I'm going to Tokyo for a three night stop-over in September and don't know anyone in the city, nor a word of Japanese. I'm after a buddy at my destination who would can show me around town. I'm young and want to hit trendy bars and clubs. Do you have any ideas, as I want to make the best of my short stay? Stefan Boden, by email

Sunday Times travel expert, Richard Green, responds: While not exactly buddies, there are local volunteers in Tokyo who can help show you around. At least they will get your daytime sightseeing off on the right foot, and one of the organisations is staffed by students. At night, even if you aren't staying there, dropping by a good hostel is your best springboard into the city's frenetic nightlife.

For daytime, there are several Goodwill Guides associations in the city, with local volunteers who can show you some of their city for free. Visit www2.ocn.ne.jp/~sgg for details of walks around some central sights.

Or for shopping, you can find a free guide for three hours via www1.cts.ne.jp/~koasa/SGG. There's also Tokyo International Student Guides, arranged by contacting Mr. Takahashi by email at takahashi@tit.ac.jp

For evenings out, you'll find it easy to meet other foreigners at the bigger hostels, plus their front desks are fonts of useful information on where are the latest hotspots. Try the Sakura Hostel or the Tokyo International Hostel.

For something very Japanese and great fun, Experience Tokyo offers a range of small group courses, where you can watch Sumo practice over breakfast, and then enter the ring for a push and shove yourself, or try your hand as a Sushi chef, or take on some Taiko Drumming. There are calmer experiences too, like the traditional tea ceremony, silk dyeing and calligraphy. Prices start at £37pp, bookable through Via Japan (020 7484 3328).

For further information on Tokyo and Japan, there's the Japan National Tourist Organisation (020 7734 6870).

If you want to avoid the tourist trail altogether, you could shun hotels and sleep on a local's couch. The website couchsurfing.com might locate a friendly Tokyo resident with a sofabed, as it has more than 1,000 members listed in Japan - beware though, it's considered poor couchsurfing etiquette not to offer a place on your sofa in return.

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