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Biking to work?
Biking to work is pretty common here, especially for shorter commutes under 30 minutes. You'll see a lot of people on mamachari bikes (those dutch-style city bikes with baskets) weaving through side streets and sometimes on the sidewalk. Legally, you're supposed to bike on the road where there's no designated bike lane, but the reality is that many people ride on the sidewalk, and it's rarely enforced unless you're being reckless.
The danger is less about cars and more about pedestrians, especially on narrow sidewalks near stations. I'd recommend sticking to quieter residential streets or following the route that delivery cyclists take. Just get a good lock and maybe a bell to warn people you're coming up behind them.
yeah biking to work is super common, especially for the last mile from the station. most people don't actually bike the whole way unless they live really close. the key thing is finding a good parking spot near your office, a lot of buildings have underground bike parking for employees but not all. i'd ask about that before committing
one thing the others didn't mention is registration. you're legally required to register your bike with the police (it's like 500 yen) and if they catch you without it they can impound the bike. also get insurance, some companies require it now and it's cheap like 2000 yen a year. the fines for running a red light or riding drunk are no joke either, i've seen cops doing random checks near shibuya crossing
for actual safety, the biggest risk is probably tram lines if you're near setagaya or tokyu areas. those tracks will eat your wheel if you're not careful. just cross them at a sharp angle and you're fine
honestly you'll be fine as long as you're not in a rush. the real trick isn't the road vs sidewalk debate, it's knowing which streets to avoid. avoid the big ones like yasukuni dori or meiji dori during rush hour, they're a mess. stick to the narrow backstreets and you'll barely see cars
one thing nobody mentions is parking. you can't just lock your bike anywhere. most stations have paid bike parking underground, like 100-200 yen for 12 hours. some konbini lots are fine for quick stops but don't leave it there all day. also get a mamachari with a basket, they're way more practical than a road bike for weaving through tight spots
people here are pretty chill about sidewalk riding but just slow down near old folks and kids. ring your bell early, not when you're right behind them. that's when people get annoyed
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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