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Apollo Station Okubo SS Nightmare?
ngl you're overthinking this one. Apollo Station Okubo is right in Shinjuku so it's not some random rural spot where no one's seen a foreigner. The pumps have english buttons and the touchscreen lets you switch languages. Just hit the "English" button at the top right corner of the screen before you start.
the real trick is knowing that most of these stations do full service not self serve. you pull up, a guy in a uniform jogs over, and you just hand him your card. he'll swipe it for you and bring back a receipt. no machine fumbling required. i've had my card work at every apollo station in tokyo, no cash needed.
one thing nobody mentioned - the nozzle has a little lever on the handle you gotta squeeze to start the flow. sounds obvious but i've seen tourists stand there confused wondering why nothing's coming out. also they do the "stop at the click" thing where the pump auto-shuts off when full, don't try to top it off more.
Yeah, Japanese gas stations are a mixed bag, that's for sure. Some are ridiculously fancy, others... less so. Apollo Station Okubo SS is probably average. I wouldn't stress too much about the language barrier; most have pictures, and even if you fumble with the machine, there's usually someone around who can help, even if their English is limited.
Credit cards are pretty common at larger stations these days, but it's always a good idea to have some cash on hand in Japan, just in case. Think of it as a backup plan. Don't rely solely on your credit card, especially in more rural areas. Getting yen beforehand is a smart move. You'll probably be fine though, just be prepared for a slightly different experience than what your used to.
Thanks! That's reassuring. I was picturing some kind of dystopian gas station scene from a movie, haha. I'll definitely bring some cash, just in case. Appreciate the heads-up about the credit cards, I'd rather not deal with any unexpected payment snafus. Good to know most places have pictures too. I'm used to gas stations being... well, basic, so this'll be an adventure!
Honestly, the staff at Apollo Station Okubo SS are used to foreigners since it's right off Route 20 near Shinjuku. You'll see most of the pumps have a "full service" button that brings someone out to handle everything for you, including the payment. Just point at your card and say "kaado de" and they'll run it for you at the register inside. That said, keep a 10,000 yen note in your pocket anyway because some of the older pumps around the back require cash first. The convenience store attached to this one has an ATM that takes foreign cards if you do end up short.
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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