UR2026 offers two optional technical tours for registered conference participants. Both tours are free of charge and take place on the final day of the conference, Saturday, July 18, 2026. Each offers a unique window into Japanese excellence — one in century-old whisky craftsmanship, the other in cutting-edge robotics and AI research.
Tour 1: Suntory Yamazaki Distillery Tour
Established in 1923 by Suntory founder Shinjiro Torii, Yamazaki Distillery is Japan’s first and oldest malt whisky distillery — the undisputed birthplace of Japanese whisky. Located at the confluence of the Katsura, Uji, and Kizu rivers on the southwestern outskirts of Kyoto, the site was chosen for its exceptionally pure and soft water, ideal for whisky maturation. Over a century of tradition, meticulous craftsmanship, and Japanese sensibility have made Yamazaki single malts among the most celebrated spirits in the world.
⭐ Exclusive opportunity: The Tasting Lounge offers rare limited-edition expressions and single-cask component malts that are not available on the general market. This is a chance to experience whiskies that are nearly impossible to find outside the distillery.
What’s Included
- Yamazaki Whisky Museum — Explore the renovated museum (updated 2023) at your own pace. Trace 100 years of Japanese whisky history through immersive exhibits. Self-guided; no tour guide provided.
- Tasting Lounge (optional, paid at your own cost) — Sample rare and limited-edition Yamazaki expressions unavailable elsewhere. Cash is not accepted; please use a credit card, e-money, or mobile payment. Availability may vary on the day.
- Distillery Gift Shop (YAMAZAKI DISTILLERY GIFT SHOP) — Browse and purchase distillery-exclusive bottles, limited editions, and original merchandise — perfect souvenirs of your visit. Alcohol purchases are restricted to guests aged 20 and over (quantity limits apply).
Tour Details
| Date | Saturday, July 18, 2026 |
| Time | 11:00 – 12:00 (check-in opens at 10:50) |
| Capacity | 40 participants (first-come, first-served) |
| Fee | Free (tasting and purchases at your own cost) |
| Meeting point | Directly at the distillery entrance — please make your own way to the venue |
| Departure | No fixed end time — participants may leave freely after check-in |
Access
- 10-minute walk from JR Kyoto Line — Yamazaki Station
- 10-minute walk from Hankyu Kyoto Line — Oyamazaki Station
- No parking available at the distillery — please use public transportation.
Important Notices
- Guests under 20 years of age may enter with an adult but cannot consume or purchase alcohol (Japanese law applies regardless of nationality).
- A valid government-issued photo ID is required to purchase alcohol. Passports are accepted and recommended for international participants. Originals only — copies and photos are not accepted.
- Guests arriving by car, motorcycle (including passengers), or bicycle cannot consume alcohol.
- Consuming alcohol is not advisable during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
- Outside food and beverages are not permitted inside the distillery.
- Pets are not allowed on the distillery grounds (registered assistance dogs excepted).
- Please follow all instructions from Suntory staff on site.
- Availability of specific whisky products may vary depending on stock on the day.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations are accepted up to the day before the event (July 17). Please cancel via the “Cancel Order” link in your Eventbrite confirmation email as early as possible so your spot can be offered to others.
Same-day cancellations are not accepted. Registered participants are expected to attend. Please only register if you are certain you can participate.
Registration
Registration opens after the Early Bird registration deadline (May 29, 2026). Spots are strictly limited to 40 and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is handled via Eventbrite — no Eventbrite account is required; you will receive a confirmation email with a QR code upon registration.
→ Register on EventbriteOpens after the Early Bird deadline (May 29, 2026). The link will be activated here at that time.
Tour 2: Ritsumeikan University OIC Campus Tour
Get an exclusive inside look at the host campus of UR2026 — Ritsumeikan University’s Osaka Ibaraki Campus (OIC). This tour offers UR2026 participants access to state-of-the-art facilities and active research laboratories at the cutting edge of robotics, artificial intelligence, and information science — fields at the heart of the UR community.
What to Expect
- Robotics Research Laboratories — Visit active labs working on next-generation robot systems directly relevant to the UR community.
- AI & Information Science Labs — Explore research at the forefront of artificial intelligence within the College of Information Science and Engineering.
- Campus Facilities — Tour the modern OIC infrastructure, purpose-built for interdisciplinary research and collaboration.
Tour Details
| Date | TBD |
| Capacity | TBD |
| Fee | Free |
| Registration | Details to be announced |
Full details — including schedule, specific lab visits, capacity, and registration — will be announced at a later date. Please check back on this page or follow official UR2026 channels for updates.
For inquiries about the technical tours, please contact the UR2026 Organizing Committee at fujiyasu@fc.ritsumei.ac.jp (Secretary: Yasuyuki Fujii).