Icebreaker & Excursion

Icebreaker

The icebreaker will be held on March 3 at 6 p.m. at the Tsukuba International Congress Center. Snacks and beverages will be provided. A live performance of the Japanese calligraphy called 'Shodo' will be given by students from Tsuchiura Daini High School in the icebreaker.

The cost of the icebreaker is included in the registration fee, so we encourage many to attend.

The registration desk will be set up in front of the icebreaker hall. The attendees coming to the icebreaker can check in there. If you have applied for the discount as an Early-Career Scientist Presenter or a student, don't forget to bring a certificate to be checked.

If you would accompany family members to the icebreaker, excursion, or banquet, you should pay for the accompanying person in cash at the registration desk.

Excursion

We will have a half-day excursion on March 5.
Please make sure to read the notes below, and the one for each group.
Note for all participants:
1. Please make sure to join the excursion with comfortable shoes such as sneakers.
2. It's still a little chilly in March in Japan. So, we recommend you bring warm clothing.
3. We will have the excursion rain or shine. We recommend you bring an umbrella if rain is expected.
4. Lunch will be served on the day.
5. For accompanying persons: Please arrive in front of the congress hall by 12:20.

Group A and B: JAXA& Ishioka Observatory

JAXA is the agency for space research and development in Japan.
In this course, we will visit JAXA and see the Tsukuba Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) Station.
We will also take you to the Ishioka Geodetic Observing Station.

At Ishioka, we will show you observation facilities and equipment for VLBI, GNSS, local-tie survey and gravity observation.

Note for participants of group A and B:

Please make sure to bring your passport to enter the JAXA campus. If you do not bring your passport, you cannot enter the JAXA campus. If you do not have a passport yet, photo ID such as Japanese driver’s license is available.

Group C and D: Mt. Tsukuba Plum Grove & Ishioka Observatory

Mt. Tsukuba has flourished as a mountain of worship since ancient times,

and it is mentioned in the oldest historical books of Japan such as Kojiki and Nihonshoki.

In this course, we will visit the plum grove in the middle of Mt. Tsukuba, in which Japanese plum blossoms are at their best during this event.

We will also take you to the Ishioka Geodetic Observing Station, as with course 1.

Note for participants of group C and D:

At the Mt. Tsukuba plum grove tour, we will walk through the grove that is about 1km long and has a height difference of 70m. If it is hard for you, please let us know by Feb. 28.