Since Nakano-ku is so close to Shinjuku, many people just hop on a train and head there. However, if you want to stay closer to home there are always the local pubs and watering-holes, and a good place to start is in the area just north of Nakano station, where there’s a small web of Chinese, ramen, yakitori and yakiniku restaurants. Check out Aoba Ramen for one of the area’s most popular bowls of ramen. Sun Plaza has bowling lanes, a fitness centre and a well-known concert hall. Nakano-ku also has an excellent public library with a large English selection.