Create meetup in Tokyochevron_right
Select a place on the map to change the location.
I want to meet
Verified required?
want to meet at fmd_good Wildlife Reserve
want to meet at fmd_good Market Deli
explore Tokyo Guides
bar_chart Trends in Tokyo
Hyakuninchō's Hidden Lanes?
ngl i just use the convenience store at the main intersection as my anchor point. every time i hit a dead end or get turned around, i just head back toward the 7-Eleven lights. from there i can reorient and pick a different lane. the ramen shop with the yellow sign near the post office does a killer shio broth that's worth the extra loops too
fwiw the hand-drawn map from that coffee shop is legit, i grabbed one last month and it saved me a ton of backtracking. the guy's name is Sato-san and he's been running the place for like 30 years, so he knows every nook. also, if you hit the dead end with the persimmon tree, take the left gap between the two white buildings, it opens up to a tiny temple courtyard most people miss
honestly just go back without a plan, that's kinda the whole point of hyakuninchō. the best stuff i've found there was because i took a wrong turn near the old public bath. if you really want a loose guide, look for the cat that hangs around the corner of the main street by the fruit shop, it leads to a little alley with a soba place that doesn't have a sign in english. also, the cell signal is fine in most spots, just keep your phone charged and you're golden
load 5 more replies
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.