The 2015 ACM International Joint Conference on Pervasive and Ubiquitous
Computing (UbiComp 2015) will be held at Grand Front Osaka in Umeda,
Osaka, Japan from Sep. 7-11, colocated with ISWC 2015.
Registration Desk
Workshop/Tutorial Registration desk
Venue: Room C07@8th floor Conference rooms of tower C
7th (Mon): 8:30-19:00
8th (Tue): 8:30-19:00
UbiComp/ISWC Registration desk
Venue: Room 6 of main conference venue (Knowledge Capital Congres Convention Center, B2 of north building)
9th (Wed): 8:00-17:30
10th (Thu): 9:00-17:40
11th (Fri): 9:00-15:30
Registration
Registration is now open. Please visit the registration page
(http://ubicomp.org/ubicomp2015/registration.html) for more details.
Registrations are handled by our partner JTB Global Marketing & Travel. Note
that you will first need to create an account with the system before being able to
register for the conference.
International registrants should be particularly aware and careful about visa requirements, and should plan travel well in advance. If you require a visa for entry into Japan, please send your request for a letter in support of a visa application to our registration chair (registrations2015@ubicomp.org). Use the subject line “Ubicomp 2015 Visa”. Include your name (as it appears on your passport), conference registration confirmation number, and a copy of notification letter on the paper you will be presenting (if you are an author). If you are not an author, please state it in your email.
We have closed our free visa support desk. We are still able to provide necessary documents for your visa applications, but you must cover the fee by yourself. For more details, please contact our registration chair (registrations2015@ubicomp.org).
Please note that the ACM requires that you have registered for the conference and have a confirmation number before you can be issued with a letter of invitation to support your visa application.
Complete information on how to apply for a VISA to enter Japan can be found on the following websites.
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/process/short.html
Program
The final program is available in a separate page. Please navigate through the links above.
Accommodation
The registration website (http://ubicomp.org/ubicomp2015/registration.html) also offers information about accommodation (use the “Accomodations” button at the top after logging in). Our official travel agent, JTB Global Marketing & Travel, also offers to book a hotel for you using the online registration system. Simply fill out the corresponding item in the registration form. Use the “Access & Map” button at the top of the registration system (after logging in) to see an overview of the suggested hotels and the conference venue.
However, there is not official conference hotel, so feel free to use any major travel/hotel website to find a place you would like to stay at. Luxury hotels will cost roughly 200 USD per night for a king-size room. Mid-range hotels will cost 100 – 130 USD per night for a semi-double room. Many budget hotels are also available around the venue, costing around 80 USD per night for a single or semi-double room. If you do not mind staying at a small room but want to save money, you can specifically search for “business hotels” (much like B&B, but with a smaller room).
Main conference Venue
The main conference will be held at Knowledge Capital Congrès Convention Center (http://www.congre-cc.jp/en/), inside the Grand Front Osaka complex, on 9th-11th September, 2015. The Grand Front Osaka is located next to the JR (Japan Railway) Osaka station. A pathway connects the station to the convention center.
The registration desk will be near the entrance of the convention center on the B2 floor.
Map: http://www.congre-cc.jp/en/access/
Workshops & Tutorials Venue
Workshops and tutorials will be held at Knowledge Capital Conference Rooms (http://kc-i.jp/en/facilities/conference/), insidethe Grand Front Osaka complex, on 7th and 8th September 2015. It is located next to the JR (Japan Railway) Osaka station. A pathway connects the station to the conference rooms.
Please note that we have rooms in two separate buildings. Please double-check where your workshop or tutorial will be held. We will update the location of the registration desk at the workshop venue soon.
Map: http://kc-i.jp/en/data/pdf/conference_map.pdf
Design Exhibition Venue
Design Exhibition will be held at Knowledge Capital Theater (http://kci.
jp/en/facilities/theater/), inside the Grand Front Osaka complex, on 10th September 2015. Conference attendees will be guided from the convention center directly to the Design Exhibition venue after all the paper sessions have ended on the second day. Exhibitors will be informed about the logistics from the Design Exhibition chairs.
