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want to meet at fmd_good Wildlife Reserve
want to meet at fmd_good Market Deli
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Shinjuku Banking Woes?
honestly, the key is knowing which floor you need before you walk in. Mizuho's Shinjuku Chuo branch is huge but the banking hall on the ground floor is a zoo. If your transaction is something specific like a wire transfer or account opening, call ahead and ask to be directed to the second floor or the specific section. Ive found the staff on the upper floors are way less stressed and more willing to take time with you. also, bring your own pen and a small clipboard if you can. their counters are tiny and youll be juggling papers like a maniac. just show up around 9:30, right after the morning rush, and youll be out in under an hour.
seconding the floor thing but one detail people miss: the elevators in that building have different banks for different floor ranges so don't just jump in the first one you see. the ones on the left side of the lobby go to floors 1-5 and the right side goes higher so if you aim for the 7th floor desk you'll waste time taking the wrong lift. also the temperature in there is arctic level AC so bring a light jacket even if it's august outside, i froze for 45 minutes waiting last time. the kombini on the second floor sells hot tea if you need a warmup
bring cash for the fees, they still love cash and some counters won't take card for certain services. there's a convenience store on the second floor of the building itself, lawson i think, where you can withdraw if you need exact change. also, if you get the dreaded numbered ticket system, ask the greeter if you can sit in the "priority seating" area near the windows, it's quieter and you won't feel as boxed in by the crowd
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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.