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Businesses charging foreigners more?
The governor didn't address that point and the reporter didn't return to it, but are there known cases of businesses charging foreign tourists higher prices than Japanese customers?
First, who? And second, what criteria are they using for distinguishing between tourists and foreign residents dealing with the same economic pressures they are?
honestly the most blatant example i've seen is at a shabu-shabu place in asakusa where the all-you-can-eat is 4,800 yen on the japanese menu but the tablet they hand to foreigners shows 6,500. i asked the server about it in japanese and she got flustered and switched the tablet over. for distinguishing it's usually just whoever walks in first and what language they speak to the host, so foreign residents who lead with japanese get the local rate most of the time
the real weird one is at a small soba shop near ueno where they have a "service charge" for non-japanese customers listed in tiny print at the bottom of the english menu. it's only 100 yen but the principle is something else. i've also heard from a friend who works in a hotel in ginza that some taxi drivers near the station will take the long way if they hear english, not exactly charging more but same effect
It's not just restaurants. Some bars in Roppongi and Kabukicho have been doing this for years, charging cover fees or table charges that magically disappear for Japanese customers. The distinction is usually based on language and appearance, so foreign residents who speak fluent Japanese often slip through unnoticed.
The more interesting cases are at places like ryokan or private onsen that simply refuse foreign guests outright, not even offering a higher price. There's a well known hot spring inn in Hakone that stopped taking foreign reservations a few years ago after guests kept breaking rules about tattoos and photography.
For the average tourist just eating at chain restaurants or convenience stores, the prices are the same for everyone. The dual pricing thing tends to pop up at smaller family run places or tourist traps where the owner thinks they can get away with it.
yeah it happens but it's not really a systematic thing. some restaurants in tourist spots like asakusa or tsukiji will have separate menus with english prices that are higher, they usually just look at u and hand u the english one. for distinguishing it's mostly just appearance and language, if u walk in speaking japanese or look like u live here they treat u different. there's a yakitori place near shinjuku i go to where the japanese menu has items for 150 yen and the english one has them for 300, same food. foreign residents who can pass get the local price, but if u look obviously foreign u might not. it's not widespread but it's real in certain areas
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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