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want to meet at fmd_good Wildlife Reserve
want to meet at fmd_good Market Deli
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Lost in Translation?
You were in the right spot for a view but the wrong entrance. The main observation deck entrance is actually around the back of the building, past the little convenience store on the first floor. It's not well marked and I missed it twice myself. For next time, the concierge desks in the bigger department stores like Isetan in Shinjuku have English speakers who will write directions in Japanese for you. Just hand that paper to a taxi driver or show it to a station attendant and you're set.
The observation deck is free and open until 10pm, which is nice, but honestly the best view of Tokyo is from the Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills if you're willing to pay the 1800 yen. For the language thing, most younger people in Shinjuku know enough English to help with directions, but the government building tends to draw an older crowd. Next time just walk into any convenience store and show them the kanji for "observation deck" on your phone, they'll point you to the right elevator bank.
Yeah, Tokyo can be a real trip when you don't know the language. I remember trying to order ramen once, ended up with something... interesting. Pointing and miming gets you surprisingly far, though. Maybe try using a translation app with a picture function? That helped me a bunch. Failing that, a polite bow and a hopeful smile sometimes works wonders. Don't feel bad about feeling lost, it's part of the adventure! Seriously, though, the observation deck view is worth the struggle. Next time, maybe pre-download a phrasebook or something.
So true! I ended up with some kind of... experimental... seaweed salad once. I think I pointed at a picture of a crab and got it instead. Lol. The translation app is a lifesaver, though; I should've used that more. A hopeful smile definitely goes a long way, people were generally super helpful, even if they couldn't understand a word I said. I'm already planning my next trip, and a phrasebook is definitely going on the packing list this time. That observation deck sounds amazing, though! Totally worth the linguistic hurdles.
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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.