In the Area

• Gifts and trinkets from Nippon TV

  Minato-ku

  A pretty good resource for novelty gifts.  Obviously the stock here changes depending on what TV programs the channel is trying to promote.  Still, you'll surely find something here to amuse. It could be good for stuff to send to friends back home, although there is the risk that no one will have a clue what the characters are.Of course, the goods here are of the usual type; lots of hand/face towels, files, key holders, themed stationary.  Expect to pay anywhere between 1,000 - 2,000 yen for a towel.  I saw some cool stickers for 450 yen.  There are lots of cookies/snacks aimed as gifts here.  Expect to pay around 600 yen for a box of 10-15.  The Nippon TV shop also houses a small bank of toy vending machines, always a source for cool little gift.  The machines in the shop at the time of visiting were 300 yen a go.The store is pretty small, but it manages to pack a lot in.  It also seems pretty photo friendly (perhaps unsurprising given the numbers of tourists that come here).  There are also cool displays to have a look at, and often some kind of life-size replica of an actor or actress in costume which people like to have their photo taken with.Just outside the store you'll find a Taco Bell, a coffee shop and a seating area outside.  There's also a Tower Records nearby.  The store, whilst not really worth going out of your way for itself, is on the ground floor of the Nippon TV Tower which has other attractions open to the public.

  

• Ghibli Clock Shiodome Station

  Chuo-ku

  If you are a big fan of the animation studio ghibli you should visit Shiodome Station in the center of Tokyo. Outside of the station in front of Nittere Plaza  you will find a huge clock desgined by the Studio Ghibli. The clock is really amazing big and have many cute details.At 3pm, 6pm and 8pm you can also enjoy a litle show of the clock.

  

• Vegetable Salad Buffet in Ginza

  Chuo-ku

  Japan's local vegetables are delicious, most of them are carefully grow by some local farmers.In this shop, I don't think the staff can speak English but the menu has some pictures for each course that you can choose from. I didn't go for the course because it is a little bit expensive, the cheapest course is around 5000 yen include 9 appetizers, salad bar, main course and soup.Since I am on a diet, I just order the salad bar and eating non-stop for an hour until I get tired from vegetables. At the end, I am not hungry but feel empty.http://yasai-no-ohsama.com

  

• Come for the fantasy, not for the food

  Chuo-ku

  I had an amazing night in the Alice in Wonderland Fantasy Dining Restaurant in Ginza. I will never forget it. However, it wasn't for the quality of the restaurant, but rather the company I was in. Sure, it was fun, but for what you pay it would be nice if there was some quality, and not just aesthetics, to the food. There are some great points though and if you are a fan of Alice in Wonderland or if you are crazy about theme restaurants, it is well worth the visit. However, for me, I walked away feeling that it is all smoke and mirrors as we say in English. The fun feel, the funky decor, the staff in costumes, the elaborately presented food distract you from all that is wrong with this dining experience. The food is at the very best mediocre, in fact I would go so far to say that my main course, a pasta dressed up as the Chesire Cat was worse than anything I'd make myself. And that is saying a lot as I am very culinary challenged. It was dry, bland, basic and frankly I found it hard to finish. The salad wasn't much better. The saving grace was the desserts, which are as good to eat as they are as delightful to look at. I also found our table terribly cramped. We were in a booth that was too narrow to pull your chair back. It was a bit of an acrobatic act to get from one end of the table to the other. The lighting was also too dark especially as the decor is quite dark too.However, having said all that, I am glad I went, saw and experienced. I wouldn't rush back, but it was a fun place to visit. 

  

• Cheap yakiniku lunch in Shimbashi

  Minato-ku

  'Salaryman town' Shimbashi has so many restaurants to choose from.  The problem is, so many of them are tiny, and so many of the are crowded, so much of the time.  This is really where ぴゅあ焼肉 (Pure Yakiniku) comes into its own; it always has a plenty of space.  Maybe this is a poor reflection of the food.  I disagree.  This is a great place to come for your lunch, if you like meat.This restaurant has great value lunch sets for around the 1,000 yen mark.  I always go with the yakiniku set (after all, that's what the restaurant specializes in).  For 1,000 yen you get a tray with two servings of meat, a side salad, rice, miso soup, some pickles, and also a choice of drink (the usual sort of thing; coffee, tea, soft drinks).  The meat is cooked on a communal grill in the center of your table.  The service here is prompt and efficient.  When you enter, wait to be seated.  The bill is left at your table (you don't need to call for it).  When you're done, take the bill to the counter and pay there.Another good point about ぴゅあ焼肉 (Pure Yakiniku) is that you can leave the restaurant without smelling of grilled meat, unlike some places in the area that can leave you feeling greasy and smelling pretty bad.OK, so for 1,000 yen don't expect to come here and eat something like the equivalent of Jojoen (and expensive yakiniku chain), but you'll certainly get filled up, and your wallet won't suffer for it.  In the interior is nothing to shout about, but it's clean, the lighting is pleasant, and, again, there's plenty of room to stretch out. The lunch menu is available from 11:30 - 14:30.  It can be an easy place to miss (look out for the Tsutaya across the street).  Dinner is served from 17:00 - 23:30 but I haven't been here at this time.