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 Forno Centrale
want to meet at fmd_good Funland
want to meet at fmd_good Nature Park
explore Tokyo Guides
bar_chart Trends in Tokyo
Lost in Shinjuku?
i think the real issue is u were looking at the wrong side of the building entirely. the tca entrance faces the little service road behind the shinjuku center building, not the main avenue. there's a coin parking lot right there and the door is sandwiched between a bike rack and a shuttered tempura place that's been closed since 2019. my buddy used to work in the ns building across the way and he said everyone just texts each other "meet at the sad door" and somehow that works. if u go back, skip the street and take the underground walkway from the station's west exit, it comes out literally at the back of the lot, 3 minutes max. also the curry place in center building basement is solid but the real move is the standing soba counter on the 1st floor, 500 yen and ur out in 5 minutes flat.
lowercase hot take but that building's whole vibe is "we hate signage so much we put our logo on the back side facing the alley" lol. i live two blocks east and my trick is to look for the tiny red post box on the corner, then walk toward the bike parking, the entrance is basically a service door next to a vending machine. also the branch manager's name is on a plastic plate inside, i only know that cause i once had to drop off paperwork and the receptionist pointed at it like it was a secret. if u ever need to kill time while waiting, the curry place in the Shinjuku Center basement is way better than the soba spot everyone mentions, 850 yen and they don't rush u out.
ngl the real trick is to stop looking at the buildings entirely. the TCA branch is basically a secret handshake for people who already know the address. i've walked past it maybe 20 times before i realized it was there. if you're ever lost again, just head for the Shinjuku Center Building, that's the one with the big clock, and the TCA office is tucked in the shadow of it on the west side. honestly the salaryman probably gave you the best directions possible, vague pointing is the shinjuku native way. next time just use the post office as your anchor, it's the only thing with actual signage that doesn't blend into the concrete.
load 10 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.