Access

Overview
Traveling to Kurashiki in Japan
Traveling to Tottori
Leaving Japan from Tottori

Overview

The MVA 2023 Workshop and Symposium will be held in Kurashiki (December 7-8), and in Tottori (December 10), with December 9th being designated as a travel day to get between the two venues. There are three international airports, Haneda (HND),Narita (NRT) and Kansai (KIX). For context, Kurashiki is 700 km away from HND and NRT, and 250 km away from KIX. Tottori is 110 km away from Kurashiki. Overall, the most recommended way to reach Kurashiki is to first fly into HND, then fly to Okayama Airport (OKJ), and then take a bus to Kurashiki. The most recommended way to reach Tottori is via the private bus service, which is currently being arranged. The most recommended way to leave Japan is to fly from Tottori Airport (TTJ) to HND and then on to your desired location.

On this page you will find information concerning how to travel to the Workshop and Symposium venues via plane, train and bus. Note that as a foreign visitor to Japan you are eligible for the Japan Rail Pass or the JR Kansai Wide Pass and these will allow significantly discounted travel by train. The Japan Rail Pass for example allows unlimited travel on Japan Rail trains (except certain special Shinkansen) all across Japan for the period specified on the selected pass (e.g. 7 days, or 14 days, etc…).

 

Traveling to Kurashiki, Japan

Kurashiki is located in Okayama Prefecture, which is situated on the western part of Japan’s Honshu Island. The Kurashiki Art Museum has been designated as the main venue. The Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter is located very close by and the main venue is only a short walk from JR Kurashiki Station.

 

A. From Haneda International Airport with airplane

1. 1. Haneda Airport →[flight 1h15m]→ Okayama Airport
   2. Okayama Airport →[bus 35min]→ Kurashiki Station

Okayama city has a domestic airport (OKJ), which is 29 km away from Kurashiki. There are multiple flights from Tokyo Haneda airport each day, operated by Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA). While fares are typically around 36,000 yen, it is sometimes possible to get a discount as a foreign visitor. A good website for finding cheap flights is Skyscanner. It is possible to get from Okayama Airport to Kurashiki station via bus.

 

B. From Kansai International Airport (KIX) by train

1. 1. Kansai Airport →[train 50min]→ Shin-Osaka Station
   2. Shin-Osaka Station→[shinkansen 50min]→ Okayama Station
   3. Okayama Station →[train 17min]→ Kurashiki Station

To get from KIX to Okayama, you must first take the Japan Railways Haruka Limited Express from KIX to Shin-Osaka (Shinkansen) station in Osaka. The cost should be 2920 yen. Then, one must switch to the Shinkansen high speed train from Shin-Osaka station and travel to Okayama station. The cost should be 5940 yen. The total distance from KIX to Okayama should be 130 km. Okayama Station and Kurashiki Station are connected by frequently departing local and rapid trains along the JR Sanyo Line and the trip costs around 330 yen. Note that the whole trip is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass and the JR Kansai Wide Pass, when not using the Nozomi or Mizuho shinkansen. The Nozomi and Mizuho shinkansen are not included in the Japan Rail Pass and so make sure to find an alternate shinkansen train (e.g. Sakura shinkansen) when using this route with one of the Rail passes mentioned above. A useful website in English is HyperDia, where you can use the more options tab to unselect the Nozomi shinkansen. Note that Google maps will not allow you to do this.

 

C. From Narita International Airport (NRT) by train

1. 1. Narita Airport →[train 50 min]→ Tokyo Station
   2. Tokyo →[shinkansen 3 h 45 min]→ Okayama Station
   3. Okayama Station →[train 17 min]→ Kurashiki Station

To get to Kurashiki, you must first get to Tokyo station using the Narita express. The Narita express is a limited express train that goes to Tokyo station from Narita terminal 2 or 3 stations. From Tokyo station to Okayama takes approximately 3 h and 45 min by Hikari train. Note that the trip is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass if done by Hikari, but it is not covered if done by Nozomi (a faster shinkansen train). Also note that some applications, such as Google maps will only give you the Nozomi information. A useful website in English is HyperDia, where you can use the more options tab to unselect the Nozomi shinkansen. Lastly, one must get from Okayama station to Kurashiki station.  If not using the Japan Rail Pass, the total cost to Kurashiki is 19500 yen.

