Local Information

NYC: The National Institution for Youth Education (NYC), an independent administrative institution, is an educational institution established to promote the healthy development of young people and youth education in Japan. NYC's activities include the organization of various training courses for young people and persons related to youth education, the promotion of cooperation and links between institutions and groups connected to youth education, and provision of grants to groups engaged in youth education. (quoted from its homepage)

Money: Japanese Yen is the only currency used in Japan. Cash payment is the norm. Although credit cards are more and more widely accepted, they are far less widespread than in most other developed countries. Most Japanese ATMs do not accept foreign cards, but post office, 7-11 and Citibank ones do and usually have English menus as well. Since there is no place to accept foreign currencies in the site of NYC, participants are advised to exchange enough money into Japanese Yen at the airport on arrival, or outside of Japan.

Weather: Tokyo is classified as lying in the humid subtropical climate zone and has four distinct seasons. Summers are usually hot and humid with a temperature range of about 23-33°C. But all the buildings and transportations are air conditioned. There may be some chance of having typhoons (known as hurricanes) hitting Japan in August.

Nearby Sites: Shinjuku, home to luxury hotels, giant camera stores, futuristic skyscrapers, hundreds of shops and restaurants, and Kabukicho, Tokyo's wildest nightlife and red-light district. Ikebukuro, also a large commercial and entertainment district of Tokyo. Shibuya, the fashionable shopping district which also encompasses the teenybopper haven of Harajuku (also home to the Meiji Shrine).

Bon Festival: In Japan, Bon festival is celebrated around August 15th on the solar calendar. It starts from August 13th and ends on 16th. Bon is an important family gathering time and many people return to their hometowns, so transportations will be very crowded around this time.