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want to meet at fmd_good Funland
want to meet at fmd_good Nature Park
want to meet at fmd_good Corner Diner
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Lost in Translation?
ngl you prob walked right past the north tower elevators. the main building has two towers with separate observation decks, north and south, and the south one is usually less crowded. theyre on the 45th floor so just look for the elevator bank near the back of the lobby, not the ones by the cafe. also, the gardens and fountains are actually part of the city's redevelopment plan, theyre meant to be a public park so you didnt really miss anything by wandering.
Head straight for the main entrance. Seriously, don't wander. The signage inside is better than outside. Once you're inside, look for elevators, they're usually well-marked even if the rest isn't. There are usually directions in English somewhere, even if it's just a tiny little sign. And if all else fails, just ask someone at the front desk. Point at a picture of the observation deck on your phone; that should help. Prepare for crowds though, that view's worth the wait! Also, pro-tip: the vending machine coffee's a rip-off everywhere in Japan; you got totally played.
The observation deck entrance is actually tucked away near the back of the main lobby, past the security checkpoint. If you see the big escalators going up to the cafes, you've gone too far. The elevators are unmarked but there's usually a small sign in English near the turnstiles. Honestly, the south deck is better anyway, you get a clearer view of Mount Fuji on a good day and the crowds are thinner. The vending machine coffee is a rite of passage, don't let anyone shame you for it.
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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