You're onto something with the Three-F stores. They're technically a separate Lawson brand focused on freshness and a wider deli selection, so the whole vibe is a bit different. The secret menu thing...

You could try the Nihon Minkaen open-air museum in Kawasaki, it's about 30 minutes from Shinjuku. They moved old farmhouses and samurai residences there piece by piece, and a few of the buildings have...

fwiw there's also a place called TreFac in shibuya that buys used home appliances, they're a bit more legit than hard off. but they'll prob ask about filter replacement history and might knock the pri...

That paper lantern sign is the biggest trap in Matsunoki, I walked past it three times before I realized it was a restaurant. The best trick is to find the Lawson station on the main drag and memorize...

I've found that volunteering is a good way to meet people who actually stick around. Groups like the food sharing collectives in Friedrichshain or the community gardens in Tempelhofer Feld have a pret...