Sleepless in the city

Explore the sights and sounds of a 24-hour Tokyo

Don Quijote
Also known as DonKi, the multi-storey department store is a late night shopper's heaven with outlets scattered across the city, marked by a cute penguin mascot. It has everything you can possibly think of - from apparel, cosmetics, healthcare and household items to food, drinks, toys and fun souvenirs, with the bonus of free WiFi throughout the building.
It also has a dedicated tax-free counter for tourists that accepts credit cards and offers convenient check-outs. Keep in mind that items that are checked out through this counter cannot be consumed in Japan. 
Convenience stores
Be it Family Mart, 7/11, or Lawson, convenience stores are set in almost every nook and cranny of the city to curb your post-midnight cravings.
These are well-stocked with essentials for personal and household use, snacks, beverages, desserts, condiments as well as food options that you can heat up in store and eat at the venue (pro-tip: Some meals are marked 50 per cent off in the wee hours of the night).
Convenience stores are also well-equipped with ATMs, photocopy machines, printers, as well as ticket vending booths. 
Restaurants
Tokyo has a select range of restaurants open till late (with some open 24 hours) serving fresh sushi, piping hot gyudon (beef rice bowl), crunchy tempura dishes, and delightful Japanese curry rice, to name a few. Check out Sushi Zanmai, Yoshinoya, Matsuya, Tempura Tendon Tenya, and CoCo Ichibanya for the above, and experience wholesome authentic meals at pocket-friendly rates.
If you're looking for a homely diner, then Denny's is the place to seek out. A quick search on Google Maps will reveal outlets closest to your accommodation.
Internet cafes
Forget about the old-fashioned net cafes that you're familiar with, Tokyo's hubs are a league apart. The cafes are open all night long and offer secluded booths for rent by the hour, where you can lounge on a comfortable couch and watch movies, play games, listen to music or even read comic books.
Some cafes also come with a drink voucher, where you can enjoy unlimited refills, and purchase hot meals or snacks from their counter. While most of these cafes operate exclusively in Japanese, there are a good number of outlets that speak and offer menus in English, mostly centred in foreigner-friendly areas such as Shibuya and Shinjuku. 
Karaoke
Feeling soulful or just want to belt out some tunes? How about a stop at a karaoke joint to sing your heart out? Similar to internet cafes, these centres offer late night entertainment with rooms available for rent for as low as ¥500 (under Dh20) for 30 minutes. While Japanese and Korean songs are popular, they do have a selection of English songs. You can also order a delectable range of snacks, instant meals and beverages from the menu. 
- farhana@khaleejtimes.com

• Supplements