8,000 yen is a tad expensive for a 90-minute all-you-can-eat course, but Mr.Ichinomiya, the spokesman, says, "We are confident that our quality is unbeatable." One look at the vaunted 3 great crab varieties being served up, and you'll be convinced.

The thick, large legs of the red king crab are overwhelming. The meat is tight and firm, offering a tender texture and a substantial eating experience. One can understand why this variety boasts No. 1 popularity.

One of the highlights of the horsehair crab is the brown meat. Some Japanese people dislike this portion, but we hear that brown meat is also popular with people around Asia.

Horsehair crab caught at the beginning of spring is also referred to as "waka-gani" [young crab]. This is a season in which crabs with slightly less meat become extremely sweet, so we hear that people who truly love horsehair crab prefer waka-gani.

In the Chinese tradition, households post a red piece of paper with the Chinese character "fu" on their doors to wish for luck. "Fu" means blessing or happiness and people usually paste the paper upside down. Called "Dao Fu," hanging "Fu" upside down literally means "luck falls." You may just wonder why anyone would want their luck to fall but Dao Fu has more of the nuance: "luck falls upon you" and therefore bringing the luck to your doorsteps.

A local specialty shop called "Marugoto Hokkaido Kaminarimon Gate Products Main Store," which sells ingredients from Hokkaido, is also nearby. There are usually over 1,000 gourmet products from Hokkaido in stock, so drop by if you have time.