MAY 1, 2000 VOL. 155 NO. 17

Hot Spot

TRAVEL WATCH Who Needs Nature? Japan Does It Better Technological efforts in Japan have often been devoted to recreating the real world, and the result is a bewildering array of virtual-reality fun around the country. Detour Osamu Tezuka is often called the Walt Disney of Japan. Hot Spot Virtual fun can build up a very real appetite. Short Cuts The Park Hyatt Tokyo is ideal for those who feel they have earned a little pampering. Web Crawling Japan in your Palm.

Virtual fun can build up a very real appetite, so why not try one of the many Tokyo sushi restaurants offering all-you-can-eat bargains? Dining in the Japanese capital used to be frightfully expensive, but not anymore. And eateries don't skimp on variety either. Toro (fatty tuna), shrimp, squid, bonito, cod roe and many other raw delicacies arrive at your table in a delicious, endless procession. Hinazushi in Shibuya (81-3 3462-1003) guarantees quality and variety at $40 a person. Hinazushi excels in the caliber of fish it serves, according to Sushi Bugyo, a website that describes and rates sushi restaurants (www.asahi-net.or.jp/~yi4e-yni/sushi.htm).

Female diners are often charged less, on the premise that they don't eat as much as men, and "couples" rates can be had at some restaurants. Among them is Tsukiji Tamazushi in Odaiba (81-3 5500-5048), which allows couples to share all the sushi they can eat for $65. This offer is available only for male-female pairs.

Prices, usually $15-$45 a person, generally indicate the quality of sushi you can expect. But variables like location, variety and time limits all come into play. Some restaurants impose limits on diners to keep the tables turning over. Others, including Hinazushi and Tsukiji Tamazushi, impose no restrictions. You must simply finish by the time the restaurants close for the break between lunch and dinner. Hinazushi shuts from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., raising the price by $4 for the dinner service.

One warning to all-you-can-eat enthusiasts: most establishments impose a fine of $2 or more for every piece of sushi left uneaten by patrons whose eyes are bigger than their stomachs.

By Miki Tanikawa