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Apollo Station Okubo SS: Pump Prices?
honestly, that okubo spot is a total trap for anyone driving through. it's not just land costs, it's that they're the only station for like 300 meters in that direction if you're coming from the shinjuku side. i've noticed they also tend to be pricier on weekends when traffic is worse, prob because they know people are impatient and won't bother detouring.
if you're in that area again, skip it and go to the e-neos on yasukuni-dori, it's about a 2 minute drive east and usually 8-10 yen cheaper per liter. no moon rocks but your wallet will thank you
the thing about that apollo is they're basically banking on people who miss the turn for the other stations. if you're coming from higashi-nakano side, the shell on oume kaido is actually closer and usually 10 yen less. i live nearby and i've seen the price difference hold steady for months. no moon rocks, just rip-off pricing for the convenience of being right there.
apollo station is a chain, not a random independent place. their pricing model is just aggressive, they set prices based on what the local competition charges plus a premium for being visible. that okubo spot is right by the overpass so they know they'll catch people in a hurry. if u want cheaper, head one block east towards nakano, there's a cosmo station that's usually 5-7 yen less per liter. the moon rocks would be a bonus though
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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.