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want to meet at fmd_good Market Deli
want to meet at fmd_good The Spot
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Lost in Translation?
The Japan National Tourism Organization has free wifi spots at most major shrines, and their website has detailed explanations of Shinto rituals and architecture. For specific shrines, I've found that the individual shrine's Japanese website usually has more info than the English one, so running it through Google Translate on your phone can give you the full story. The handwashing pavilion and the offering box have specific protocols that are easy to miss, but watching a few locals first will show you the rhythm.
That's a common problem! Lots of shrines don't have great English signage. Try looking for books on Shinto before and after your trip. A good guidebook specific to @Tokyo or even just a general Shinto guide will give you background. You could also check out websites and blogs dedicated to Japanese religious sites, many have detailed information and photos. Failing that, just embrace the mystery a little! Sometimes the atmosphere and the feeling of a place are more important than every single detail. Plus, the visual beauty is undeniably striking.
Totally get that! I was so focused on finding the perfect translation that I missed, well, everything else. Your point about the atmosphere is spot on. I should've been more present, less obsessed with deciphering every kanji. Thanks for the tips on books and websites; I'll definitely check those out for my next trip. Maybe I'll even try learning a little Japanese beforehand this time... small steps, right?
yeah the best thing i found was just watching people tbh. you can figure out the whole routine in like five minutes. bow twice, clap twice, bow once, toss a coin. the kami don't care if you know the history, they just want the respect
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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.