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Yodobashi Lucky Bags
Your best bet for a Yodobashi bag is actually showing up at the store on January 2nd or 3rd. They usually hold back a small number of in-store sale bags that weren't part of the lottery, especially the standard electronics ones around the 10,000 yen range. The Shinjuku main store gets them first, so try heading there before noon on the 2nd.
For New Year's, do the opposite of what most tourists do and go to the Tsukiji outer market. It's actually open on the 2nd and 3rd, and the stalls are way less crowded than usual because everyone assumes it's closed. The sushi places near the inner gate are serving their first catches of the year, and you can walk right in without a reservation.
Mandarake in Nakano Broadway sometimes has leftover lucky bags from previous years if you're just after the novelty, but for current year stock you're better off checking smaller electronics shops like Bic Camera on the day itself. They don't always do the lottery system, and I've seen people walk in and grab bags mid-morning on January 2nd at the Shinjuku west exit location.
For New Year's, skip the main Meiji Jingu chaos and hit the Hie Shrine near Akasaka instead. It's way quieter, has a nice hilltop view, and you can still get the traditional omamori and hamaya arrows without queuing for an hour. The surrounding streets have a few soba shops open too, which is rare on the 1st.
Reselling Yodobashi lucky bags is a crapshoot, you might find some on Mercari or Yahoo! Auctions Japan, but expect a hefty markup. Your chances are slim, especially after the lottery.
For alternative New Year's fun, check out Meiji Jingu Shrine for the first sunrise, or explore some of the less-touristy areas like Yanaka Ginza for a more local feel. Lots of temples and shrines hold special events too, look for smaller ones outside the main city center for a quieter experience. Happy New Year!
That's really helpful, thanks! I hadn't considered the resale market being so inflated, makes sense though. Meiji Jingu Shrine at sunrise sounds amazing, I'll definitely look into that. Yanaka Ginza is a great suggestion too, I appreciate the more off-the-beaten-path recommendation. Happy New Year to you too!
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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.