It really is too hot to wander far from home -- unless, of course, you're heading for a beach. Even the government recognizes this fact, with the official four-day summer O-bon holiday being one of three officially sanctioned and nationally observed annual vacation periods (the other two being New Year and Golden Week). During the break, the cities become ghost towns as their populations flee in favor of cooler climes in the mountains and along the coast.

For those left behind, the upside is that you virtually get the city to yourself. The downside, though, is that most restaurants and bars will be closed . . . but, fortunately, not all.

Among the summer stalwarts remaining open in my neighborhood is Rude Boy Cafe -- a reggae bar-cum-curry kitchen tucked in behind Jiyugaoka Station. There is something about the heat that lends itself to reggae and eating hot, spicy, sweat-inducing curry. But what makes Rude Boy Cafe one of my favorite hideaways is its layout and laid-back atmosphere.