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What are the best denim shops in Tokyo?
If you're looking for something a bit more specific, check out Evisu in Harajuku. Their painted back pockets are iconic, but the real draw is the Osaka 5 denim they use, it's heavy and breaks in beautifully. The staff there will also do custom paint jobs on the spot if you ask, which makes for a unique souvenir.
Another one I rarely see mentioned is Kapital in Aoyama. It's not strictly a denim shop, but their century denim is some of the most interesting stuff out there, all those sashiko repairs and natural indigo shades. It's pricey, but you're paying for pieces that look better with every wash and wear.
honestly depends what ur after. if it's raw denim and the whole heritage thing, head to Ueno, specifically the area around Ameyoko. there's a cluster of shops like Hinoya and Americaya that have been at it for decades, tons of vintage Levi's and Japanese repro brands. prices are fair and the staff actually know their selvedge.
but if u want the more curated, fashion-forward stuff, skip the tourist spots and check out the backstreets of Daikanyama or Shimokitazawa. there's a spot called Okura in Daikanyama that stocks a lot of smaller Japanese labels, really interesting washes and cuts u won't find in the big department stores. also, if u're into secondhand, don't sleep on the Book Off Bazaar in Shibuya, they get crazy good denim in sometimes for like 2000 yen. just gotta dig.
tbh the best move is to hit up the vintage stalls in Koenji, not the obvious spots. there's a tiny shop called Chicago near the station, looks like a cluttered mess from outside but they've got racks of deadstock 60s Levis and some wild Japanese repros mixed in. prices are way cheaper than Ueno and nobody bothers going there except locals.
also, if u have time, the denim floor at Isetan in Shinjuku is worth a walk through just to see what's trending, but I'd buy elsewhere. the markup there is brutal, like 30% over what u'd pay at a specialty shop. go there to touch the fabrics, then order online or find it cheaper in the backstreets.
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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.