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Service can be a little bit slow, but you will not be forgotten. They also do nice cocktails, though you should ask for recommendations, and ask what exactly some of them contain before making a bad choice.

The food ranges from garlic bread to Korean cuisine, the latter of which I would, by the way, recommend, at the buddha bar or anywhere else. It tends to be spicy but very good. Personally I enjoyed the Korean tofu pot.

It's all slightly on the expensive side, but worth trying once. Afterwards be sure to enjoy some Karaoke, preferably with locals to guide you through Japanese pop classics such as "Sex Machine" (seriously).

Just to let you know, if you want to find it, its on the third floor in one of the buildings with lots of Izakayas (Japanese bars), like Tori-den, etc., on a big main street if you walk straight out of the East JR exit, along the shopping street and onto the next big road. There's lots of other similar places to choose from there too. I would, however, recommend this one, because it's cheaper, the service is friendly, and there's a great variety in the food. I recommend getting the nomi-hodai, which allows you as many drinks as you can muster in the space of two hours. It's worth the money if you have three or more. Other than that, my personal favourites are the eda-mame, which are little green beans you take out of the pod yourself and very popular as a side-order anywhere, the tofu salad, and the fried chicken recommended to us by a certain Korean waiter . . .

Some of the staff, including the owner, are foreign, and therefore speak English as well as good Japanese, so you will have no problems. Plenty of young people go there due to the budget, and it certainly has a studenty feel to it. A casual atmosphere that I greatly enjoyed many times.

There are two types of places where you can induldge in the delights of public humiliation; either a karaoke box, or a snack bar. Snack bars are usually relatively expensive, but you get to watch and listen to people outside of your own group performing, whatever this may mean, and "free" snacks, which means they don't take money for the actual food but there is a table charge.

Karaoke boxes are rented so to speak, and you get your own little room with your group, where you can order drinks and snacks, and are provided with a fat catalogue to choose songs from. Most of them will be in Japanese, but a lot of karaoke boxes have a less substantial (though sufficient) English section at the back, containing classics such as Abba (Dancing Queen being a favourite) and the Beatles. Try the "sour" drinks, which are really just alcopops, or the cocktails that they offer. I particularly like the lychee ones, though I did have some creamy green stuff the other time that was pretty interesting, though it's possible I'd already had a few by that time so it might actually be pretty dubious. At your own risk!

I would recommend Harajuku for shopping on Sundays during the summer. There is a great variety of shops, including accessories, all kinds of alternative styles, and an abundance of cafes and small restaurants. If you want to experience the eccentricities of Japanese youth culture, it is the place to be. The reason I mention Sundays is that next to Meiji-Jingumae Subway station, at the entrance to the park, you will find hoardes of young people dressed in constume, often big black dresses, lots of make-up and shoes with gigantic heels. They love to pose and be photographed, so don''t be shy!

Of course, there is also the fabulous Meiji-Jingu shrine inside Yoyogi park, very much worth a visit on a sunny day. There is a cafe and souvenir shop with plenty of touristy stuff if you like that kind of thing.

Both are essentially made of egg and flour, with bit of vegetable, meat, fish, whatever, added in for flavour. Some come with fish eggs (which I loathe) and others with noodles and pork mixed in. It is truly a unique experience, and to crown it all you finish by frying a sweet, yes SWEET, monja-yaki, with strawberries and cream. Since you can eat and drink as much as you like for the money within the time that you''re there, if you''re going to miss out one of the courses, it might be that you can do without the lovely dessert, but it''s definitely something special.

You do get to make okonomiyaki too, which was by far my favourite, especially when you cover it in lots of okonomiyaki sauce, ground nori, and fish flakes.

As a culinary experience I wouldn''t rate the cruise THAT highly, since there are definitely tastier things in Japan than monja, and if you go to the stukijima area you will find nothing but monja restaurants everywhere anyway, offering you a taste of the same stuff without taking a cruise at all.

It is also a bit rushed, since you have to eat and drink everything within the space of two hours--a period of time that goes much faster than you would expect, but you get a beautiful view of Tokyo from the water, of day turning into night and the shining lights of the city. It''s worth it just for that, but it is a bit pricey for the amount of time you get. Something worth considering if you''re not on the tightest budget.

I loved wandering around, witnessing all the gruesome-looking octopus tentacles and bags of uni (sea urchin). It's fascinating watching the breakdown of a gigantic whole tuna into small portions to be sold to eager fish-loving locals, ready to roll it into sushi or dip it in shoyu and wasabi.

After all that, find your way to one of the sushi bars in the area, where they will serve you the best and freshest fish you are ever likely to have the priviledge of tasting, stopping perhaps on the way for a warm sweet rice drink that you can enjoy on the street.

There are also various other shops where you can purchase sandals and hats and big fat carving knives and all kinds of random objects that might unexpectedly come into use. I thoroughly recommend a visit, particularly if you love fish as I do. You won't regret it.

The park is really quite big, and you'll get a good map or where all the animals are situated, so you can take a long walk around, and cut short through the middle if you don't want to do it all at once. There is at least one cafe where you can enjoy the delights of corn soup and tako-yaki (octopus balls). I personally adore both of the above, but the cafe is not that great.

I would recommend it on a nice warm summer day though, and there's definitely lots of animals to see, particularly in the high season, so you shouldn't be disappointed.

There's also concessions for kids so you should take the whole family. The best way to get there is the train from Shinjuku. I don't remember the name of the station for the zoo but ask anyone and they'll be able to help you, provided they understand what you're asking.

The market leading up to the temple when you walk from the station sells mostly edible things, a specialty being senbe -- rice crackers that you can get here sweet, savoury, covered in sesame seeds, hot or cold. Just like in big supermarkets in Japan, you can enjoy free samples, though it is courteous to make a purchase too if you choose to do this. (I am a hypocrite.)

Speaking of Japanese specialities, you must not miss out on the sweet mochi, which is often served with the bitter macha green tea after meals, but that you can also guy in convenience stores, confectionary shops and on the street. Also try the baked kuri (chestnuts). Prices are slightly elevated due to all the tourism.

If you walk around and get out of the market and temple area, you will also find a shopping street with cafes and restaurants, and the whole place is just really nice to stroll around in good weather, though be aware it can get very crowded with tourists and Tokyo-ites alike.