The Awaji Island (595 km² area) is positioned roughly in the center of the Japanese archipelago and connected to the main island of Honshu by the world's longest suspension bridge, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge (3,911 m long). Another suspension bridge, the Onaruto Bridge (1,629 m long) is also built across the Naruto Strait between the Shikoku Island and the Awaji Island. The Naruto Strait is famous for large-scale whirlpools which are caused by the difference in the ebb and flow of the tides from the Seto Island Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The Awaji Island is also well known as a mythological and cultural place: it is the first island in Japan created by Gods (Izanagi and Izanami) according to ancient Japanese mythology, and the birthplace of the Awaji Puppet Theater which is a traditional folk art with a history of over 500 years. The puppets have high artistic quality and one puppet is manipulated by three puppeteers dressed in black. The Awaji Island is conveniently located about 90 min by limousine bus from the Kansai International Airport. The weather in late May is mild and average temperatures are max 23 °C and min. 16 °C.

    The conference venue is "Awaji Yumebutai International Conference Center" at the Awaji Island. The site of Awaji Yumebutai was developed for taking up earth and sand to build artificial islands in the Osaka Bay such as the Kansai International Airport, and then a group of facilities (botanical garden, observation terrace, open-air theater, harbor, etc.) were constructed along with planting saplings which match the flora of the Awaji Island. The Awaji Yumebutai International Center is one of the facilities and connected to "The Westin Awaji Island" by a private corridor based on the concept of combination resort and conference center. You will agree that it has excellent conference and relaxation facilities.

    There are several ways to get to the Awaji Yumebutai International Conference Center and The Westin Awaji Island from abroad. The detailed access maps and guides are available on the websites of the Awaji Yumebutai International Conference Center and The Westin Awaji Island. Here, we summarize how to reach the conference venue from the three airports in the Kansai area, which are Osaka International Airport (ITM), Kansai International Airport (KIX), and Kobe Airport (UKB). A better option would be to move from the airports to Sannomiya and then transfer to an expressway bus bound for Higashiura Bus Terminal. The bus stop at the Awaji Yumebutai International Conference Center and The Westin Awaji Island is named as Awaji Yumebutai mae. Staffs of FOA10 will be present at the Sannomiya Bus Terminal (M-INT KOBE) from 11 am to 5 pm on May 23 (SUN) and will direct you to the expressway buses.

    Please click on the links below to view the directions from the Osaka International Airport to Kobe Sannomiya (Direction #1), the Kansai International Airport to Kobe Sannomiya (Direction #2), the Kobe Airport to the Port Liner Sannomiya Station (Direction #3), and the Sannomiya Bus Terminal to the Awaji Yumebutai International Conference Center and The Westin Awaji Island (Direction #4).

[Direction #1]     [Direction #2]     [Direction #3]     [Direction #4]
For those who stay at Seaside Hotel Maiko Villa Kobe and Hotel Ebisu, please refer to Directions #5 and #6.
[Direction #5]     [Direction #6]

   The Airport Limousine Bus is available from the Osaka International Airport to Kobe Sannomiya. It will take approximately 40 minutes from the airport and the fare is JPY 1,020. The bus stop (Kobe Sannomiya) of the Airport Limousine Bus is close to the Sannomiya (Expressway) Bus Terminal (M-INT KOBE) for the Awaji Yumebutai International Conference Center (please refer to Direction #4).

   Given below is the access guide provided by The Westin Awaji Island; its PDF format is available here.

    The Airport Limousine Bus leaves from the Osaka International Airport in at least every 15 to 30 minutes between 7:45 am and 9:55 pm. The time tables of the Airport Limousine Bus are available here (also, please refer to the time tables of the transportation agency).

    The map of the bus stops at Sannomiya is available here. Please note that the Airport Limousine Bus departure and arrival depots (S1 and Y2 in the map) are different. You can purchase tickets for the Osaka International Airport at either the Sannomiya Bus Terminal or a ticket machine near the bus stop S1.

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    The Airport Limousine Bus is available from the Kansai International Airport to Kobe Sannomiya. It will take approximately 65 minutes from the airport and the fare is JPY 1,900. The bus stop (Kobe Sannomiya) of the Airport Limousine Bus is close to the Sannomiya (Expressway) Bus Terminal (M-INT KOBE) for the Awaji Yumebutai International Conference Center and The Westin Awaji Island (please refer to Direction #4).

    Given below is the access guide provided by the Awaji Yumebutai International Conference Center, and its PDF format is available here.

    The Airport Limousine Bus leaves every 20 minutes between 6:30 am and 11:30 pm. The time tables of the Airport Limousine Bus are available here (also, please refer to the time tables of the transportation agency).

