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Moving Japanese family back with foreign income?
Your situation is actually more common than you might think, especially in areas like Minato-ku where lots of families have one spouse working abroad. The key is finding a real estate agency that regularly deals with foreign income situations. I'd skip the big Japanese chains and go straight to places like Ishin Housing or Aeras, they handle this paperwork all the time and can communicate with you in English by email.
One thing to watch out for with the 400,000 yen ceiling is that many buildings in central Tokyo have strict rules about how many months you can stay without the primary earner being present. Some landlords get nervous about a wife and son living alone without the income earner in Japan. You might need to look at newer buildings in places like Toyosu or Shinonome where they're more used to flexible living arrangements.
The guarantor company route will work, but expect to pay about one month's rent for their service. Your wife should also open a Japanese bank account as soon as she arrives, even with just a small initial deposit, it makes the rent payment process smoother since most landlords want automatic withdrawal from a domestic account.
With that income level you'll have no problem, but the issue is the application process. Most landlords in Tokyo want to see a Japanese guarantor company and proof of domestic income. Since she has neither, you'll want to look at properties that accept the "foreigner guarantor company" option, which is common in Minato, Shibuya, and Chuo-ku. Places like Ken Corporation or Mini Mini are used to handling expat situations and can walk you through the paperwork by email.
Your 400,000 yen ceiling is more than enough for a nice 2LDK or 3LDK in central wards. For reference, a good 70sqm apartment in Azabu-Juban or Hiroo runs about 300,000 to 350,000 yen. Just be prepared to put down 4-5 months upfront for key money, deposit, and agent fee. Make sure your wife has a copy of your tax returns and a letter stating you'll cover all expenses, translated into Japanese.
honestly 60M income is insane so money isnt the problem but the paperwork will be a pain. your wife should bring a power of attorney letter from you notarized and translated, some landlords get weird about the lease being signed by someone whos not the income earner. also maybe
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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