Courtesy of Hard Rock Cafe

Hard Rock Cafe Tokyo & Yokohama
Numerous events and live music await you at "The New Millennium Countdown Party." Goodies include an all-you-can-eat buffet, two drinks and a limited "I celebrated the New Year's 2001 at Hard Rock Cafe" pin set. Get your tickets before they sell out. Price: Tokyo JY7000, Yokohama JY6000.

Hours: Dec 31, 10:30pm-Jan 1, 12:30am. Hard Rock Cafe Tokyo, 5-4-20 Roppongi, Minato-ku. Nearest stn: Hibiya line, Roppongi stn; Hard Rock Cafe Yokohama, Queens Tower A1F, 2-3-1 Minato Mirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama-shi. Nearest stn: Sakuragi-cho stn.

The New York Bar and Grill
Relive this century's most flamboyant decade at New York Grill's "Century Countdown Celebration New Year's Eve 2000." Come dressed as your favorite gangster, flapper or early Hollywood movie star and slip into the glamorous other-world of the speakeasy in the days of Prohibition. A great evening awaits with big-prize gaming tables, cabaret show, girls shimmying-it-out on the dance floor and the best part, a seven course gourmet dinner. The New York Bar and Grill is not one to let you down and for JY50,000 per head, it's worth every yen. You must be over 18, and jackets are recommended.

Hours: Dec 31, 8pm-Jan 1, 1am. Park Hyatt Tokyo 52F, 3-7-1-2 Nishi-Shinjuku. 03-5322-1234. Nearest stn: Keio New line, Hatsudai stn.

Spago
Ring in the New Year with Wolfgang Puck's famous California cuisine and all-you-can-drink wine and champagne at chic Spago. Only 90 lucky people can join, so make your reservations early. A raffle including round trip tickets to Europe will be drawn and you might just be the lucky one. JY5000 per person.

Hours: Dec 31, 10pm-Jan 1, 12:30am. 5-7-8 Roppongi, Minato-ku. 03-3423-4025. Nearest stn: Hibiya line Roppongi stn, behind Roa Bldg.

The Hilton
Marble Lounge
Enjoy live modern Latino music by Izumi Kaneko and Toboo Show as well as Aaron Narukiyo's "Tokyo Elvis" and his band's performance on a specially prepared dance floor at this casual family dining restaurant. All of the guests and artists will join together in counting down to the year 2001. Cover charge: JY2100. Then, stick around for their New Year Brunch Buffet-JY4000 for adults, JY2000 for kids.

St. George's Bar
St. George's Bar's countdown party in a sophisticated, clubby atmosphere is famous for being fun. Listen to jazz and pop music performed by Maxis from Australia. Cover charge: JY3500.

Hours: Marble Lounge-Call for times (ext. 315); St. George's Bar-Dec 31, 6pm-Jan 1, 2am; live music from 9pm. 6-2 Nishi Shinjuku 6-chome, Shinjuku. 03-3344-5111. Nearest stn: Marunouchi line, Nishi Shinjuku stn.

Oak World
Divided into Japanese, Chinese and Italian zones, Oak World offers more than just international menus. Each restaurant zone offers authentic dishes and diverse entertainment with each theme. For instance, the Italian zone boasts a magician, the Chinese zone will have lion dancing and the Japanese zone will ring in the New Year the traditional way: With 108 bells, mochi-tsuki (pounding rice into glutinous rice cakes) and other Japanese-style activities.

Hours: Dec 31, 3pm-Jan 1, 4:30am. Dai-ni Towa Kaikan, 1-21-1 Kabuki-cho, Shinjuku. 03-5272-2670. Nearest stn: Shinjuku stn.

Shamaim Israeli Restaurant
One of the best Israeli restaurants around, Shamaim is celebrating the New Year with DJ music from the '70s, belly dancing and authentic food and drinks, including Middle Eastern favorites such as falafel, hummus, etc. The party costs only JY3000 per person, with food and drinks included.

Hours: Dec 31, 9pm-Jan 1, 2am. Art Bldg 2F, 4-11 Sakae-cho, Nerima-ku. 03-3948-5333. Nearest stn: Seibu Ikebukuro line, Ekoda stn.

Bars

Frigo
An over-25 crowd gathers here every night to enjoy this Belgian beer bar in the heart of Shinjuku. Join them for a countdown party with a live DJ and special beer prices. Hoegaarden blanche JY600, Guinness JY700/pint, Carlsberg JY600.

Hours: Call for times. 2-11-20-B1F, Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku. 03-5371-0666. Nearest stn: JR Shinjuku stn, south exit, along Koshu-kaido.

Rock City Noize
This small DJ basement shot bar has live rock music twice a week. To celebrate 2001, all drinks will have happy hour prices and a free cup of sake will be served to everyone there who rings in the New Year.

Hours: Dec 31, 6pm-Jan 1, 5am. World Bldg B1, 12-9 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya. 03-3462-2983. Nearest stn: Shibuya stn.

Others

Courtesy of Joypolis

Tokyo Joypolis Odaiba
Odaiba and Joypolis on Tokyo Bay offer not only a great view for fireworks, but also for an exciting countdown event. From 11:35pm, the Joypolis dancers (and the crowd) will dance away to three of this year's most popular J-pop hits with special lights and sound action to psyche everyone up. Then, party-poppers will be handed out to the crowd and from 11:57pm, they willwatch the giant screen as it flashes scenes from the 20th century and then begins the countdown. A loud night full of energy. JY500 entrance fee.

Hours: Joypolis opens Dec 31 at 10am, but the party will last all night. Decks Tokyo Beach 3-5F, 1-6-1 Daiba. 03-5500-1801. Nearest stn: Yurikamome line, Odaiba Kaihin Koen stn.

Courtesy of Hikawamaru

Hikawamaru
Want to do something different? Then celebrate the New Year on the open deck of a large cruise ship. Overlooking Yokohama Bay, Hikawamaru's annual countdown party is on once again. At midnight on the dot, fireworks will light the harbor sky and all of the boats and ships docked in Yokohama port will blow their foghorns to loudly ring in 2001. Games, dancing and live music are held inside for a night of fun. Be sure to buy your tickets (JY2000) in advance!

Hours: Dec 31, 8pm-Jan 1, 2am. Call 045-641-4361 for more information. Nearest stn: JR Kannai stn.

Courtesy of Hikawamaru

Big Screen Countdown
All of the large screens mounted on top of buildings and in front of stations will have several activities leading up to the big countdown. It's no Times Square but you can still get the feel of it.

Big Screens are located in: Harajuku, Omotesando, Shibuya, Shinjuku (Studio Alta), Ikebukuro, Roppongi.