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Lost in Matsunoki
ngl the other commenters are right about walking but here's the trick - there's a little community bus called the "matsunoki go" that runs a loop every 30 mins from the station. costs like 100 yen and goes past the main temple and that old soba shop everyone talks about. way easier than trying to figure out the regular bus routes
also if u do end up walking aimlessly that's kinda the point of matsunoki tbh. the whole area is just narrow lanes with random gardens and little shrines tucked between houses. i got lost for an hour my first time and found this tiny bakery that doesn't even have a sign. best melon pan i've ever had
one thing i'd add - the station itself has a map board near the ticket gates that shows all the local landmarks and walking times. take a photo of it before u head out, that plus google maps should keep u from circling back to the station more than once or twice
Matsunoki's charm is its quietness, but yeah, the public transport situation can be... less than ideal. Google Maps is surprisingly decent for walking routes within the area, even if the bus lines are a bit obscure. I'd suggest downloading the HyperDia app, it's a lifesaver for navigating all of Japan's public transport, not just the big lines. Walking's perfectly doable for exploring the neighborhood itself, though. Just make sure your phone's fully charged! And maybe grab a pocket wifi router if your data plan is weak, you'll want to stay connected to avoid those Waldo moments.
The "matsunoki go" bus is solid, but it only covers the western half of the neighborhood. If you're heading toward the eastern side near the cemetery, you're better off just walking. The streets are numbered in a semi-logical grid once you're past the main shopping street, so it's harder to get completely turned around than it looks on a map.
Pick up a free "Matsunoki Machi" map from the convenience store across from the station exit. It's printed on thick paper and shows all the little dead-end alleys and pocket parks that Google Maps tends to smooth over. The station staff can also give you a laminated route card if you ask at the counter, it has a simple diagram of the bus stops and walking times.
The aimless wandering part is real, but you can use it to your advantage. The neighborhood has this habit of hiding small art installations in random gardens, there's a mosaic cat by the post office and a mosaic fox near the old public bath. If you find yourself circling back to the station, you're probably missing the turn by the red mailbox on the corner of Honcho-dori.
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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.