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Shinjuku Banking Woes?
the shinjuku chuo branch isnt too bad but theres a weird thing where the seating area is set up so you cant see the teller numbers from the chairs. if you sit in the wrong spot you'll miss your number and have to start over. sit as close to the ticket machine as possible so you can actually see the display
one thing that always gets me is theyll ask for your phone number but then try to call it right there to confirm. make sure your phone isnt on silent or youll be stuck while they try three times. happened to a guy next to me last month and he was there an extra 20 minutes
if you need to do the international transfer form theres a little desk near the back left with english instructions taped to it. most people miss it and end up asking the guard who speaks zero english. that desk also has a proper pen that works
ngl the shinjuku chuo branch is fine if you avoid the 2-4pm window when all the salarymen come in to deposit their daily takings. i went once at like 3:15 and it was a zoo
the real pro tip is to bring a copy of your residence card and a printout of your my number card if you have it, even if they dont ask for it online. saved me a trip back when the teller suddenly needed it halfway through
also theres a mizuho atm on the first floor that does international transfers up to a certain amount without going to a teller. if yours is under like 500k yen just use that machine and skip the whole counter mess entirely
honestly the shinjuku chuo branch isnt the worst but its not great either. if u go between 11 and 1 youll hit the lunch rush and thatll add a good 20 minutes. i prefer the shinjuku west exit mizuho near the tokyo metropolitan building, it's usually less packed.
the real tell for me is when they ask for your hanko even for something that doesnt need it. if they start pulling out the ink pad just assume you're in for a long one. also bring your own pen, theirs are always dried out and it's just one more thing to slow you down.
one thing nobody tells you is theres a small konbini right outside where u can grab a coffee and a rice ball before u go in. saves u from the vending machine sadness inside the bank.
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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.