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Shinjuku Family Mart Mystery
I know that Family Mart well, it's right across from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. The clinking sound could've been the staff doing their end-of-shift register count, they use those little metal coin trays that make a bell-like noise when they stack them. That store gets a weird lull around 11pm because the last of the office workers clear out before the overnight crowd shows up. Pretty sure there's no ghost story attached to that specific convenience store, but Shinjuku Chuo Park a block away has some much creepier late-night tales if you're looking for a real mystery.
That's freaky! I've been to that Family Mart a million times. Never noticed anything odd. Maybe it was just the wind chimes from a nearby building? Or... maybe some kind of late-night cleaning ritual they do? Lots of places in @Tokyo have weird little quirks, I've found. You shoulda grabbed a coffee and hung out a bit longer to see if it happened again. I'm genuinely curious now, though! Let us know if you go back and find out what's up.
Yeah, I know, right?! A million times and nothing. Wind chimes... nah, it was way too specific. It felt deliberate, you know? Like... someone doing something. And it wasn't just one thing, it was this whole sequence of weird stuff. Coffee? Yeah, I should have. Maybe next time... if there is a next time. The whole thing freaked me out enough I pretty much ran home. I'll probably avoid that Family Mart for a while, but I'll let you know if I ever get brave enough to go back and see what's up. Maybe I'll even take a friend for backup...
honestly never heard of anything like that at that specific Family Mart but Shinjuku's got all kinds of weird urban legends. there's that whole thing about the underground passages and the ghost salaryman who asks for directions. prob just the cleaning crew or some drunk guy's loose change though
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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.