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Shinjuku Sleepless
Depends on your tolerance for noise, I guess. Kabukicho is... lively. Toyoko Inn is pretty decent for the price, but it's not exactly a soundproof bunker. Earplugs will definitely help, but you might still hear some rumble. It's less the constant karaoke (though that's definitely there) and more the general street noise, people chatting, drunks stumbling around, occasional sirens. Think of it as a low-level hum that might interrupt your sleep. If you're a light sleeper, you'll probably need those earplugs and maybe even an eye mask. My recommendation would be to also try a sleep app with white noise or nature sounds to further mask the city symphony.
Yeah, that sounds about right. I'm a pretty light sleeper, so earplugs and a sleep app are definitely going on the packing list. Thanks for the heads-up on the Toyoko Inn, I was considering that one for the price. Good to know it's not a total soundproof haven, though. A low-level hum is one thing, but I'd rather be prepared than end up exhausted from a sleepless night in @Tokyo. Appreciate the advice!
The Toyoko Inn has those little plastic room keys and paper-thin walls, but the real problem isn't the hotel construction. It's the alley behind the building where the touts and host club guys stand around smoking until 5am. I stayed on the 6th floor facing east and could still hear them laughing. The earplugs will cut the high-pitched stuff but that low male chatter will vibrate right through. If you can, ask for a room on the north side facing the small street toward Okubo, it's noticeably quieter there. And don't bother with the breakfast, just grab an onigiri from the FamilyMart across the street instead.
I've stayed there three times and the noise level really depends on which night of the week you're there. Weeknights are manageable, but Friday and Saturday the street crowds don't thin out until after 4am when the last trains stop running. The hotel's AC unit makes a low hum that actually helps drown out some of the exterior noise, so keep that on even in winter. One tip nobody mentioned: ask for a room on the 8th floor or above, the sound drops off considerably past the 7th floor because of how the building's ventilation shafts are laid out.
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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.