Create meetup in Tokyochevron_right
Select a place on the map to change the location.
I want to meet
Verified required?
want to meet at fmd_good Wildlife Reserve
want to meet at fmd_good Market Deli
explore Tokyo Guides
bar_chart Trends in Tokyo
Dating in Japan
Yeah, the app scene here can feel like a game of categories you don't quite fit into. For meeting people more naturally, I'd suggest checking out some of the smaller, themed izakayas in Shimokitazawa or Koenji. Places like Bar Martha or the jazz bars around there tend to draw a more open-minded, mixed crowd where being bilingual is actually a huge plus. Also, if you're into live music, the basement venue at Earthdom in Okubo has a really diverse audience that isn't the typical dating app pool.
Dating in Japan is tough, period. The "in-between" space you're in as a Japanese-American woman makes it even trickier. Forget the apps for a bit, they're often a crapshoot. Instead, focus on activities and hobbies that genuinely interest you. Join a hiking group, a calligraphy class, a volunteer organization, places where you'll meet people with shared interests, not just swiping profiles. Authentic connection trumps algorithm matchmaking any day. Good luck!
honestly, try joining a bilingual language exchange group or a meetup specifically for Japanese returnees. there's one called "Kikokushijo" meetups that often draw people who get the whole dual identity thing. way easier to connect when you skip the whole "explaining yourself" part.
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.
load 2 more replies