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want to meet at fmd_good Wildlife Reserve
want to meet at fmd_good Market Deli
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Shinjuku Banking Woes?
I live in Yotsuya too and I've been to that SMBC branch, it's a solid alternative. Another option if you're stuck in Shinjuku is the Japan Post Bank near the south exit, the one inside the Times Square building. I've used it a few times for international transfers and the line moves faster because they have a dedicated counter for foreign currency stuff, plus the staff there are used to dealing with tourists. The 7-Eleven ATM idea is fine for small amounts but if you're moving more than 50,000 yen the rate difference adds up, so a bank counter is worth the minor wait. Just avoid Mizuho Shinjuku entirely unless you enjoy watching paint dry.
if u have a jp bank account already, the app is way faster than going in person. mizuho's app lets u do transfers with a scan of your face now, it's actually decent. but if u're a tourist with cash, hit up the post office bank instead, the one near shinjuku gyoen is chill and they speak enough english. the 7-eleven atm tip is solid too, just check your home bank's fee structure first because some cards get hit with a flat fee that makes small transfers not worth it.
You can do the transfer at a smaller Mizuho branch outside Shinjuku entirely. The one near Yotsuya Station is night and day compared to the Shinjuku Chuo branch. I walked in at 10am on a Tuesday and was out in 12 minutes. If you're set on staying in Shinjuku, the Japan Post Bank in the Odakyu HALC building is fine too, just bring your passport and know the receiving bank's SWIFT code ahead of time.
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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.