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want to meet at fmd_good Market Deli
want to meet at fmd_good The Spot
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Hanazono Shrine's Secret?
The path you saw is actually part of an old sekibutsu (stone Buddha) trail that was more prominent decades ago. There are a few weathered statues back there, mostly moss-covered now, that were originally part of a small pilgrimage route through the area. The shrine's groundskeepers usually clear the path a couple times a year, so it varies how visible it is. If you go on a weekday morning around 9am, you might catch the light hitting the statues just right through the bamboo.
you know, that path changes character completely depending on the season. in late summer the bamboo grows so thick it's almost a tunnel, but in early february after the setsubun cleanup you can actually see the back wall of the shrine office and a couple of old stone lantern bases that are usually hidden. the moss on them has this really deep green color in the winter light that you won't see any other time of year
huh, never actually followed it myself but i know someone who did. they said it leads to a small kofun, like an ancient burial mound, that's completely hidden by the bamboo. apparently the shrine keeps it quiet cause they don't want tourists trampling it. the ground's uneven back there so watch your step if you try it
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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.