IEEE ICMA 2013
General Information

Takamatsu

Takamatsu City is located facing the calm, island-dotted Seto Inland Sea. The lives of the Takamatsu people have always been strongly tied economically and culturally to the sea. Takamatsu is both the capital of the prefecture and the central management city for Shikoku. The temperature is relatively stable year-round, and there is very little rainfall.

Takamatsu was founded in the Kamakura period (1185 - 1333), and in 1588, Toyotomi Hideyoshi's retainer, Ikoma Chikamasa built a castle on the Tamamo Coast and named it Takamatsu Castle. This is how Takamatsu got its name. The Ikoma family ruled the town for four generations (54 years) and the Matsudaira family did so for eleven generations (220 years). During the Meiji Restoration, the feudal system was abolished, and Takamatsu was made the capital of Kagawa prefecture. Takamatsu was incorporated as a municipality on February 15, 1890, becoming the 40th incorporated city in Japan.

Since the 1910s, there have been eight municipal mergers, and now Takamatsu City stretches from the Seto Inland Sea in the north, to the Tokushima prefectural border in the south. It has become a wide municipal area blessed with the ocean, mountains, and rivers, a lively city center, and slow-paced rural districts. The city has become a place where urban functionality and natural resources are in balance, providing a good life for its citizens.

Thanks to geographical and other natural factors, Takamatsu has always been the central management city for Shikoku, but in particular because of the Seto Ohashi Bridge which was built in 1988, the New Takamatsu Airport which was built in 1989, and the Takamatsu Expressway which reached Takamatsu in 1992, in April of 1999, the city was designated a core city.

Now, Takamatsu is working at becoming an even more convenient and green city, making use of the unique qualities that each region of the city has to offer, creating a compact and sustainable city.

Hotel Information

lJR Hotel Clement Takamatsu as the IEEE ICMA 2013 official hotel

JR Hotel Clement Takamatsu is a 20-storey luxury hotel located in Sunport Takamatsu. The hotel offers guest rooms commanding a view over the Seto Inland Sea and the city of Takamatsu, and boasts a range of facilities including multi-purpose banquet halls, making it the ideal choice for business, sightseeing or international conferences. JR Hotel Clement Takamatsu has a range of restaurants including Chinese, Western and Japanese to cater to every taste.

For the special issue, some other accommodations are recommended for its convenience and cheapness. You can find the detailed information at the following links.

Reference rate and detailed information of accommodations:

   ①JR Hotel Clement Takamatsu (JP￥9,750 room only/night; JP￥11,325 with breakfast/night)

   ②Takamatsu Teriminal Hotel (JP￥6,000 room only/night )

   ③Takamatsu Tokyu Inn (JP￥7,000 room only/night;JP￥8,000 with breakfast/night )

   ④Hotel Kawaroku Her-Stage (JP￥5,880 with breakfast/night)

   ⑤Daiwa Roynet Takamatsu (JP￥8,300 room only/night; JP￥9,300 with breakfast/night)

   ⑥Takamatsu Washington Hotel Plaza (JP￥5,610 room only/night; JP￥6,610 with breakfast/night)

   ⑦Dormy Inn Takamatsu (JP￥7,600 room only/night )

   ⑧Apa Hotel Takamatsu Kawaramachi (JP￥5,000 with breakfast/night)

   ⑨Chisan Inn Takamatsu (JP￥7,020 room only/night )

Attractions

lRitsurin Garden

Among the gardens in Japan designated as National Special Scenic Beauty, Ritusrin Garden is the largest. Construction started around 1625 by Takatoshi Ikoma, the feudal lord of Takamatsu, and took about 100 years with successive feudal lords to complete in 1745. The garden has six ponds and thirteen mounds strategically placed to use Mt Shiunas a background. Different flowers bloom all year round, changing the scenery as you walk. “One step, one scenery.”

