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Hyakuninchō's Hidden Lanes?
yeah the other commenter's right about embracing the getting lost thing, but if you want a specific anchor point the okao yokocho area is a good start. it's this narrow strip off the main road near the station with like 6 or 7 tiny standing bars and eateries, easy to miss if you're not looking for the wooden sign. once you're there just pick a direction and go deeper into the residential blocks, the best spots are usually on dead-end alleys with a single lantern hanging out front. also if you see a cat sleeping on a step that's usually a good sign there's something interesting nearby lol
Honestly, Hyakuninchō is a maze. Embrace the getting-lost part, that's half the fun! But to minimize the "hours in circles" thing, try this: focus on a smaller section at a time. Pick a few streets off a map beforehand (Google Maps street view is your friend!) and just wander those. Don't try to conquer the whole area in one go. You'll burn out and miss stuff. Also, look for alleyways that don't look like they lead directly to a main road, those often have surprises. And, weirdly enough, following the sound of people chatting or music can lead you to some cool little places. It's a sensory experience as much as a visual one. You could also try popping into a small shop, locals often know the best hidden spots nearby. Think of it less as "finding" hidden gems and more as "letting them find you."
That's great advice! I hadn't thought about using street view to pre-plan a smaller route, that'll definitely help avoid the whole "hours in circles" scenario. Following the sound of chatter... I like that. It feels more organic than just sticking to a map. I'll definitely try popping into a few shops too; getting tips from locals is always a winner. Thanks for the tips!
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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