VISA & Useful Information
VISA & COVID-19 Travel information
Participants for certain countries are required to obtain visas to enter Japan. Obtaining requisite visas from the Japanese Embassy or the Consulate office located in your country is required prior to arrival in Japan.
The visa waiver measures for ordinary passport holders of 68 countries/regions resumed on October 11, 2022. Please refer to JNTO website and MOFA website for more details.
Letter of Invitation
If you need a Letter of Invitation to participate in URSI GASS 2023, please read the following information carefully.
We offer you two types of documents as our official letters of invitation. Please make sure to check the documents you need with your affiliation or the embassy of Japan in your country of residence before applying, as documents you might need depending on circumstances.
1.Letter of Invitation in the format of URSI GASS 2023
A letter of invitation certifies that your abstract has been accepted and you have registered to attend URSI GASS 2023 as a participant. The letter will not guarantee to support your travel expenses nor the costs of attending the conference.
1.How to apply for a Letter of Invitation
Please apply from the bottom below.
[Note]
- Please make sure to complete your registration and payment before applying.]
- You are not able to apply for the letter of invitation of MOFA from the form above.]
- A letter of invitation will be send by gass2023_invitationletter-grp@g.chuo-u.ac.jp in 10 days.
2. Documents for a Visa application
Deadline for Application: Until 17:00 on June 22, 2023 (JST).
Application after the deadline will not be accepted.
We will send you “Letter of Invitation/招へい理由書” and “Itinerary/滞在予定表” in the format the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides. The handling fee for documents may be paid at the applicant’s expense. The documents will be issued after the designated procedure and completion of your payment. Please note that they will not guarantee to support your travel expenses nor the costs of attending the conference.
*Generally, “Letter of guarantee/身元保証書” will not be provided unless the conference covers your flight ticket. In case you require this document, please fill out your comment when you upload your passport data in the procedure.
2.How to apply for documents for a Visa application
- The application has been closed. Thank you for your applications!
*Please make sure to complete your registration including payment, hotel reservation and reservation of your flight before applying.
*Please note that it will take about 3 weeks to send you the data.
- After checking your registration, URSI GASS 2023 secretariat sends you the payment information and request to submit additional documents.
*Issuance and handling fee for documents: 6,600 JPY - After receiving your payment, we send you documents.
Language
Japan’s official language is Japanese, but English is understood in major cities.
Time Zone
Upon your arrival, please set your clock to Japanese time.
To adjust your clock, please see the information here.
Weather
Generally, the weather at August is pleasant and dry. The average temperature in Sapporo during the conference period is likely to be 22℃(72℉)(Low 18℃(64℉) / High 26℃(79℉)), but the humidity is low and the temperature is cool during the morning and evening.
Currency
Only Japanese yen (JPY) is accepted at regular stores and restaurants.
Certain foreign currencies may be accepted at a limited number of hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops.
ATM Information
Foreign currency can usually be exchanged at exchange counters, banks, and some hotels, and local convenience stores, such as FamilyMart, 7-ELEVEN, and Lawson.
Exchange rates fluctuate daily in accordance with financial market trends. Currency that can be exchanged depends on the exchange counter.
Tipping
In general, tips are not necessary, even at hotels and restaurants in Japan.
Electricity
The electrical power supply in Japan is uniformly 100 volts, AC, throughout Japan, but with two different cycles: 50 in eastern Japan including Sapporo. Leading hotels in major cities have two outlets of 100 and 220 volts but their sockets usually accept a two-leg plug only.