal ingredients. A comfortable tour bus takes you to the various sights and will be accompanied by an English-speaking guide.
For additional information, including itinerary and registration go to: https://www.gewexevents.org/technical-tour-osc2024/
Sapporo & Ishikari River Bicycle Tour (half a day)
Date: daily 13:00 – 17:00 hrs. from 8–12 July, 2024
Price: JPY 5,000, includes bike rental
Capacity: up to 12 persons
Reservations: https://ttlink.co.jp/gewex/lp/en/
Lets enjoy an afternoon exploring the beautiful scenery of Sapporo by bicycle, a zero-emission means of transportation. This half-day tour takes you on a bike ride of approximately 30 km around Sapporo and part of the Ishikari River. We will make a stop at Royce’ Cacao & Chocolate Town, and satisfy your sweet tooth. Make sure to bring friends and family.
Historical city Otaru & fruit picking (1 day)
Date: July 9th, 2024 (9:00-18:00)
Price: 17,000JPY per person
Group size: min. 15 – max. 30
Reservations: https://forms.gle/etyW6tdDoPggGBdcA
Enjoy learning about the history of Hokkaido by visiting “sake” breweries, old canals, and old fisherman’s houses in the historical city of Otaru. Another fun activity is to visit Niki-Town, a cherry-growing area, to pick fruit and taste fresh cherries. A comfortable tour bus takes you to the various sights and will be accompanied by an English-speaking guide.
National Ainu Museum & Horse Ranch (1 day)
Visit the National Ainu Museum and learn about the history and culture of the indigenous people of Hokkaido. Then, relax at a sprawling horse ranch and finally visit a unique aquarium dedicated to Hokkaido’s iconic fish, the salmon. A comfortable tour bus takes you to the various sights and will be accompanied by an English-speaking guide.
Date: July 11th, 2024 (9:00-18:00)
Price: 17,000JPY per person
Group size: min. 15– max. 30
Reservations: https://forms.gle/yH8hnnaWYc18BF7H9
Eastern Hokkaido Great Nature & Adventure (3 days)
This tour features dynamic volcanic terrain, vast wetlands and unique coastal terrain in the national parks of the Eastern Hokkaido. Activities during this tour include biking and kayaking. This tour is accompanied by a support vehicle, in order to adjust kayaking and bicycling distances according to the participants’ fitness level. E-bikes are also available. An English speaking guide is present throughout the tour and local guides are present at the various locations to supervise the activities.
Date: July 13th-15th, 2024
Price 230,000JPY per person (double occupancy)
Group size: min. 8 – max. 10
Single occupancy surcharge 20,000JPY
Reservations: https://forms.gle/2rn16M6KwrQW4dH48
Southern Hokkaido History & Mystery (4 days)
Date: July 13th-16th, 2024
Price 230,000JPY per person (double occupancy)
Group size: min. 10 – max. 20
Single occupancy surcharge 40,000JPY
Reservations: https://forms.gle/2LXvbx4xRRGRCyv26
This tour focuses on the unique historical mysteries of southern Hokkaido. The tour begins at the World Heritage Site of the Jomon Period and follows the route through the ages to the present day. The tour will take you to spots of high historical value, such as a castle from the Samurai period and the ruins of the war that led to the end of the Samurai period. Also worth seeing is Hakodate’s dramatic nightscape. The tour will be led by an English speaking guide and local guides will be present at the different locations to tell you stories about that specific region.
For additional information about Sapporo and an overview of attractions and events visit https://www.sapporo.travel/en/
All attendees and participants are expected to conduct themselves with integrity and in a manner that is professional, respectful, tolerant and responsible. A zero-tolerance approach will be applied to any form of discrimination or harassment, including but not limited to sexual harassment and bullying.
Discrimination is any unfair treatment or arbitrary distinction based on a person’s race, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, age, language, social origin or other status. Discrimination may be an isolated event affecting one person or a group of persons similarly situated or may manifest itself through harassment or abuse of authority.
Harassment is any improper and unwelcome conduct that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offense or humiliation to another person because of inter alia, an individual’s gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, ethnicity, national origin, age, or religion. Bullying is unwelcome, aggressive behavior involving the use of influence, threat, intimidation, or coercion to dominate others in the professional environment.’
Harassment or bullying may take the form of words, gestures or actions which tend to annoy, alarm, abuse, demean, intimidate, belittle, humiliate or embarrass another or which create intimidating, hostile or offensive professional environment.
Sexual harassment is a specific type of prohibited conduct. It is any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment may be any conduct of a verbal, including via electronic or telephonic means, nonverbal or physical in nature and may occur between persons of the opposite or same sex.
In the event that a participant of this conference, feels that an issue has arisen regarding disrespectful treatment, harassment bullying or discrimination, regardless of whether it rises to the level of breach of this conduct, the member or event participant is encouraged to discuss it in confidence, with anyone in the list below, as appropriate:
or send a message to contact@gewexevents.org with your contact information and a short description of the issue.
In the event of a clear or perceived breach of the code of conduct, it may be reported in writing to the Director of the International GEWEX Project Office, or the Chair(s) of the GEWEX SSG. Once this is received, a GEWEX SSG member will be appointed as point of contact, who will first discuss with the complainant on how they wish to proceed.
All reports and allegations of breaches to this code of conduct will be handled sensitively and in confidence. The immediate priority will be to protect the privacy of the person(s) exposed to the breach of conduct and the need for further action will be assessed carefully on a case-by-case basis.
The organizers cannot accept liability for personal accident, loss, or damage to private property, which may be incurred as a result of participation in the 9th GEWEX Open Science Converence or organized tours . Participants are, therefore, advised to arrange appropriate insurance coverage.
The organizing committee will not accept liability for damages of any nature sustained by participants or loss of or damage to their personal property as a result of any event.
