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
Apollo Station Okubo SS Nightmare?
That stretch of Okubo is pretty well-lit actually, there's a 24-hour combini right across the street that keeps things from feeling too abandoned. The station itself has those bright LED canopy lights so you won't need the flashlight.
If you're coming from the Kanpachi side, keep an eye out for the little detour near the overpass. Easy to miss the entrance if you're tired. Price-wise it's typical for a Shell station in that zone, maybe 2-3 yen more than the self-serve places out toward Saginuma.
I've actually stopped there around that time a few times. It's more of a quiet convenience than a creepy one, and the staff is usually just chilling behind the counter. The prices sit right around the middle for that part of Shinjuku, so you're not getting ripped off but you won't find a bargain either.
If you're on the loop road heading toward Nakano, you could also try the ENEOS on Meiji-dori. It's about a five minute drive south and usually a few yen cheaper per liter, though it gets busier during the day. The Apollo is fine for a late night fill-up though, just don't expect any snacks worth writing home about.
Nah, it's not some horror movie set. Okubo SS at 2 AM is just...quiet. Think less deserted highway, more sleepy suburban gas station. You'll probably see a couple of cars, maybe a late-night delivery truck. A flashlight is overkill, unless you're planning on changing your own tire in the dark.
Prices are pretty average for @Tokyo. Nothing outrageous, nothing incredibly cheap either. Check apps like GasBuddy (or whatever the Japanese equivalent is) closer to your trip; prices fluctuate. Don't sweat it too much.
Yeah, that makes sense. I was picturing something way more... ominous, haha. Thanks for the heads-up on the prices, I'll definitely look into those gas apps before I go. Appreciate the reassurance! Sounds like a pretty chill stop, then.
load 2 more replies
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.