Map: http://kc-i.jp/en/data/pdf/theater.pdf
Doctoral School Venue
The UbiComp/ISWC Doctoral School will be held at the Westin Osaka (http://www.westin-osaka.co.jp/), on 7th September 2015. Note that the Doctoral School is an invitation-only event. The Doctoral School chairs will inform all invited attendees of logistics details.
Map: http://www.westin-osaka.co.jp.e.iu.hp.transer.com/access/index.html
Welcome Reception
The welcome reception will be held at the Knowledge Capital Congrès Convention Center (http://www.congre-cc.jp/en/), on 9th September, 2015. Demos, posters, GadgetShow Plus, sponsor booths, and industrial exhibits will also be presented at the welcome reception.
Conference Banquet
The conference banquet will be held at the Westin Osaka (http://www.westinosaka.co.jp/), on 10th September, 2015. Conference attendees will be guided from the convention center or Knowledge Capital Theater (where the Design Exhibitions will be held) to the Conference Banquet venue.
Map: http://www.westin-osaka.co.jp.e.iu.hp.transer.com/access/index.html
Transportation Information
Osaka has two international airports: Kansai International Airport (KIX) and Osaka International Airport (Itami Airport, ITM). Most of the international flights coming to Osaka arrive at KIX. Direct flights to KIX are available from major cities in United States (New York, San Francisco, and Seattle), Europe (Paris, Rome, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Helsinki), and Asia-Pacific regions (Beijing, Hong-Kong, Singapore, and Sydney). International visitors can also arrive at ITM, most likely after taking a domestic transit at Narita International Airport (NRT) or Haneda International Airport (HND) in Tokyo. NRT is the largest international airport in Japan, and direct flights from more than 80 cities are available regularly.
It takes approximately one hour to fly from NRT or HND to ITM (or KIX as well).
How to get from Kansai International Airport (KIX)
- Taking a shuttle bus
Most of travelers will arrive at Terminal 1 in KIX. You can find a bus stop for Osaka station at #5 on the arrival floor in Terminal 1. You need to buy a ticket at vending machines before getting onto a shuttle bus. Please make sure that you buy a ticket going to the Osaka Station area. A one-way ticket is 1,550 JPY and round-trip (effective for 14 days) is 2,760 JPY.
http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en/access/bus/
The time table for shuttle buses is:
http://www.kate.co.jp/pc/e_time_table/e_osaka_sta_tt.html#from
Most of the shuttle buses will arrive at Hotel New Hankyu (a north-east side of Osaka Station) and Herbis Osaka (a south-west side of the station). You can either walk from there or take a cab to get to your hotel. A few buses will also go to Hilton Osaka, Hotel Hankyu International, and Westin Osaka.
Please check the time table to see which buses will go to these locations.
Hotel New Hankyu:
http://www.hankyu-hotel.com/cgibin2/cms2/index_en.cgi?hid=19osakashh&page=locate
Herbis Osaka:
http://www.herbis.jp/lang/english/
The shuttle bus stops around Osaka station:
http://www.kate.co.jp/pc/e_time_table/e_map/e_osaka_map_n.html
You can find shuttle buses going back to KIX at the same bus stops. You can find vending machines for shuttle bus tickets near the bus stops.
- Taking a train
A train is another convenient way to get to Osaka station. There are two railways connecting to KIX, JR (Japan Railway) and Nankai. To get to Osaka Station, JR is more convenient.
http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en/access/train/
The railway station is connected to the terminal on the second floor in
Terminal 1.
http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en/access/train/
This station accommodates two railways, so please make sure to get on JR trains before you buy a ticket. You can buy a train ticket at vending machines. Or you can buy an Icoca card (see more details in How to use public transportation).
To get to Osaka Station, taking a Kansai Airport Rapid Service train is the most convenient. It costs 1,190 JPY, and will take around 65 minutes. As KIX Station is the departing terminal, you will be likely to get seated.
Another way is to take a Haruka airport express train to Tennoji and transfer to a local line for Osaka Station. Please note that you need to buy an express ticket in addition to a train ticket (which costs 1,190 JPY) to get onto a Haruka express. The express ticket from KIX to Tennoji costs 650, 1,170, and 1,930 JPY for a non-reserved, reserved, and Green (luxury) seat, respectively.
