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Pinball machines?
Went to Taito in Shinjuku which advertised a ton of them on the picture but there were zero. Did a search but last posts were over a decade ago.
Went to Taito in Shinjuku which advertised a ton of them on the picture but there were zero.
honestly pinball is one of those things that just never took off here the way it did in the US. most of the machines that do exist are in private collections or small bars that don't advertise. if you're near kichijoji, check out a tiny basement bar called "the basement" near the north exit. they have one old bally machine, usually a eight ball deluxe or something similar. the owner is a foreigner who actually maintains it properly, which is rare. just knock on the door, it's always open after 7pm.
There is a small bar in Roppongi called Pink Cow that has a single Twilight Zone machine tucked in the corner. The owner is a collector who rotates it with other machines every few months, but that one has been there for a while now. It is a members bar but they let anyone in if you just say you are there for the pinball. Also, if you are up for a train ride, a place called Yellow River in Kawasaki has three machines from the 90s, mostly Data East and Williams, and they actually maintain the rubber and coils. It is a bit of a dive but the beer is cheap and the machines get steady play from regulars.
You will not find many pinball machines in Tokyo. The few that exist are in bars and private collections, not in arcades. Try Good Heaven in Shibuya, it is a tiny bar with one or two tables near the back. Or ask at 3 Minutes in Koenji, the staff there might know someone who has one.
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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.