Here are some shops I have found in Japan that I found to be a little out of the ordinary and particularlly interesting. Let me know if you need any more information and want to try one!

Nagoya Area Shops

	ROKURO KOUBOU - ろくろ工房 Type: Cafe + Ceramics Schools Phone: (052) 932-4675 Site: Rokuro Ceramics Schools Station: Subway - Shiogamaguchi - 塩釜口駅 Charm Point: Home-made silverware and furniture, and food! Avg Price: About 800 yen for coffee and cake.

Access:
A short walk from Shiogamaguchi subway station on the tsurumai line.
This map borrowed from the shop site.

Info:
Rokuro is unique because it is also a ceramics school. The food is great, with a cake that changes everyday, fresh ground coffee, and other items as well. The webpage has the full menu available.
Also, if you're looking for a new experience, you can sign up for ceramics classes. One time experience trial sessions are also available.
The owner is extremely nice and open to conversation. Most of the plates and tables and chairs and what not are all hand-made items that are made by herself, or other friends of the shop.

Menu Points:
Coffee. Cake. What more do you need to know?

Osaka Area Shops

	Bep Oi Type: Vietnamese Restaraunt/Bar w/ Billiards Phone: 06-4964-6089 Site: http://www.xin.jp/bepoi/ Station: Subwa Honmachi - 本町（地下鉄） Charm Point: Free Pool all day long! ビリヤードは無料でいつでも楽しめます。 Avg Price: About 3000 yen

Access:
JR Honmachi Station, exit 7, 5 min walk
中央区久太郎町1-8-9　大阪塗料会館ビル　Ｂ１Ｆ

Info:
This shop is strange. The food quality and atmosphere are good enough to bring a date... But the music is usually house, dance, or techno... and there is a pool table right in the middle of the restaraunt that customers can play free of charge... anytime! There is nothing else around the shop as Honmachi is kinda in the middle of a business area...

Menu Points:
Be sure to try the Vietnamese drip coffee, and the chicken wings (tebasaki chicken)! Also, the Pho (noodles) are a great last point for a meal.

	WARAKU - 和楽 Type: Izakaya + Live Music Phone: 06−6489−4658 Site: No Website Station: JR Amagasaki Station - ＪＲ尼崎駅 Charm Point: Live Shamisen and Folk songs from 7:30 to 9:30 食べながら三味線と民謡を楽しめます。 Avg Price: About 3000 yen

Access:
JR Amagasaki Station, walk 2 minutes.
When you get off the train head for the direction of Kobe and it's across the street in front of the rotary on the left. It's on the 2nd floor, between a Chinese shop and a Sake store.

ＪＲ尼崎駅（神戸方面向いて左側ローターリーの前。 酒屋と中華屋の間の階段を上がって2階にある）

Info:
A course menu available for 2000 yen. Individual items also available. The music starts at 7:30, and cusotmers drink and eat while they listen. The owner is a Shamisen master, who is used to foreigners, so the music is always good, and atmostphere friendly. The shop is very large and spacious.

Menu Points:
They have a fish head which is pictured that my Japanese friends loved. Also interesting on the menu is whale meat. Other dishes are typical Izakaya fare.

	BAR HEMMINGWAY Type: Wine Bar - Spanish + Live Music Phone: 06-6282-0205 Site: No Website Station: Shinsaibashi Station- 心斎橋 Charm Point: Live Flamenco Nights [Call for Event Schedule] Avg Price: ~ 4000 yen Hours: Open 18:00 - 3:00 (Sat 1:00) - Close Sunday Others: SPANISH OK

Access:

大阪市中央区東心斎橋1-12-14
ゼルコヴぁビル６F 542-0083

Osaka, Chuo-ku, Higashishinsaibashi 1- 12-14
Zerukova Building, 6F 542-0083

Info:
BAR HEMINGWAY makes up for its small size with big flavor and atmosphere. The owners of HEMINGWAY claim to love Spain just as much as Ernest Hemingway did. Many pictures and magazines featuring Spain, and Hemingway's life are on display. The shop only has about 6, 4 person tables and a bar, but during events customers do not hesitate to take their drinks and food while standing. If you want a seat, arrive at around 6:30pm! The live flamenco shows performed by Japanese locals keep things lively.

Menu Points:
Expensive, but the 1000yen entrance fee gets you all you can drink Sherry (シェリー), which is a light Spanish Wine. The menu is expensive, ranging from about 250 yen to 500 yen for a delicate plate of authentic Spanish cuisine, such as Hammon, Escargo, and a type of Liver Paste.