Where karaoke became cool

Talk of the town: In 2004 Japan's Daisuke Inoue was awarded the tongue-in-cheek Ig Nobel Peace Prize for inventing karaoke, "thereby providing an entirely new way for people to learn to tolerate each other."

If you're partial to a late night sing-a-long but find most karaoke bars dull or just plan seedy, Rock Box is the place for you. Like a Japanese karaoke bar but with hip, modern styling, this wood-paneled club is a fun alternative to the traditional bars and dance halls that dot the area.

Here, you can sing in the main bar for free or reserve a private room for a few extra bucks. The stylish rooms are stocked with a variety of music that's so diverse it should please even the most finicky music fan. There's also some great Japanese-inspired plates on offer from 5pm - 10pm.