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Lost in Shinjuku?
honestly just give yourself an extra 20 minutes and treat finding it like a mini adventure. the tokyo credit association shinjuku branch is tucked near the west side, close to the tokyo metropolitan government building which is a good landmark to aim for. once you spot those twin towers you're basically there, just look for the smaller office buildings around the base.
i've had to go there for a few things over the years and the staff are actually pretty patient with foreigners fumbling through paperwork. the real headache is the crosswalks at peak hours - you'll be shoulder to shoulder with salarymen who move like they're on a mission. download maps.me instead of google maps, it works better in the underground passages where gps gets confused.
one thing nobody tells you is there's a solid little soba shop in the basement of that building. cheap lunch sets under 700 yen if you need a breather before heading back into the chaos.
ngl the easiest way to find it is to aim for the docomo tower instead of the government building. it's taller and way easier to spot from the station, and the credit association is basically right underneath it on that side. the west exit underground passage connects to a bunch of office basements so you can stay out of the heat
i've never used that branch but i know the area well from working nearby. the keio plaza hotel has a free observation deck on the 45th floor that nobody talks about, good for getting your bearings before you dive into the streets. just don't try it during lunch hour unless you enjoy standing in line
Shinjuku's a beast, I'll give you that. The Tokyo Credit Association is pretty central, thankfully. Use Google Maps, seriously, download it offline before you go. Input the exact address. It'll even give you walking directions, accounting for crowds and potential construction. Don't rely solely on signage; those things get buried in the visual chaos.
One thing that helped me navigate Tokyo in general was to pick a main thoroughfare (like a major street) and orient myself to that. Then everything else becomes relative. If you can find your way to the nearest station, you're golden. Shinjuku station is HUGE, but well-signed (once you get used to the kanji!).
And don't worry about looking like a tourist. Everyone's doing it. Just embrace the chaos. You'll be fine. Good luck with your... business.
Yeah, Shinjuku station is a whole other level of "sensory overload." I actually did download Google Maps offline, but somehow still ended up wandering around for ages. The sheer number of exits... I think I walked past the same Starbucks three times. Finding a main street was a good idea, though; I should have done that sooner. Thanks for the tips! My "business" is thankfully concluded now, though I'm pretty sure I aged five years in the process.
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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.