OnPoint by Keith Ng

If you are still in Kyoto there is a giant cinema complex style internet cafe in a basement in one of the main streets. There are showers, sunbeds, a giant manga library, slippers, robes, food, toothbrushes.....and not so much with the porny atmosphere.
Mmmm soothing, it was really hot outside when I was there and I would have been happy to hide in there for longer than the two hours or so that I spent happily hiding from temples and crowds.

Random dinner is exactly what you get when you have to rely on the pictures. (Thai or Vietnamese cuisine generally travels well, even to Japan, but I've heard Tokyo described as "the place where bad things happen to good Mexican food", and my experience bears that out: dishes that looked authentic but tasted nothing like. It's a new low to have it happen to sushi though!)

Re public Internet in Japan: yep, not easy to find ('cos it's assumed --and actually about 60% true-- that everyone has an internet-capable cellphone). But I suspect you really had to seek out a solution quite that seedy (if so, worth it for the tease of your opening paragraph). There are a number of outfits originally set up as manga libraries that have added internet cafes to their service; most in the 100-500Y/hour range (depending on the level of service; what you describe is at the deepest end of that continuum).

Or you could try what I used to do and simply walk into one of the larger hotels, such as the Metropolitan in Ikebukuro. This is one of the few ways that I have found being an obvious gaijin is a distinct advantage, as it is simply assumed you are a guest and therefore eligible to use the computer room. The computing facilities are often not that flash, but they are entirely free. Possibly not such a good idea to do that when billing for work though.

Linger, good Mexican can be found in Harajuku off Omotosando Dori in a basement. Mind you my opinion may be influenced by the giant margaritas they serve. If you need directions you need only ask.

oh, yeh -- the larger branches of HMV and/or Virgin Megastore also used to offer free internet (you'd have to sign the register and book a time, but no charge). (But I'm not sure if that's still true. Haven't seen a Virgin store for a few years, they may have been sold off.)

kowhai: would that be the Fonda de la Madrugada in the Villa Bianca?
From review in Metropolis 691:

"Tokyo’s best Mexican restaurant is also the best place to find icy cold beers from the finest brewers south of the border. Sample favorites like Corona, Tecate and Dos XX along with hard-to-find beers like Bohemia, Sol and Negra Modelo. Fonda de la Madrugada serves authentic Mexican food in a festive, country-style setting complete with live mariachis. Specialties include the heaping plate of nachos (¥900), chicharron con salsa (crispy pork skins with salsa ¥1,000), and carnitas estilo michoacan (spice rubbed pork, guacamole and beans in warm tortillas ¥2,000) to go along with your beer."

Do they still have Zest Mexican restaurants? There was one near Harajuku (unless I'm getting it confused with the Italian place La Boheme which was owned by the same company) and there was a much bigger branch somewhere that was kept cool by a giant phterodactyl that flapped its wings.

Yeah the Virgin Megastore's free internet was awesome, top of a skyscraper looking out over the city streaming bfm for free, my friend and I took a photo of ourselves against the skyline on our cellphone and sent it in to the station. We squealed like schoolgirls when we got a live shout out, "this is for the two lovely ladies listening in Tokyo".

Linger, yes I think that is the place now you have gone and made me hungry.

Keith,

You can actually stay all night in the Popeye internet cafe for about 2500-3000 yen. Apparently, there is a sub-culture of "freeters" (Japan's lost generation) doing just that while they work for a pittance in the service industry. I also hear that high school runaways use them as lodging. Even more scandalous is that teenage prostitutes have been using them to service their johns.

If you say a Family Mart, you can buy a Brastel dialing card for 2000 yen. This will probably get you 3-4 hours of international telephone calls, and they can be used from a phone booth. Free internet has always been a tough one in Japan but if you see an Apple Store or Sofmap electronics store, then you're safe.

If you get a chance, try Osho--a cheap Chinese greasy spoon that will get you a set menu for under 800 yen. When I'm hungover, I go for the spicy ramen, fried rice and gyouza deal which usually sorts me out pretty quickly.

If you are still in Kyoto there is a giant cinema complex style internet cafe in a basement in one of the main streets. There are showers, sunbeds, a giant manga library, slippers, robes, food, toothbrushes.....and not so much with the porny atmosphere.

Do you mean the one under Sanjo Covered Arcade? I'm there right now, and they have some hardcore soothing new-age ambience stuff playing. Strugging to stay awake.

But I suspect you really had to seek out a solution quite that seedy (if so, worth it for the tease of your opening paragraph).

You got me. It wasn't hard to find, but I was totally blogging it in my head before I even went up the stairs.

If you say a Family Mart, you can buy a Brastel dialing card for 2000 yen. This will probably get you 3-4 hours of international telephone calls, and they can be used from a phone booth.

Gah, that's exactly what I was looking for. Oh well. I've checked into a business hotel just to make that bloody phone call.

How fun! I guess you know this by now but if you want to find internet just look for the katakana for manga and 9 times out of 10 bamm it will be manga cafe with internet.
Have fun.