The Welcome Reception is scheduled for Sunday evening (June 12, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm) at the Sunset Lounge in the Bankoku-Shinryo-Kan facility. Both regular and student participants as well as accompanying persons are welcome to join. Drinks and hors-d'œuvres will be served. Alcoholic drinks will be included in the reception (wine, beer, etc.). However, please note that the criminal punishment of driving while drinking is very severe in Japan. Not only the driver, but also the passengers will also be fined. It is not a good idea to take such a risk. Please, make arrangements for chauffeur service at the registration desk, if you drink and need to drive back to your hotel.

TThe Gala Evening will start from an excursion that is planned on Wednesday (June 15) afternoon. All participants and registered accompanying persons are welcome to join. We are going to visit the Chura-Umi (Beautiful Sea) Aquarium (http://oki-churaumi.jp/en/index.html). The chartered bus will leave the Bankoku-Shinryo-Kan at 15:00. The banquet will follow the excursion. The charter bus will bring us to the restaurant where the banquet will be held directly from the aquarium. After the banquet, the bus will bring you back to your hotel. We recommend all to join the entire tour. For those who will skip the visit to the aquarium no special transportation will be arranged. You will need to hire a taxi to go to the restaurant “100-year-old house, UFUYA” at 18:00. (Taxi fare is approximately JPY3,000 from the Bankoku-Shinryo-Kan). Please inform us in advance if you choose to go to the banquet on your own.

Tickets for the Busena undersea observation tower and glass boat are included in the conference kit (supported by Okinawa Convention and Visitors Bureau). These two attractions are located in Busena cape within a walking distance from the Bankoku-Shinryo-Kan facility. Ask for the operating schedules at the registration desk. Other marine activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling tour, etc. can be reserved through the activity desk at the ICPMSE registration or your hotel.