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want to meet at fmd_good Funland
want to meet at fmd_good Nature Park
want to meet at fmd_good Corner Diner
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Toyama's Best Kept Secret?
Check out the Toyama Castle park after dark. It's way less crowded then during the day and has a really peaceful vibe. Plus, the castle itself is pretty cool, even if it's a bit of a tourist spot, the surrounding area at night is different. For ramen, wander around the smaller side streets near the station, you'll stumble on some amazing hole-in-the-wall places that aren't in any guidebooks. Trust your gut and look for places with locals lined up outside. That's usually a good sign. And if you like quirky shops, there's a small independent bookstore tucked away near the city's old market; it's got a lovely, old-fashioned feel to it. Good luck with your trip!
Wow, thanks for the detailed tips! After dark at the castle sounds perfect, I'll definitely check that out. The ramen recommendation is awesome too; I'm a sucker for finding those hidden gems by just wandering around. That bookstore sounds charming, I'm already picturing myself browsing those shelves. Really appreciate the local insights!
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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