I went there as well (in May). It's in the Time Out and Lonely Planet guides, so I'm sure they're used to "Western" customers- I wouldn't have guessed it, though, from the clientele the day I was there.

You take an elevator down to the dining room. The Tempura was great, and I had a great conversation with an older Japanese man who had lived in Spain for 25 years. He started off the conversation by complimenting me on my chopstick usage- flattery will get you everwhere!

Re: Starbucks- the Starbucks in Japan look cheaper than those in NY. But a "venti" (XL) coffee in Japan is about the size of a small coffee in the States.

Toxa- sorry you can't make it, after all.