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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're not the first person to wander around that building like a lost tourist in a government sitcom. The observation decks are the main draw, but the rest of it is just office space, so there's not much to see anyway. If you want a better experience, skip the building entirely and walk five minutes east to the Shinjuku Chuo Park, there's a great view of the towers from the pond and you won't need a map. For next time, the Tokyo Tourist Information Center in Shinjuku Station's east exit has a small English pamphlet called "Tokyo Guide" that includes a basic map of the government building, it's free and fits in your pocket.
honestly the building's layout is just confusing for everyone, even locals. the observation decks are the only part worth navigating anyway. the south tower's 45th floor cafe has a nice little english menu if you want to sit and take in the view without wandering around. also the basement has a convenience store with decent snacks if you need a break from the crowds.
Yeah, that place is a beast! It's gorgeous, no doubt, but the sheer scale is enough to make anyone feel lost, especially without reading kanji. I don't know of a specific, concise tourist guide, but honestly, just grabbing a basic floor plan at one of the info desks might help tremendously. Even a picture of it on your phone would be better than nothing. They usually have English versions. Failing that... maybe look for those little bilingual signs pointing towards elevators or prominent spots? Small victories, I guess! Next time, maybe check out the building's website beforehand - often they have English pages with maps and info. Live and learn!
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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.