thanks for the 3>2 heads up guys, these things are like .99 cents at Wal-Mart so I will have to pick up a few before we leave. Never would have thought of that

gotta love FT for the things you would never think of

How did your power situation work out with your hotel?

The Westin had 3 prong US type adapters.

Also, I highly recommend renting a pocket Mifi. This cost me $58 for the week and I had great connection at the hotel as well as everywhere I went in Tokyo. With a 2 USB external battery (from Amazon for $18) I had plenty of power for both my phone and the Mifi.

I really enjoyed my first trip to Japan, with the exception that cigarette smoking is still permitted in many restaurants & bars.

Thanks for the reply and great info. I have rented the pocket wifi and just received a battery back up.. should all work out great.

Any hints or tips for the Westin you can share?

Yes, but I'm afraid of straying far off topic now.

Most of the employees on the lobby level floor speak some English and that is very helpful. If you sign up for the breakfast buffet, be mindful it ends at 10 AM, so don't show up at 9:55 and expect a leisurely meal. They start knocking it down at 10AM sharp.

Across the street, or via underground tunnel, is Yebisu Garden Place, a large mall with shops & restaurants. Centrally located to the pavillion is a pharmacy/sundries type shop where you can buy beverages to keep in the mini-fridge. On the other side of the pavillion is a large department store, however the hidden gem is the "food court" in the basement. I use the term food court loosely, and you will understand when you see it. There is a large selection of prepared sushi you can purchase and enjoy lunch seated in the outdoor pavillion.

A couple blocks further than the mall (and downhill) is large street through Ebisu, with many shops and restaurants. There is one I liked so much for lunch I went twice. They have a $10 (1000 yen) lunch special, but the dumplings were so good I ordered extra and paid maybe $18 for lunch. If you want the name, I can look it up.

For dinner one night we went to a place call "Sake & Fish", on a second floor walk up. The owner, Masa, speaks pretty good English and used to be a research analyst at one of Japans investment banks. Go figure.

If you keep walking through the underground tunnel you will get to Ebisu subway station, and the mall there has several floors of shops & restaurants.

Many thanks for straying!:-:

Here's the lunch place, Jin Din Rou ^^^

http://jin-din-rou.net/lunch_ebisu.html