 

Traveling to Tottori

Tottori Prefecture is the least inhabited prefecture in Japan and is well known for its scenic countryside. Tottori city is located 110 km to the north of Okayama Prefecture. The Tottori University Arid Land Research Center has been designated as the optional venue for the MVA 2023 Workshop & Symposium. It is possible to travel between the optional venue by bus (with a 16 min walk) from Tottori station, which takes around 38 min in total and costs around 370 yen.

 

While Tottori can be reached by train, a private bus from Kurashiki to the venue in Tottori has been arranged and is available to those who register for the MVA 2023 Workshop & Symposium. See below for details concerning the routes to Tottori from Kurashiki.

 

A. A private bus to Tottori has been arranged

See the bus schedule table in the bus information page. Please note that the bus will pick registered individuals up from either Kurashiki railway station or the Kurashiki International Hotel. If you make your way to the Okayama Outreach Event, the bus will also be able to pick you up from the Morinomachi grace venue.

 

B. To Tottori by train

1. 1. Kurashiki Station →[train 17 min]→ Okayama Station
   2. Okayama Station →[train 1 h 48 min]→ Tottori Station

There is a train connection from Okayama station to Tottori station and as mentioned above it is also possible to get from Kurashiki station to Okayama station by train. To go from Kurashiki to Tottori Station takes around 3 h and 15 min in total and costs 5700 yen.

 

Leaving Japan (From Tottori)

If you will not travel to Tottori for the optional workshop there, then you can travel back the way you came to Kurashiki. However, if you will travel to Tottori, then there are several options to get back to the international airport that you arrived at in Japan, see below.

A. To Tokyo Haneda international Airport (HND) by Plane.

1. 1. Tottori Airport (TTJ) →[flight 1h 10 min]→ HND

Tottori is 500 km away from Tokyo. There are 5 flights a day from Tottori Airport (TTJ) with ANA to HND and the flight costs between 13070 to 35270 yen depending on the fare type you go for.
In order to get to the Airport there are several routes that can be taken. We recommend taking the bus which departs in time for scheduled flights from Tottori Station and goes straight to the airport. The bus costs around 480 yen. However, if you require an alternate option, it is also possible to take a train from Tottori Station to Tottoridaigaku-Mae Station. With the train option you will then have to walk 21 min to the airport, which may be inconvenient with luggage.

A map showing the routes from Tottori Station to the Airport. In blue is the bus route straight to the airport and in light green is the train route, with dark green showing the walking route from Tottoridaigaku-Mae Station. Also shown are the recommended hotels for reference, please see the Accommodation section for more information.

 

 

B. To Kansai International Airport (KIX) by train

1. 1. Tottori Station →[train 2 h 29 min]→ Osaka Station
   2. Osaka Station →[train 53 min]→ Kansai International Airport

Starting at the train station in Tottori, Japan, one can travel to Osaka station by a Super Hakuto train (every 4 hours) for 7020 yen. Then, once at Osaka station it is possible to take Haruka Limited Express (every 30 min) to KIX for 2740 yen. Note that all trains are included with the Japan Rail Pass.

 

C. To Narita International Airport (NRT) by train

1. 1. Tottori Station →[train 2 h 9 min]→ Himeji Station
   2. Himeji Station →[shinkansen 3 h 22 min]→ Tokyo Station
   3. Tokyo Station →[train 50 min]→ NRT

Starting at the train station in Tottori, Japan one can travel to Himeji station by a Super Hakuto train for 4110 yen, and then by Hikari Shinkansen from Himeji Station to Tokyo Station for 17380 yen, and finally from Tokyo station to NRT, terminal 2-3 station. Note that the fastest route will use the Nozomi Shinkansen, but the one detailed here uses a slightly slower one as this is included with the Japan Rail Pass.