The Asia-Pacific Regional IAU Meeting 2023 (APRIM 2023) will be held from August 7-11, 2023, at the Big Palette Fukushima in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.
Koriyama City is located in the Naka-dori (central region) of Fukushima Prefecture. You can reach Koriyama Station from Tokyo in 75 minutes by Shinkansen (high-speed train). You can find out more about Koriyama in this brochure. (English version)
Fukushima Prefecture is located on the Pacific Ocean side in the Tohoku (literally north-east) region of Japan. Fukushima is famous for its beautiful nature, fruits and rice grown in that area, delicious sake (alcohol drink), hot springs, traditional crafts such as Aizu-nuri. There are beautiful mountains and lakes, and there is a starry sky.
Enjoy Koriyama City and Fukushima Prefecture
Koriyama City Map
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For more deeply delicious sake story, please see this site: Fukushima Sake Story
Time
Time Zone: GMT+9
Climate
The average temperature in August ranges from 24°C (75°F) to 30°C (86°F) with an average high of 32°C (90°F) and an average low of 21°C (70°F). The humidity levels are also high, with an average relative humidity of around 80%. August is also one of the wettest months in Koriyama City, with an average of 223mm (8.8 inches) of rainfall spread over 17 rainy days.
It is important to note that extreme weather events, such as typhoons, can also occur during August in Koriyama City, which may cause heavy rains, strong winds, and flooding.
Currency
Local currency is the Japanese Yen (JPY, 円 in Japanese, pronounced like “yen”). There are three bill denominations of 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 “yen”s. Apart from the respective denominations, notes are easily discernible by distinct colors and different portraits of historical figures on each note.
It may be difficult to find places that accept foreign currencies for exchange in Koriyama City. Therefore, it is advisable to exchange for Japanese yen before arriving in Japan. There are banks and foreign exchange booths at international airports (e.g. Narita and Haneda). You can exchange for Japanese yen at Narita or Haneda International Airports.
Credit cards
Major credit cards including Visa, American Express, Diners Club, Master Card, and JCB are broadly accepted in most shops, hotels, department stores, and restaurants. Credit card surcharges for uses in overseas may be incurred.
Tipping & Tax
Tipping is not a customary practice in Japan. Generally, 10% sales tax is levied in the total payable. Some upscale restaurants and hotel facilities may charge another 10 – 15% Service Charges. Foreigners may take a benefit of reclaiming sales tax at the airport for purchases made at shops but purchased goods must be taken out of the country within three months from the purchase date to be eligible for a tax refund.
Focus Fukushima
Focus Fukushima
Fukushima has been on a steady path of reconstruction after more than 10 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake. The program highlights the progress of decommissioning TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station with remarks from local fishermen, farmers, and restaurant managers.
TSUNAGARU TOHOKU Online Tour 2022: Fukushima
The Reconstruction Agency conducted online tours for embassies and foreign media officials in Japan, on February 15th, 2022, about Iwate & Miyagi and Fukushima, with the aim of providing an accurate understanding of the current stage of reconstruction in the three disaster-stricken prefectures. This video is one of those produced for the tour and projected during the tour.
(by Reconstruction Agency)