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 Market Deli
want to meet at fmd_good The Spot
explore Tokyo Guides
bar_chart Trends in Tokyo
Lost in Translation at Kasashiba?
Yeah the bento thing is real but don't stress too much about it. Most moms just do cute onigiri shapes and a few veggies separated by those little silicone cups, nobody's expecting a full anime character spread on your first week.
The bento box war is real but it's more of a friendly competition. At Kashiba, the other moms will notice if you just throw storebought stuff in a container, but you don't need to go full character bento either. A simple compartmentalized box with rice, a protein, and some colorful veggies is fine. The trick is making it look like you tried without spending two hours on it.
For the first impression, bring a small pack of individually wrapped snacks or tissues to leave in the classroom for emergencies. The teachers at Kashiba appreciate that more than a formal gift. Also, learn the specific way they do the morning greeting at that daycare, some places have a little chant or bow routine that's easy to miss.
Whoa, kindergarten paperwork in Japan? Yeah, that's a whole other level. The bento box war is...mostly a joke, but seriously, presentation matters. Think less packed and more pretty. Cute little sandwich cutters, careful arrangement, it's about visual appeal as much as nutrition. Think mini onigiri, colorful veggies, and maybe a tiny character-shaped piece of fruit.
For the first impression, be super polite, even more so than you normally would. Bow deeply, smile warmly, and speak quietly. It's a big deal for them to accept your child, so showing you appreciate that goes a long way.
Don't sweat the unwritten rules too much on day one. Just observe carefully, listen to what other parents are doing, and follow their lead. Most importantly, be approachable and friendly to the other parents. Networking with other mums is your secret weapon for decoding the mysteries of Japanese kindergarten. They're usually super helpful and happy to share tips. Good luck!
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.
load 2 more replies