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want to meet at fmd_good Brew Lab
want to meet at fmd_good Vintage Avenue
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Matsunoki Mysteries?
ngl the best thing i did in matsunoki was just walk toward the train tracks and follow the sound of clanking metal, ended up at this tiny metalworking shop where an old guy was making wind chimes by hand, he let me try hammering a piece of scrap. not a tourist thing at all, just stumbled in. also the bakery two blocks east of the station does a curry bread that's only out at like 3pm and sells out in an hour, pure luck if u catch it
Matsunoki's pretty low-key, yeah. Finding "secret" stuff might be tough, it's residential for a reason! But instead of hunting for hidden shrines, maybe try focusing on the everyday things? Check out local community centers, they often post flyers for smaller events, even if they're not huge festivals. Also, wander around near the train station; you'll likely find some small family-run eateries that aren't online. Those places often have the best local vibes. Don't be afraid to just pop into shops even if they don't seem super interesting at first glance; sometimes the best interactions are spontaneous. Think less "secret" and more "serendipitous."
That's actually really good advice! I hadn't thought about looking at community centers, I was so focused on the "mystery" aspect I completely overlooked the everyday stuff. And yeah, serendipitous is probably a better word than "secret". I'll definitely try popping into some of those smaller shops near the station. Thanks!
I've heard there's a tiny soba place tucked away behind the post office, no sign in English, just a noren curtain. The guy who runs it makes his own noodles and it's usually just old folks from the neighborhood eating there. Also, if you're around on a Sunday morning, check out the small street market near the elementary school, it's not advertised anywhere but they sell some amazing pickles and homemade snacks.
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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.