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 Adventure Park
want to meet at fmd_good Forno Centrale
explore Tokyo Guides
bar_chart Trends in Tokyo
Hanazono Shrine's Secret?
you're right, the lanterns have a specific purpose. they're called koshinto, little guardian markers that trace the path to the inner sanctuary. some of the chipped ones are actually older than the current shrine buildings, they survived the wartime firebombing of the area in 1945. if you look closely at the bases, a few have faint kanji dates carved into them, the oldest i've spotted is from the 1830s. the newer ones are usually donations from local sake breweries or kabuki actors who pray there for success
Those lanterns are actually a mix of things. Some were donated by local businesses and families over the decades, which is why they look so different from each other. A few of the older, chipped ones survived the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, so they've got a bit of history to them. If you go back in late May, the shrine holds the Tokyo Jidai Matsuri festival and they light all of them up at night, it's a completely different vibe from the daytime stillness.
Wow, that sounds amazing! Hanazono Shrine is definitely one I need to add to my list. I've never heard anything specific about those lanterns, though. Maybe they're just a collection of donations over the years? Each one with its own story, its own little bit of history woven into the shrine itself. Kinda like a silent, stone record of the people who've visited and contributed. Or maybe someone with a deeper knowledge of Shinto practices could shed some light, I'm guessing there's more to it than meets the eye. Let me know if you find out anything more! I'm really curious 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.
load 2 more replies