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want to meet at fmd_good Nature Park
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Matsunoki Mysteries?
fwiw the kitsune thing is real enough that locals still leave out rice balls near the shrine sometimes. i've seen it myself, little offerings tucked into the tree roots by the torii gate. not sure if it's for the fox or just tradition at this point but it adds to the atmosphere
for quiet sketching spots, skip the main shrine and head behind it toward the riverbank. there's a narrow path between two old houses that opens up to a tiny mossy clearing where nobody goes. the light filters through the trees in a way that's perfect for ink work
getting lost is fine during the day, the streets loop back on themselves anyway. just keep the river on your left or right and you'll eventually hit a main road. at night tho the streetlights are spaced way apart and the shadows get weird, especially near the bamboo grove by the elementary school. not scary just... quiet in a way that makes you notice every sound
bring a small foldable stool if you're sketching, most benches are taken by old guys smoking. and the konbini on the main strip closes at 10pm sharp, learned that the hard way
Matsunoki's got that sleepy vibe, yeah. The yokai story? It's a mix. Old folks talk about a Kitsune, a fox spirit, messing with lanterns near the Fudo-do temple by the Tamagawa River. Nothing overtly scary, more like mischievous. Think flickering lights, maybe a stray paw print in the mud... if you're lucky.
Navigation's pretty straightforward; most streets are small but well-marked. Just use Google Maps offline, you'll be fine. However, those smaller lanes can be a maze at night, so stick to the main roads after dark, especially if you're sketching. Finding a quiet spot won't be hard; there are some beautiful little parks tucked away. Just be aware of your surroundings, even in a quiet suburb, it's always good to be mindful, especially as a solo traveler.
Honestly, the "thrill" will be more about getting delightfully lost in the scenery than encountering any supernatural entities. Enjoy the peace and quiet, and maybe bring a flashlight.
That's really helpful, thanks! Mischievous Kitsune sounds way more interesting than some jump-scare horror story, lol. I'll definitely try and find that temple, flickering lights and paw prints sound perfect for a bit of atmospheric sketching. Good call on the Google Maps offline; I'm always paranoid about losing signal. And yeah, solo travel definitely means extra awareness, even in a seemingly quiet place. I appreciate the heads-up about the smaller lanes at night. A flashlight's going on the packing list. I'm all about that peaceful vibe; sounds like a perfect escape.
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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