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 Nature Park
want to meet at fmd_good Corner Diner
want to meet at fmd_good City Market
explore Tokyo Guides
bar_chart Trends in Tokyo
Shinjuku's Hidden Sound?
honestly the bleed is real but it's not as bad as people make it sound. I've been to maybe 5 shows there this year and only had issues once when they had a DJ set in the big hall next door. For classical you're prob fine unless you're unlucky with the schedule.
fwiw the seats on the balcony level near the back actually have better isolation from the side halls. Sound comes from above less there. Also the staff at the convenience store across the street know the schedule better than the front desk sometimes, they get all the promo flyers.
You're right to be cautious about the bleed. The halls at Belle Salle share a common ventilation system, so sound travels through the ducts as much as the walls. I've stood in the lobby between shows and heard two completely different genres mixing in the air. For a classical concert, try to sit on the left side of the hall if you can, the right wall borders one of the louder event spaces and it's noticeably worse over there. Also, the staff at the information desk near the entrance are usually happy to check the evening's schedule for you if you ask nicely.
Belle Salle's acoustics are generally pretty good, but yeah, that bleed-through can be a problem. It depends heavily on what's playing in the adjacent halls. I've been to a few shows there, once, some seriously enthusiastic karaoke next door nearly drowned out a jazz trio. Brutal.
Best bet is to check the Belle Salle schedule for the day of your concert and see what else is booked. If it's something loud and likely to bleed, maybe bring earplugs as a backup. Or try to snag seats further away from any potential problem walls. You'll probably be fine though; classical music usually fares better than something heavy like... well, you know.
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