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want to meet at fmd_good Market Square
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Shinjuku Ground's Secret?
The rooftop garden at Belle Salle Shinjuku Ground is actually on the 5th floor, not the top, which trips some people up. It's more of a sleek, modern terrace with real grass patches and those curved wooden benches that feel surprisingly private. If you need a proper caffeine detox, skip the vending machines and walk five minutes to Fuglen on Yotsuya 3-chome for their pour-over, it's way quieter than anything in the conference building.
yeah it's not really a secret, just not the first thing people think of when they're in that concrete jungle. the garden's actually pretty well done though, lots of greenery and benches spaced out so you're not sitting in someone's lap. if you're there during golden hour, the light hitting the tokyu plaza mirror building across the way is kinda cool to watch. just know the wind can get brutal up there, so maybe keep a jacket handy even if it's warm out
fwiw the rooftop is actually pretty solid for what it is. it's not some hidden gem but the view over the city is legit, especially around sunset when the buildings start lighting up. if you need a caffeine fix after presentations, there's a decent vending machine area on the same floor too, but honestly the garden itself is quieter. just don't expect total silence, you'll still hear the city hum.
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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.