New to Tokyo, T.B. is trying to make friends and wants to know if there are any clubs that he can join to meet new people and get involved with the international community.

There are, but it very much depends on what kind of place you are looking for. One of the oldest and most convenient is the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan, located near Yurakucho Station on the Yamanote Line and Hibiya Station on the subway's Hibiya Line. The telephone number is (03) 3211-3161 and you can get information on joining by mailing [email protected] or via their Web site at www.fccj.or.jp. The club has an "associate member" program for those who are not foreign correspondents but wish to join.

The International House of Japan in Roppongi (phone (03) 3470 4611; Web site at www.i-house.or.jp) was founded as a place for visiting academics to meet their Japanese counterparts. International House has a wonderful library, and is a quiet getaway right in the heart of the city. Featuring a beautiful traditional garden, it was recently refurbished and is now very smart. Once a member, you can also stay there, and accommodation is very reasonable priced.