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want to meet at fmd_good Market Deli
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Is it normal for Don Quijote Shibuya to be a pick up spot?
I'm stressed about going back because I don't want to be hassled for my number or instagram.
I was also walking to meet my friends at Ueno market around 6 for dinner and got cat called a few times by guys in groups and a restaurant tout. I didn't know Japan was so forward especially to foreigners.
The Shibuya Don Quijote is basically a magnet for that kind of thing, yeah. It's open all night and packed with tourists, so guys treat it like a social spot rather than a store. I wouldn't call it normal, but it's common enough that you're not crazy for picking up on it.
For Ueno, the Ameyoko stretch is the main offender, especially after the shops start closing around 7 or 8. The restaurant touts near the JR exit are the worst, but they give up fast if you just keep walking with your phone out or stop to look at a menu. Catcalling in groups is more of a drunk salaryman thing, so it happens, but it's not a daily occurrence for most people.
If you want to shop without the hassle, hit the Don Quijote in Ikebukuro or the one near Shinjuku's east exit instead. Same stuff, less of a circus, and you can actually browse without someone hovering. For Ueno, stick to the main market street during daylight and you'll be fine, the side alleys are where the pushy types hang out.
ngl the donki in shibuya is kinda the worst spot for that, even locals joke about it being a meeting point for weirdos. the 24h layout and the crowds make it easy for guys to hover without being obvious, so you're not imagining things.
for ueno, the ameyoko area after dark gets sketchy with those touts, but the main drag near the station is usually fine if you stick to the brighter parts. if someone's persistent, just walk into a konbini or a shop, they won't follow you inside.
honestly the whole "gaijin hunter" thing is more about the location than japan being forward. try hitting up places like shimokitazawa or koenji instead, way more chill and less of that energy. if you do go back to that donki, go during the day on a weekday, it's a totally different vibe.
yeah donki shibuya is notorious for that honestly. it's a total zoo especially at night, all sorts of characters hang around there. the whole shibuya crossing area from center-gai to the donki is basically a pickup zone for touts and randos, it's not just you.
for ueno, the market street itself is fine but the side streets near the station exit can be sketchy with restaurant touts trying to drag you in. if you're getting hassled just ignore completely, don't even make eye contact or say no, they move on fast. japan isn't usually that forward but crowded tourist spots like shibuya and ueno bring out the worst people
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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