Last weekend I joined some friends onboard the floating bar, The Jicoo, which purrs back and forth till 11 pm between Hinode Pier and Odaiba, picking up passengers. The Jicoo has become something of a floating Tokyo landmark because of its magnificent sci-fi-esque design by the acclaimed manga artist Leiji Matsumoto. Here's what it looks like by day:

¥2500 cover charge includes one free drink (a glass of wine while we waited), the staff are all decked out in sharp uniforms and are really attentive, the view is fabulous and really - the only thing that totally sucked (apart from the 8 people who left early and shortchanged us stayers) was the appalling muzak (oh, and the tiny range of beer options).

We were the only group on board, the rest were all couples on dates and we all wondered just how this booze-cruise is faring if their main clientele are hand-holding couples who sit on one drink and gaze into each others eyes when they're not gazing out at the view.... I say we seize the day, hijack the boat, load it up with some cool bands and electronic producers, a bunch of friends and ride it to Okinawa.

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