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Naitomachi Nightlife?
The ramen guy wasn't wrong, just needs the right context. Head to the alley behind the post office, there's a narrow staircase down to a basement called Gin no Hoshi. It's a jazz kissa that's been there since the 70s, no cover charge, they play vinyl all night. The crowd is mostly regulars in their 40s and 50s, but they're friendly if you nod at the right moment. Drinks are cheap, about 600 yen for a highball, and the owner doesn't rush anyone out. That's the kind of "insane" you get here, a place that's been quietly packed every night for fifty years.
fwiw, the "insane" part might be a little hyperbolic but there's this tiny standing bar called Bar Hachi on the main strip near the FamilyMart. It's literally just a counter and like 8 stools, the owner is an older guy who's been there for decades. No English menu, no fuss, just good whiskey and sake. Gets packed with salarymen around 9pm, you'll prob have to squeeze in but that's half the fun. If you want food too, walk toward the back of the station, there's a yakitori joint with a red lantern out front, no name in English but everyone calls it Tori-chan. Skewers are like 150 yen each, cash only, and they close when they run out of chicken. That's the real Naitomachi vibe, just small places where people actually live nearby
Depends what you mean by "insane." Naitomachi isn't exactly Shibuya or Shinjuku, so it's not gonna be wall-to-wall clubs. But there's definitely a vibe. Check out the smaller izakayas tucked away on the side streets, the ones with mostly Japanese clientele are your best bet. Look for places with handwritten menus, maybe a little worn and cozy. Those are usually the spots where locals unwind. You might need a bit of Japanese to navigate, but even pointing at the menu and smiling usually works! You could also wander down near the train station, there's always a few places buzzing later in the evening. Don't expect anything super trendy, though. It's more low-key than anything else. Have fun!
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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.