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want to meet at fmd_good Wildlife Reserve
want to meet at fmd_good Market Deli
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Parks in Tokyo with picnic tables?
Komazawa Olympic Park has actual picnic tables near the main lawn, they're scattered around the back side of the track field. It's a bit of a trek from the station but way less crowded than Yoyogi on weekends. The 100 yen shop across from Komazawa station sells disposable tablecloths if you want to claim one quickly.
honestly if you're fine with a bit of a hike, Inokashira Park in Kichijoji has a few scattered picnic tables near the boathouse side. they're not marked on any map but you'll spot them if you walk along the path closest to the water. grab some food from the vendors at the main entrance first, the takoyaki spot on the corner is solid for like 500 yen. way less of a fight for space than Yoyogi too
Most parks in Tokyo don't have dedicated picnic tables like you'd see in the US or Europe. Your best bet is Shinjuku Gyoen, where you can bring a blanket and sit on the grass near the large lawn areas. If you really want a table, head to Yoyogi Park on a weekend morning before the crowds show up, the concrete benches near the fountain work in a pinch.
Where can I find crispy, pan-fried bacon similar to a certain international style?
if u have a costco membership the kirkland thick cut is the move, 4 packs of 500g for around 2500 yen and it crisps up proper in a cold pan. for smaller runs, precce in azabudai hills & the basement at isetan shinjuku both carry imported US & danish brands in the chilled case, just read the label for "thick cut" or "smoked" and not "loin". also worth knowing japanese bacon is often wet-cured so pat it dry before frying or it steams instead of crisping
kaldi coffee farm is hit or miss but their smoked bacon from denmark shows up pretty regular, the 200g pack runs about 600 yen. what actually works better for me is asking the butcher counter at peacock or life to slice the block bacon thick, like 5mm, they do it for free and it crisps way better than the pre-packed stuff. also fwiw cheap bacon crisps faster, the fatty supermarket kind at 300 yen a pack works fine if u cook it from cold in a dry pan and pour off the fat as it renders.
tbh the gyomu super store brand bacon is surprisingly decent for crisping up, its not thick cut but if you cook it low and slow it gets pretty crunchy. the key is the dry cure vs wet cure thing, wet cure steams. also check hanamasa if you have one nearby, they sell big packs of american style bacon thats actually smoked and firm.
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