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Kuriiningu-yasan (dry-cleaners) are in almost every neighbourhood. The standards are high and some offer a rush service. It’s about ¥200 for your basic business shirt.

Left Luggage

Travellers wary of hauling unwieldy luggage through Tokyo subways and stations should take advantage of the takkyubin (baggage courier) services operating from Narita airport. For about ¥2000 per large bag, a courier will deliver the goods to your hotel the next day (or pick it up the day before your flight out; call a day ahead of pick-up). At Narita, courier counters are in each terminal hall and are signed in English.

ABC (0120-919-120)

Yamato (0476-324-755)

There are coin lockers in all train and bus stations in Tokyo. Smaller lockers start at ¥300 (you can leave luggage for up to three days). For periods of up to two weeks, you can leave luggage at Tokyo Station’s Rail-Go Service (3231 0804; B1 fl, Tokyo Station; 9am-8pm). If Tokyo Station is still under construction during your visit, the service desk is only accessible by exiting the station. From the Yaesu south exit, turn right and continue alongside the station until you reach a doorway leading to a lift, which goes downstairs to the desk. Rates start at ¥410 per bag per day (the price doubles after five days).

Libraries

Bibliothèque de la Maison franco-japonaise (Map; 5421-7643; www.mfj.gr.jp, in Japanese & French; 3-9-25 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku; 10.30am-6pm Mon-Sat; JR Yamanote line to Ebisu) From Ebisu station, take the Skywalk to the terminus, turn left at the exit and walk two blocks before turning left at the primary school. The public library, with its formidable collection of French volumes, will be on your right.

British Council (Map; 3235-8031; www.britishcouncil.org/japan.htm; 1-2 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku; 10.30am-8.30pm Mon-Fri, 9.30am-5.30pm Sat; JR Chūō, Sōbu lines to Iidabashi, west exit or Namboku, Tōzai, Yūrakuchō, Toei Ōedo lines to Iidabashi, exit B3) Comprehensive selection of books and magazines.

Goethe Institut Tokyo Bibliothek (Map; 3584-3203; 7-5-56 Akasaka, Minato-ku; 1-6pm Mon-Sat, 10am-3pm Sun) With around 15,000 volumes. See also opposite.

Japan Foundation Library (Map; 5369-6086; www.jpf.go.jp/e/jfic/lib/index.html; 4-4-1 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku; 10am-7pm Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm 3rd Sat each month, closed 4th Mon & last day each month; Marunouchi line to Yotsuya-sanchōme, exit 1) Has some 30,000 English-language publications.

National Diet Library (Map; 3506-3300; www.ndl.go.jp/en/; 1-10-1 Nagatachō, Chiyoda-ku; 9.30am-5pm Mon-Sat; Hanzōmon, Yūrakuchō lines to Nagatachō, exit 2) This small treasure has 1.3 million books in Western languages.

Media

There’s plenty of English-language info about Tokyo, starting with the three English-language newspapers (Japan Times, Daily Yomiuri and Asahi Shimbun/International Herald Tribune). The best listings of Tokyo events can be found in Saturday’s Japan Times.

The Tokyo Journal’s Cityscope listings section makes it worth the purchase price, but the free weekly Metropolis is the magazine of choice for most Tokyo residents.

Medical Services

All hospitals listed have English-speaking staff and 24-hour emergency departments. Travel insurance is advisable to cover any medical treatment you may need while in Tokyo. Medical treatment is among the best in the world, and reasonably priced for a developed country.

Japanese Red Cross Medical Center (Map; Nihon Sekijūjisha Iryō Sentā; 3400-1311; www.med.jrc.or.jp, in Japanese; 4-1-22 Hiro-o, Shibuya-ku; Hibiya line to Hiro-o, exit 3)

Keiō University Hospital (Map; 3353-1211; www.hosp.med.keio.ac.jp; 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku; JR Sōbu line to Shinanomachi)

St Luke’s International Hospital (Map; Seiroka Byōin; 3541-5151; www.luke.or.jp/eng/index.html; 9-1 Akashichō, Chūō-ku; Hibiya line to Tsukiji, exit 3)

Money

Banks are open from 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday (some are open until 5pm). Look out for the ‘Foreign Exchange’ sign outside. Some post