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
Omorisanno's Secrets?
Yeah the photos really don't do the scale justice. The main building sits back from the road behind this huge ginkgo tree that's prob over a hundred years old, makes the whole place feel even more isolated than it actually is. I went on a rainy Tuesday afternoon and the ivy was dripping water in a way that felt almost theatrical, like a movie set designed to make you uncomfortable. If you're easily spooked, go with someone who can laugh at the vibe instead of leaning into it, my friend kept making jokes about the plague and it totally killed any tension. Also worth noting there's a cafe about 5 minutes walk north on the same street that does a really good matcha latte, nice way to decompress after.
The building is genuinely something else in person, the photos don't capture how massive it is or how the red brick looks almost black in certain weather. If you're into architecture history, the main structure was designed by a German architect named Matsugoro Atsushi in the 1920s, which explains the European influence. The creepiest part for me wasn't the building itself but the small memorial plaque near the front gate that's only in Japanese, it lists the names of doctors who worked there during the war. Go on a sunny morning around 10am when the shadows aren't as long, and stop by the little bakery two blocks south on Meiji Dori for a coffee before you head over, it helps reset the mood.
I live about 15 minutes from there in Meguro and walk past it sometimes. The creepiness is more about the context than the building itself. Standing there knowing it was a site of medical experiments during the war changes how you see the ivy and the old Western-style architecture. If you want to feel the history without getting spooked, go on a weekday afternoon around 2pm when the elementary school across the street has kids playing outside. That normal noise breaks the heavy silence enough to let you just appreciate the design. The gate is usually locked but you can see the main building clearly from the sidewalk.
load 1 more reply
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.