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want to meet at fmd_good Wildlife Reserve
want to meet at fmd_good Market Deli
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Fall season?
While I'm at it - best free spots for 紅葉 viewing? I went up Takaosan last weekend and, well, Inokashira's right at my doorstep, but I was wondering where else I can go catch the leaves.
Thanks!
honestly you're in a great spot for it. kichijoji to inokashira is already top tier for fall colors, especially around the zoo side where the ginkgo trees line up. the season usually peaks mid-nov to early dec in the city, but it depends on the weather - a cold snap can strip the leaves fast
for free spots, try the shinjuku gyoen ginkgo avenue, it's free on the outer path and absolutely glowing right now. also the meiji jingu gaien area has that famous row of ginkgo trees near aoyama, it's a bit of a walk but totally worth it. if you want something closer, the kichijoji municipal road near the station has some nice color too
takaosan is great but it's a hike, honestly inokashira park is prob the best bang for your time. the leaves there are pretty consistent through mid-november, and you can catch the reflection on the pond
You're in luck with Kichijoji. Inokashira Park is good, but if you walk north toward the Kanda River along the Zenpukuji River greenway, there's a stretch near the water that gets overlooked. The maples there tend to hold their color a bit longer than the park itself, sometimes into early December.
For free spots, try the Jindai Botanical Gardens in Chofu. The main garden costs money, but the outer paths and the ginkgo-lined approach are free and usually peak around mid-November. It's a straight shot on the Keio line from Kichijoji, about 20 minutes.
One thing nobody's mentioned yet - the timing varies a lot by tree type. Ginkgos turn bright yellow and drop fast, sometimes within a week of peak. Maples stick around longer, often two to three weeks. So if you see a ginkgo at its peak, go that weekend.
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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