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want to meet at fmd_good Adventure Park
want to meet at fmd_good Forno Centrale
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Hanazono Shrine's Secret?
You probably walked past the Inari shrine within the grounds. It's the one with the small red torii gates and fox statues, tucked behind the main hall. That particular spot is dedicated to the god of business and prosperity, so it's actually pretty popular with local shop owners. The "hush" you felt might just be the contrast from the busy main square. If you go back on a Saturday morning, you'll see the flea market set up right near there, it's a good way to see the shrine in a different light.
That's a cool find! Hanazono Shrine is pretty massive, so it's not surprising a little side shrine got overlooked. I've been to Tokyo a bunch, even lived there for a while, and I've never noticed that. Maybe it's something relatively new, or maybe it's just one of those things locals don't talk about much...you know, the quiet, almost forgotten places. It's possible it's dedicated to a less-celebrated kami or related to a local family's history, not a huge widespread legend. I'd suggest checking out some local historical societies or maybe even some Japanese language forums, you might find something there. Good luck with your sleuthing!
yeah that shrine's prob the Inari one the other person mentioned but there's a bit more to it. the fox statues aren't just decoration, they're messengers for Inari and people leave offerings like rice or sake there. i've seen old ladies bow twice and clap before walking past it real quick, almost like they don't wanna linger. the vibe shift is real tho, that corner's always quieter even when the main grounds are packed. if you're into the creepy side, there's a small stone marker near the back wall with some worn kanji, no one's bothered to translate it online last i checked.
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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