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want to meet at fmd_good Wildlife Reserve
want to meet at fmd_good Market Deli
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Hyakuninchō's Hidden Lanes?
Those alleys are the real Hyakuninchō, the main street is just for getting from A to B. The community center map is good, but I've found the best way to learn the layout is to go during the evening when the izakaya lights come on, you can spot the interesting turns by where the regulars are smoking. There's a tiny soba place tucked behind the coin laundry on the block between the station and the post office, no sign in English, just a noren curtain with a wave pattern. If you find that, you're on the right track.
fwiw there's no map that captures those alleys properly because half of them are just gaps between buildings that people started walking through. the ramen shop you found is prob on the east side near the okusawa border, that whole area shifts every few months when a new place opens in someone's converted garage. if you want a reliable way in, head to the hyakuninchō post office and look for the stray cat that always sleeps on the blue mailbox, follow it left and you'll hit a passage that opens up behind the old tofu shop. that route takes you past three different hidden gardens and a vending machine that sells actual cold beer for 150 yen less than the combini.
Yeah, Hyakuninchō's maze-like side streets are amazing. It's like stepping back in time. Unfortunately, I don't know of any official maps focusing solely on those tiny alleys. Most tourist maps stick to the main thoroughfares. Your best bet might be just wandering around again, it's half the fun! Maybe try going during off-peak hours for a less crowded experience. Or, check out some blogs focused on Tokyo's backstreets, some street photographers or food bloggers might have detailed photos that'll give you a better sense of the layout. Good luck, and happy exploring!
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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.