The garden also has an excellent reputation overseas. It was given three stars as the highest-rated, worth-visiting place for sightseeing in the Michelin Green Guide Japan in 2009.

lTamamo Park (Ruins of Takamatsu Castle)

There is a song about Takamatsu Castle that goes, "You can see the Takamatsu Castle above the sea in Sanuki." The castle is also called Tamamo Castle because Kakinomoto Hitomaro used the word "Tamamo yoshi" as a pillow word of Sanuki in Manyoshu. Takamatsu Castle was built by Chikamasa Ikoma, the first feudal lord of Takamatsu. Taking several years to build, the castle has outer, middle and inner moats. It is one of only threecastles surrounded by water moats in Japan. At that time,Takamatsu Castle had a magnificent view of the surrounding area with a unique Western-style, three-story, five-layered, castletower. However, it was removed as it became old. The Ushitora tower, Moon-watchtower as well as Mizutegomon gate still exists which reflects ancient times. A recreational area with old pine trees and other beautiful trees attracts manyresidents and tourists.

lHiunkaku with romantic Taisho atmosphere

Hiunkaku was built as a second house for Yorinaga Matsudaira, the 12th feudal lord of the Matsudaira family. Construction started in the second year of the Taisho period and took about three years to complete. There is a room called the "big study room" (142 tatami mats) and there are seven rooms named after the view each room has. For example: the "cycadophyte room," the "pine tree room" and the "wave room". Nowadays, tea ceremonies and concerts are held with a romantic Taisho atmosphere - a fusion of Japanese tradition and Western skills.

lBeautiful cherry blossom of Sakura no baba (turf of cherry blossom)

"Sakura no baba" is located in the southern part of the castle tower ruins. As its names shows, this was the place used to train horses in ancient times, but now has become one of the best places to see cherry blossoms with as many as 90 cherry trees blooming in spring.

lA Well-known Genpei Battlesite: Yashima

The peak of Yashima is flat and resembles a roof, which is the origin of the name "Yashima," which means "roof island." There are three viewpoints located along a walking path atop the mountain, named Dankorei, Shishi no Reigan, and Yu-kakutei. From there, the entire Seto Inland Sea National Park can be seen, as well as the island-dotted Seto Inland Sea, and the cityscape of Takamatsu City. A battle site from the Genpei War can also be seen on the mountain. In addition, the 84th temple in the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, Yashima-ji, is located atop the mountain, as well as the Shin-Yashima Aquarium, which is said to be located highest above sea level of all the aquariums in Japan.

l Konpira Shrine (Kotohira-cho)

Long long passage leading to the shrine is lined up a variety of shops. Hard to step up but fan to see on the way to famous shrine.

Kanemaru-za on the way is the oldest theater in Japan and an important cultural asset.

Weather

Takamatsu has a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and cool winters. Some rain falls throughout the year, but the months from May to September have the heaviest rain.

Transportation

All the registrants should make their own local transportation in the city. In Takamatsu, it is necessary to book a taxi excepting some dedicated places, such as the JR Shikoku Takamatsu Station and the Takamatsu Airport. The taxi price contains the base price JPY620 below 1.5km and extra JPY80 for per 314m.

It takes about 30 minutes by taxi from the Takamatsu Airport to the Takamatsu Symbol Tower , the taxi fare is about JPY5000 (approx. US＄51). Whenever you arrive at the airport, there are always many taxis waiting at the airport to pick up passengers. The other method is by bus. It also takes about 30 minutes from the Takamatsu Airport to the JR Shikoku Takamatsu Station which is very near to the Takamatsu Symbol Tower. You can find the bus at the No.2 bus stand, the bus fare is JPY740 (approx. US＄7). Please ask for a receipt with the taxi or the bus.

Useful Information

lLanguage: Official language is Japanese. English can be understood by many young people and is used in hotels and big restaurants. In all tourist hotels, staff can speak in Japanese, English and other languages. They can also write down addresses or instructions in Japanese for taxi drivers or others.

lCurrency: The Japanese yen is the official currency of Japan. It is the third most traded currency in the foreign exchange market after the United States dollar and the euro. It is also widely used as a reserve currency after the U.S. dollar, the euro and the pound sterling.