International travelers can purchase Icoca and Haruka airport express tickets at a discounted price. For more details, please check:
https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/travel-information/pass/icoca-haruka/
How to get from Itami Airport (ITM)
- Taking a shuttle bus
You can find a bus stop for Osaka station at #4 and #14 on the arrival floor. You need to buy a ticket at vending machines before getting onto a shuttle bus. Please make sure that you buy a ticket going to the Osaka Station area. A one-way ticket is 640 JPY.
http://www.okkbus.co.jp/en/timetable/itm/t_osa.html
Please note that buses will go to different hotels. Most buses stop at Osaka Marubiru (Osaka Daiichi Hotel), but some also go to Hotel New Hankyu and Herbis Osaka. Please make sure which bus stops are closest to your hotel and plan your trip.
Osaka Marubiru
http://www.osakadaiichi.co.jp/index_en.php
Hotel New Hankyu:
http://www.hankyu-hotel.com/cgibin2/cms2/index_en.cgi?hid=19osakashh&page=locate
Herbis Osaka:
http://www.herbis.jp/lang/english/
You can find shuttle buses going back to ITM at the same bus stops. You can find vending machines for shuttle bus tickets near the bus stops.
- Taking a monorail and train
You can take a monorail from ITM to Motarugaike (the next station), and make a transit to Hankyu railway. Then take a train in Hankyu Takarazuka Line. Umeda Station is your destination. It costs 420 JPY in total, and takes around 30 minutes.
http://osaka-airport.co.jp/en/access/train/
How to use public transportation
Although Japan is not a native English-speaking country, all announcements and maps in trains and buses are provided in English as well as Japanese.
International visitors can also easily find a plenty of street signs written in English.
Some public transportation personnel also have been trained to be able to guide international visitors in English. Public transportation is the best way to navigate Osaka and major cities in neighborhood. They offer frequent services until midnight. For trains and subways, you can buy a ticket at vending machines. For buses, you pay when you get on for fixed-rate buses, and otherwise, you pay when you get off (please do not forget to get a small piece of paper when you get on).
If you take public transportation frequently, we recommend getting an IC ticket, called Icoca. It costs 2,000 JPY, with 1,500 JPY as pre-charged. You can simply touch an automatic ticket gate with your Icoca when you enter or exit a station. The fee (depending on how long you travel) will be automatically deducted. You can re-charge your Icoca at vending machines. Icoca can be used for payment at shops, restaurants, convenience stores, and drink vending machines.
International travelers can purchase Icoca and Haruka airport express tickets at a discounted price. For more details, please check:
https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/travel-information/pass/icoca-haruka/
Passenger’s guide for JR:
http://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/travel-information/howto/
Maps for railways and subways in Osaka are available:
http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en/access/train/pdf/en-1kansai_railroad_map_omote3.pdf
http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en/access/train/pdf/en-2kansai_railroad_map_ura3.pdf
Accessibility
Our goal is to make Ubicomp/ISWC 2015 accessible and inclusive for anyone who would like to attend. Our accessibility page includes a full list of specific steps that we are taking to try to accommodate a wide range of accessibility needs. We encourage attendees who may want to take advantage of reasonable accommodations, or simply want to know more about the current arrangements, to contact the accessibility chairs (accessibility2015@ubicomp.org).
Local Activities and Sightseeing
Osaka has many sightseeing places you can enjoy, for example:
- Osaka Castle
- Sky Garden
- Kaiyukan
- Nipponbashi
- Douton-bori
- Koushien or Osaka-dome
- Kuromon-ichiba
Osaka Info:http://www.osaka-info.jp/en/
If you are willing to take a short trip, you can also visit beautiful and historical neighborhood cities.
- Kyoto
- Nara
- Kobe
- Himeji
- Wakayama
- Ise
UbiComp/ISWC Conference Anti-Harassment Policy
The open exchange of ideas and the freedom of thought and expression are central to the aims and goals of Ubicomp and ISWC; these require an environment that recognizes the inherent worth of every person and group, that fosters dignity, understanding, and mutual respect, and that embraces diversity. For these reasons, UbiComp/ISWC is dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience, and implements the ACM policy against harassment.
Conference participants violating these standards may be sanctioned or expelled from the conference, at the discretion of the conference organizers.
Please contact the conference organizers (chairs2015@ubicomp.org) if you need any assistance.