SEPTEMBER 4, 2000 VOL. 156 NO. 9

Short Cuts

TRAVEL WATCH Tokyo's Chefs Get a Grip on Europe The Japanese capital doesn't usually get top billing with New York and Paris as an international culinary center. Until now Hot Spots A welcome addition to Tokyo's already lively entertainment scene is the winebar Short Cuts Veterans of Tokyo's vending machines will be disappointed to hear that many of them are going alcohol free Web Crawling Log on to the online version of Tokyo Journal, a city magazine that goes beyond band listings and wimpy movie reviews Food Stuff Like good chefs everywhere, the folks who run Tokyo's best French and Italian restaurants are always on the lookout for the tastiest vegetables Travel Watch Archive: Browse hundreds of Asian travel tips

OUT OF ORDER Veterans of Tokyo's vending machines will be disappointed to hear that many of them are going alcohol free. In a push to curb underage drinking, 70% of Japan's 170,000 alcohol vending machines—mostly in urban areas—have been voluntarily shut down.

POOH FUN Tokyo Disneyland has opened a new attraction that should draw guests like bears to honey. Pooh's Hunny Hunt, which began welcoming visitors on Sept. 1, will put you in a "hunny" pot and sweep you through a giant storybook, chasing Winnie the Pooh the whole way.

STEEL DRAGON If Winnie is a little too sweet for your taste, head west of Tokyo to Mie prefecture and the amusement park Nagashima Spaland to ride the new rollercoaster, the Steel Dragon. Billed as the longest, deepest, fastest rollercoaster in the world, it offers a four-minute ride covering 2.4 km, scaling a 97-m hill and then plunging down a 68 slope. An empty stomach is highly recommended.

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