http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7377
This hip music bar has become steadily more popular over the past few years, as more and more people cottoned onto the fact that, hell, the combination of affordable drinks, quality tunes and an oh-too-perfect location slipped down pretty easily.

The music does the talking here: the shelves behind the bar house some 3000 LPs, mainly 60s and 70s rock, which the master rules over with military authority - strictly no requests (well, unless you're a regular and there's no-one else within earshot). They've got Heartland on tap (a rarity in this neck of the woods) and a mean selection of spirits, while the food menu includes some fairly tasty tacos and pizzas, among other things.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7377 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7091
The Owari branch of the Tokugawa family were one of the most powerful daimyo (feudal rulers) of the Edo period (1603-1867), and their vast array of heirlooms are showcased here. It's a mighty impressive collection, running the gamut from swords to pottery to exquisite centuries-old paintings and kimono. Everything is presented beautifully, and the displays are pretty much all bilingual.

The jewel in the museum's crown is a large portion of the 12th-century Illustrated Tale of Genji, but owing to its fragility it seldom goes on public display. Small sections are shown at certain times of the year, and there are also regular special exhibitions. Check the website for details.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7091 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7278
The "Fuji" bit is something of a misnomer, mind you. Japan's iconic mountain was actually visible from the site of the inaugural event in 1997 - but then, that event was destroyed halfway through by a typhoon, leading the organisers to choose an alternative location. It's now held at Naeba Ski Resort in Niigata Prefecture - a pretty much ideal setting, albeit one that's blighted by random, torrential downpours.

Compared to most western festivals, Fuji is an almost ludicrously civilised affair. The campsite comes complete with showers and a free hot spring bath, everyone is handed litter bags on the way into the arena so they can pick up after themselves, and - get this - the queue for the merchandise shops are about 2 hours longer than the ones for the beer tents. The latter seldom having any queue whatsoever, natch.

If you go, be sure to check out the smaller Field of Heaven and Orange Court stages, take a walk along the forest boardwalk at night (trippy visuals galore), and pay a visit to the Palace of Wonder area in the wee hours of the morning - it's where all the meeja people hang out, along with a few bona fide celebrities.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7278