    The map of the bus stops at Sannomiya is available here. Please note that the Airport Limousine Bus departure and arrival depots (S1 and Y2 in the map) are different. You can purchase tickets for the Osaka International Airport at either the Sannomiya Bus Terminal or a ticket machine near the bus stop S1.

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    Port Liner (automated train) is available from the Kobe Airport to Sannomiya Station. It will take approximately 18 minutes from the airport and the fare is JPY 320. The Sannomiya Station is close to the Sannomiya (Expressway) Bus Terminal (M-INT KOBE) for the Awaji Yumebutai International Conference Center and The Westin Awaji Island (please refer to Direction #4).

    Given below is the access guide provided by the Awaji Yumebutai International Conference Center, and its PDF format is available here. Also, please refer to the access guide (PDF format) by The Westin Awaji Island.

    The Port Liner leaves frequently between 5:40 and 24:00. The time tables of the Port Liner are available here (also, please refer to the website of the transportation agency).

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    The expressway bus bound for the Higashiura Bus Terminal is available from the Sannomiya (Expressway) Bus Terminal (M-INT KOBE) to Awaji Yumebutai mae. It will take approximately 45 minutes and the fare is JPY 900. Staffs of FOA10 will be present at the Sannomiya Bus Terminal from 11 am to 5 pm on May 23 (SUN) and will direct you to the expressway buses.

    Given below is the access guide provided by the Awaji Yumebutai International Conference Center, and its PDF format is available here.

    The expressway bus departs between 6:20 am and 9:50 pm from the Sannomiya Bus Terminal. The time tables of the expressway bus are available here. The bus stops are as follows: Shinkobe Station - Sannomiya BT - Kosoku Maiko - Uzaki - Awaji Yumebutai mae - Oiso Port BT - Higashiura BT. Please note that for the buses bound for the Higashiura BT, the bus stops, Shinkobe Station, Sannomiya BT, and Kosoku Maiko are only boarding points, while Uzaki, Awaji Yumebutai mae, Oiso, and Higashiura BT are drop-off points only. This would be just the opposite for buses bound for the Shinkobe Station.

    On weekends and public holidays (e.g. May 22, 23 and 29), the expressway bus bound for the Higashiura BT departs from the bus stop No. 5 at 10:00 am and 11:00 am. Please note that, on weekdays, there are no buses at 10:00 am and 11:00 am.
    The map of the bus stops at Sannomiya is available here. Please note that the Airport Limousine Bus departure depot (S1 in the map) is different from that for arrival. You can purchase tickets for the Osaka International Airport and Kansai International Airport at either the Sannomiya Bus Terminal or a ticket machine near the bus stop S1.

    The area map provided by the Awaji Yumebutai International Conference Center would be useful.

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    We recommend you travel by train (JR Kobe line) from Sannomiya to Maiko. The JR Sannomiya Station is close to the Sannomiya Bus Terminal (M-INT KOBE). It will take approximately 20 minutes, and the fare is JPY 290. The train departs frequently. The Seaside Hotel Maiko Villa Kobe is close to the JR Maiko Station. For details, please visit the website of Seaside Hotel Maiko Villa Kobe.

    The expressway bus bound for the Higashiura Bus Terminal or World Park is available from Kosoku Maiko heading to Awaji Yumebutai mae. It will take approximately 15 minutes, and the fare is JPY 500. The bus stop, Kosoku Maiko, is located near the JR Maiko Station. Given below is the access guide provided by the Awaji Yumebutai International Conference Center, and its PDF format is available here. Please refer also to the access guide (PDF format) by The Westin Awaji Island. It would be preferable if at Kosoku Maiko, you inquire the bus driver whether he goes to Awaji Yumebutai mae, because many buses are bound for different destinations. Please note that the fare for the bus should be paid in the bus upon boarding at Kosoku Maiko.

    The expressway bus leaves frequently at Kosoku Maiko. The time tables of the expressway bus are available here.

    The expressway bus bound for the Higashiura Bus Terminal is available from the Sannomiya Bus Terminal (M-INT KOBE) to "Oiso" (bus stop). It will take approximately 50 minutes, and the fare is JPY 900. Hotel Ebisu is approximately 200 m from the bus stop. The area map provided by the Awaji Yumebutai International Conference Center can be used to locate Hotel Ebisu and the bus stop (designated as "Oiso" close to the conference venue in the map). Staffs of FOA10 will be present at the Sannomiya BT from 11 am to 5 pm on May 23 (SUN) and will direct you to the expressway buses. For details, please see Direction #4.

    Hotel Ebisu is a 20-minute walk from the conference site; a taxi ride between the two locations will take around 5 minutes (about JPY 700). The area map provided by the Awaji Yumebutai International Conference Center can be used to locate Hotel Ebisu and the conference venue.

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