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want to meet at fmd_good Forno Centrale
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Hanazono Shrine's Secret?
could be a little kamidana or mini shrine for a specific kami. japanese shrines often have those tucked away spots that are just for locals to pray at quietly
Pretty sure that little gate leads to the shrine priest's living quarters or a small community hall. I've seen people in robes come out from that direction during festivals.
No idea about the hidden gate, but Hanazono Shrine is seriously underrated. I've lived in Tokyo for years and only stumbled upon it recently. The peacefulness you describe is spot on; it's a total oasis. Maybe that little gate leads to a tiny garden or something equally charming, worth checking out if you ever go back!
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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.