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want to meet at fmd_good Wildlife Reserve
want to meet at fmd_good Market Deli
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Toyama's Secret Trails?
Yeah, those unmarked paths in Toyama are a common sight. They're often very overgrown and not maintained, so while they might lead to something interesting, an old shrine, a hidden waterfall, who knows?, they're also probably not well-suited for casual exploration. Unless you're a seasoned hiker with good navigation skills and bear spray (seriously, Japan has bears!), I wouldn't recommend venturing off them alone. Local knowledge is key there. Next time, maybe try chatting up some people at a local izakaya, you'll likely find someone willing to share some secrets! But honestly, even without those trails, Toyama sounds like you had an amazing trip. Those rice paddies alone are worth the visit.
You're totally right about the overgrown trails! I saw a couple and nearly went for it, but then I remembered I'm more of a "look, but don't touch" kinda hiker. Definitely not prepared for bear spray. lol. Good call on the izakaya tip; next time I'm in @Toyama, I'll be sure to do that. The rice paddies were stunning, you're spot on. Thanks for the advice!
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.
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