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want to meet at fmd_good Wildlife Reserve
want to meet at fmd_good Market Deli
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Shinagawa Date ideas?
Relax, you're not going to mess this up by picking the wrong cafe. Since you're meeting after lunch, a cafe is actually a smart move, it's low commitment and easy to extend if things click. Skip the big chains near the station though, they're loud and feel like a pit stop. Walk toward the Konan side, there's a place called "Mia Mia" on the second floor of the Shinagawa Grand Commons building, it's a quiet Australian style cafe with good coffee and not too crowded on weekends. If she's into something sweeter, "Higanbana" in the Tokyo Food Show building does excellent fruit parfaits, but that area gets busy so you might wait.
On the dinner question, don't bring it up at the start. Japanese first dates often stay short, so let the conversation decide. If you're both still chatting after an hour, just say something casual like "I'm getting hungry, there's a decent izakaya near the station if you want to grab a bite" and see how she reacts. If she hesitates or says she has plans, that's normal, it doesn't mean she's not into you. Also, don't stress about paying, offering once is polite, but if she insists on splitting, let her. And a small tip: if she mentions Yokohama a lot, suggest a second date there, that's her way of testing if you're interested in her world.
for a first date in japan, less structure is better. cafes are fine but they can feel like a job interview if you're just sitting across from each other. grab a coffee to go from the stanford's near the atre exit, walk toward the konan side and hit the promenade by the canal. there's benches, it's quiet on weekends, and you can pivot to a proper place if the talk flows. that's way more natural than being stuck at a table.
dinner is a "offer once, let it go" thing. japanese girls your age often have plans or just want to keep it short, so if she says no, don't read into it. also, don't do the whole "let me pay" dance. just say "i got this" when the bill comes, if she insists on splitting, let her. it's not a test, it's just how it works here.
one thing nobody mentions: bring a small gift, like a pack of nice tea or a little sweet from a depachika. not flowers, that's too much. just a "thanks for coming out" vibe. it's a nice touch she won't expect from a foreigner. and if she starts talking about yokohama, ask her to show you around next time, that's her hint.
honestly the cafe plan is fine, just pick one that's not dead quiet. a first date at a chain place is actually kinda smart here, it's low pressure. but if u want something with a bit more charm, head to the "shinagawa prince" area, there's a starbucks reserve roastery in the tokyo food show building, it's big and easy to talk, plus the matcha tiramisu is solid.
about dinner, don't assume anything. japanese dating norms are way more about reading the room. if she seems into it after an hour, just say "i know a ramen spot nearby if u want to keep hanging" and let her decide. also, yokohama is close, so if she offers to show u around her side, that's a good sign. u can mention u haven't explored much, she'll prob take the lead.
one more thing: don't stress about paying. at 21, going dutch is normal, but offer once, like "let me get this" and if she insists, let her split. it's not a big deal either way. also, casual walking date is underrated, u can grab a drink to go and stroll toward the konan area, it's got a nice view of the bay at sunset. good luck, u got this.
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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.