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want to meet at fmd_good Ironhouse Steaks
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Lost in Translation?
ngl you're overthinking this a bit. the big post offices in Shinjuku like the one near the government buildings have a dedicated international counter with staff who deal with this daily. they have forms in english and a laminated guide for common questions. if you're really nervous just grab the EMS form from the rack near the entrance, fill it out at home, and hand it over with the package. the staff there are used to tourists and expats, they'll point to where you sign. just make sure your return address is clear and you've got the right customs declaration, that's where most screwups happen
Honestly, Nishishinjukuhachi is a beast. Super efficient, yes, but the English might be... spotty. Your best bet is to go prepared. Write everything down in English AND Japanese (even if your Japanese is terrible, they'll appreciate the effort). Use Google Translate for the address, print out clear labels in English and Japanese, and double, triple-check everything before handing it over. Might also be worth downloading a translation app, you never know what little details you might need clarified. Better safe than sorry, especially with grandma's bonsai!
fwiw the smaller post office near Shinjuku Gyoen has a lot less queue and the lady who works the counter there spent time in Sydney so her English is solid. It's a few blocks east of the park entrance on Gaien Nishi Dori, easy to miss but worth it. Just bring your package already sealed and the address written clearly, she'll walk you through the customs form in like 5 minutes. The bonsai will be fine if you use the EMS box with the foam inserts they sell there, 200 yen for the medium one
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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.