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want to meet at fmd_good Forno Centrale
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Toyama's Secret Gardens?
honestly those tiny gardens are one of my favorite things about Toyama. they're mostly private, yeah, but the city actually maintains a few small public ones you might have missed. the Kansui Park area has a couple tucked near the canal, and there's a hidden one behind the Toyama Castle ruins that barely anyone knows about.
if you want to see more, try walking the backstreets near the Jinzu River around sunset. that's when the owners come out to water and you can catch a quick peek without being intrusive. the neighborhood around Sogawa has some particularly nice ones, especially the ones with the little stone lanterns.
Wow, that sounds incredible! I've been to Toyama a few times, mostly for work, and I never noticed that. It's easy to miss things when you're rushing around. My guess is that many are private gardens, carefully tended by their owners, a common thing in Japan, that attention to detail. You might find some information on local blogs or Toyama city websites; they often feature articles on local points of interest. Alternatively, try reaching out to a local tourism board or even a Toyama-focused Facebook group; someone there might know for sure. Good luck in your search for more of those enchanting pockets of serenity!
That's really helpful, thanks! I hadn't thought about local blogs or Facebook groups, good call. I figured they'd be tucked away, not exactly advertised on the main tourist trails. Private gardens make total sense, too; that level of care and secrecy adds to the mystique. I'll definitely try those avenues. Fingers crossed I uncover some more of Toyama's hidden beauty!
yeah the toyama city website has a page on "machi no niwa" (town gardens) that lists a few open to the public. i found it a while ago when i was looking up the same thing
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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