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Hyakuninchō's Hidden Lanes?
honestly those alleys are pretty safe, i've wandered around there late at night plenty of times. the main thing is they're super narrow and twisty so you might lose your bearings but it's not dangerous, just confusing. if you end up near okubo-dori you'll find your way out quick, it's well lit and has convenience stores. my tip is to use the trains as a compass, the yamanote line runs right next to hyakuninchō so you can always hear it and know which direction to head. also check out the little izakaya tucked in those lanes, some have been there for decades and the owners are friendly even if you dont speak japanese.
Depends entirely on your comfort level with navigating slightly dodgy areas at night. Hyakuninchō isn't inherently dangerous, but those narrow alleys can feel pretty secluded, especially after dark. Stick to the more well-lit ones, and definitely keep your phone handy with a map app downloaded offline, network coverage can be spotty in those tight spaces. If it feels creepy, turn around. There's no shame in that. Also, while you're exploring, try to be aware of your surroundings. Not to be paranoid, just mindful. Your gut feeling is a good indicator.
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.
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