General Info
General information on how to access Kavli IPMU can be found on the institute webpage. More details below.
From Haneda (HND) Airport to Local Stations
The bus line for HND <-> Kashiwanoha-Campus Station and Kashiwa Station is operated by Tobu Bus and Keikyu Bus. One-way ticket costs ¥1,800 for adults and ¥900 for children, respectively.
From Local Stations to Kavli IPMU
1) From Kashiwanoha-Campus Station
If you use Tsukuba express (TX) train, the nearest station to Kavli IPMU is the Kashiwanoha-campus station. This station is convenient for those who stay at Mitsui Garden Hotel Kashiwanoha, Hotel Del Prado or Hotel Sunoak Kashiwanoha. IPMU is 20 minutes walking distance from the station.
From this station to the campus, there is a shuttle bus provided by the University of Tokyo. Please tell the driver that you are visiting IPMU when boarding. No ticket/certificate is necessary for visitors.
It is also not difficult to find a public bus transportation from Kashiwanoha-campus station. Take either #03 or #04 bus from the bus stop #1 at the West Exit of the station and get off at National Cancer Center ("Kokuritsu Gan Senta"). You can also take #10 bus at the same bus stop and get off at Todai-mae (東大前).
2) From Kashiwa Station
Kashiwa station is convenient for those who stay at Crest Hotel Kashiwa, Kashiwa Plaza Hotel, Sotetsu Fresa Inn Chiba-Kashiwa or other hotels in central Kashiwa. Take either Bus #44 or #01 bound for National Cancer Center from the bus stop #2 in front of the McDonald's near the JR Kashiwa Station West Exit and get off at Todai-mae (東大前) or Kashiwanoha Park North (柏の葉公園北).
IC Cards for easy transportation and payment
[Notice for iOS users: Suica and Pasmo cards are available on the Apple Wallet app. The NFC works without connection, even when your device is out of battery. So we recommend adding the card to your Apple Wallet instead of getting the physical one.]
For train and bus transport, most lines (including the local buses in Kashiwa) will accept the Suica or Pasmo IC Cards, which allow eash payment of fares by tapping them on a card reader.
Some express trains will require the purchase of an additional express fare ticket beyond the base fare, so simply tapping your IC card will not be sufficient. Local Tobu buses from Kashiwa or Kashiwanoha Campus Stations also accept the IC cards. You simply need to tap the card readers when entering and exiting the bus. If you pay by coin, pick up a paper slip on riding the bus which specifies your starting bus stop. Place your IC card on the display next to the bus driver to determine and pay your owed fair when you get off the bus.
IC cards are also accepted for payment at the campus cafeteria, all convenience stores, some restaurants, certain retail chains (e.g. Daiso, Uniqlo, Muji), and public transport across ~95% of Japan. We highly recommend getting one especially if you will stay in Japan for more than a week.
However, due to an ongoing chip shortage, tourists to Japan can only purchase the short-term Pasmo Passport or Welcome Suica that expire after 28 days. These can be most easily purchased at Haneda or Narita Airports by showing your passport.
Suica/Pasmo cards can be topped off at most train/metro stations and Seven Eleven ATMs.
