This year the Congress was held in Makuhari, Japan. My thanks go to NSF and NCTM for the travel grant that made this trip possible. Makuhari is located some 35 km from Tokyo's main subway hub. It depends, of course. By train it's about a 30 minute ride, but a highway drive may take more than 2 hours.
Traffic is very heavy there.
And another reflection on the distance. The weather there was very hot and humid. The sun was scorching even with dark and heavy clouds making their way across the sky. Twice during the congress, the CNN forecasts promised rain in Tokyo and environs. And indeed we were close enough to hear the rattle of thunder and catch glimpses of lightning, but rains never reached Makuhari.