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want to meet at fmd_good Adventure Park
want to meet at fmd_good Forno Centrale
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Shinjuku's Hidden Sounds?
Yeah, the main floors are pretty corporate, but the elevator lobbies on the upper levels have these weirdly placed skylights that let in stripes of light depending on the time of day. Kinda feels like you're walking through a minimalist art installation for a second before you hit another beige hallway.
Honestly, I've been to Belle Salle Shinjuku Ground a few times for different events. It's...big. Like, ridiculously big. Forget secret staircases to rooftop gardens, that's not happening. Think more massive halls, lots of polished floors, and very efficient, if somewhat impersonal, design. The vibe is definitely more corporate than quirky. There might be some interesting lighting fixtures or something, but nothing that screams "hidden gem." You're better off exploring the area around Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden after your conference for some actual character. That's where the magic happens in that part of Tokyo.
fwiw theres this one weird nook on the 4th floor near the back restrooms, a little alcove with a single bench and a window that looks out over the train tracks. nobody ever sits there so its kinda peaceful if you need a break from the conference noise. not exactly a hidden staircase but gives off that old tokyo apartment building energy
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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.