Money exchanges by cash or traveler's cheques can be made at the branches of Bank of Japan at Takamatsu Airport, hotels and tourist stores. Please remember to keep the receipt to exchange back to foreign currency when leaving Japan.

lCredit Cards: Visa, Master Card and American Express are the most commonly used in Japan. Cards can be used in most middle to top-range hotels, Friendship and department stores, but they cannot be used to finance your transportation costs.

lTime: GMT + 9 hours (the whole of Japan is set to Tokyo time)

lElectricity: Electricity is 100 Volts, which is different from North America (120V), Central Europe (220V) and most other regions of the world. Japanese electrical plugs have two, non-polarized pins.

lWater: Bottled mineral water can easily be bought in all stores and automatic vending machine for JPY150. And sometimes hotels provide it free of charge. Furthermore, potable water is only available in a few 4 to 5 star hotels, while water in thermos flasks in rooms is usually non-potable tap water.

lMeasurement:Japan uses centimeters and meters, kilogram, liter, km/h as SI units. But measurement tools and measure tapes sold in Japan often include inch as well.

lTipping: On the rare occasion that you actually need to give a tip in Japan, do so by putting the money inside of a tasteful, decorative envelope and seat it. Hand it to the recipient with a slight bow; do not expect them to open your "gift" right away. Pulling cash out of your pocket in full view of the recipient is the worst way to give a tip in Japan.

lAttention: Smoking is prohibited in public places in Takamatsu, such as hospital, office building, theatres, cinemas, museums, planes, and electric railcar.

lEmergency telephone number: 110 - Police 119 ? Fire and Ambulance

Conference Information

Conference Venue

IEEE ICMA 2013 will be held in the city of Takamatsu Symbol Tower, Kagawa International Conference Hall, which serves as the official conference venue for the technical program.

JR Hotel Clement Takamatsu which serves as the official conference hotel is a 20-storey luxury hotel located in Sunport Takamatsu. The hotel offers guest rooms commanding a view over the Seto Inland Sea and the city of Takamatsu, and boasts a range of facilities including multi-purpose banquet halls, making it the ideal choice for business, sightseeing or international conferences. JR Hotel Clement Takamatsu has a range of restaurants including Chinese, Western and Japanese to cater to every taste.

Japanese Address Cards

Conference Registration

A conference registration desk will be set up and opened at the Pre-Function Area of 6th Floor of Symbol Tower from August 4 (15:00) to August 7 (11:00) as followings.

August 4, 2013: 15:00 ~ 18:30 (Pre-Function Area of 6th Floor)

August 5, 2013: 07:30 ~ 10:00 (Kagawa International Conference Hall)

August 5, 2013: 10:00 ~ 17:00 (Pre-Function Area of 6th Floor)

August 6, 2013: 08:00 ~ 17:00 (Pre-Function Area of 6th Floor)

August 7, 2013: 08:00 ~ 11:00 (Pre-Function Area of 6th Floor)

Internet Access

Free internet access will be provided during the conference period, to the IEEE ICMA 2013 participants at the Conference Room on 6th floors of Symbol Tower, Takamastu. Broadband internet access services are also provided at the conference hotel for a fee. For the fee information, please contact the hotel you are staying directly.

Social Events

The social events organized by the IEEE ICMA 2013 include the conference reception, the awards banquet, the conference registration, the farewell party, etc.

Conference Reception

The Conference Reception will be held from 17:30 to 18:30 on August 4, 2013 in Conference Room 61, 6F of Takamastu Symbol Tower (高松シンボルタワー6階61会議室). All the conference participants are welcome to join this event.

Awards Banquet

The Awards Banquet will be held from 18:00 to 20:30 on August 6, 2013 in Ballroom HITEN, 3F, JR Hotel Clement Takamatsu (JRホテルクレメント高松、３階大宴会場飛天). All the conference participants are welcome to join this event.

Farewell Party

The Farewell Party will be held from 12:00 to 13:00 on August 7, 2013 in Conference Room 61, 6F of Takamastu Symbol Tower (高松シンボルタワー6階61会議室). All the conference participants are welcome to join this event.