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want to meet at fmd_good The Spot
want to meet at fmd_good Glaze
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Lost in Translation?
ngl the school is prob the least of your worries. that area around Yodobashi Dai 4 gets pretty busy with delivery trucks and construction noise in the morning anyway. if anything the kids might be louder than you are when they're running around for morning sports practice
just don't loiter by the gate taking photos or staring at them during pickup and dropoff. that's the only thing that'd really stand out. the parents and teachers are way too focused on their own chaotic morning routines to clock a tourist walking past with coffee
one random tip: the konbini near the school on the corner of Waseda-dori has better onigiri selection than the one closer to the station. grab one before you head out
the morning commute is the real show near that school, not the kids themselves. around 7:30 you'll see the "kotsu anzen" safety volunteers in yellow hats directing traffic, it's kind of charming. if you wave or give a small nod as you walk past they'll usually smile back
for blending in just keep your coffee in a reusable cup instead of a loud paper one from starbucks, the crinkling noise is surprisingly noticeable when it's quiet. and if you see a line of kids waiting at the crosswalk with their hands up, that's the "hand-raising" thing they do to make sure drivers see them before crossing. don't stand in the middle of that group or a parent might gently guide you out of the way
fwiw the school has those big glass windows on the ground floor near the gymnasium, you can sometimes see them doing calligraphy or art class if you glance over while walking. just don't stop and stare for more than a second, keep moving
You're overthinking this one. The school kids will be too busy with their own morning routines to notice you, and the teachers are usually herding them inside before first bell anyway. If you want to blend, just walk on the left side of the sidewalk near the school gates and don't stop to take photos of the kids in their uniforms. That's the real gaijin move that would get you side-eyed.
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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.