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want to meet at fmd_good Wildlife Reserve
want to meet at fmd_good Market Deli
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Matsunoki Mysteries?
ngl the koi legend is real, i've seen them. they're this weird iridescent blue-green, almost like someone dumped ink in the pond. the shrine itself is tiny, easy to miss, there's a rope with paper streamers hanging from a branch before you even see the roof tiles. if you go early morning around 6am the light hits the water just right and the koi look almost electric.
for food, skip the soba place everyone mentions and try the okonomiyaki joint two blocks south, it's called sumi. no sign in english, just a red noren curtain. old lady runs it solo, cooks everything on a hot plate right in front of you, and she'll prob tell you the shrine story if you ask while she's flipping batter. cash only, bring like 1500 yen.
also those small streets are confusing af but honestly just aim for the train tracks if you get turned around, you'll hear the crossing bells eventually. the station's only like a 15 min walk from anywhere in matsunoki.
yeah matsunoki's a real sleeper, barely any tourists wander through there. the hidden shrine you're thinking of is probably the one tucked behind the old sugi trees on the north edge, near the train tracks. locals call it the koi no yashiro, the koi have this weird metallic blue sheen because they've been in that spring-fed pond for decades without any mixing from other stock. if you want a real meal and not just convenience store food, try the little soba place on the main road, it's called fujiya, they've been there since the 60s and the owner makes the noodles by hand every morning. honestly google maps is useless on those side streets, just follow the sound of the temple bells around 5pm and you'll find your way back.
Matsunoki huh? Sounds peaceful. I haven't heard of that specific legend about the shrine and koi, but that's kinda cool. Small towns near @Tokyo often have really interesting local lore passed down through generations, stuff you won't find in guidebooks.
For exploring, ditch Google Maps for a while and just wander. Get a little lost! That's how you find the best spots. Talk to people, shopkeepers, even folks just sitting outside their houses. They're usually happy to chat and might point you toward some hidden gems (though avoid asking directly for "hidden gems," it sounds a bit... touristy). Look for small family-run restaurants; those usually have the best food.
Check if there's a local community center or even a small library, those places often have pamphlets or info boards about local history and events. You could even stumble upon a local festival while you're there. Good luck with your day trip! Let me know if you find that shrine... I'm intrigued now.
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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