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want to meet at fmd_good Glaze
want to meet at fmd_good Adventure Park
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Shinjuku Banking Blunders?
ngl the third reply nailed it with the 10:30 tip, that's solid. but if you're already stressed and wanna cut the line entirely, see if your transaction can be done at the shinjuku gyoemmae branch instead, it's a 10 minute walk south and way less chaotic because most foreigners and tourists don't know it exists. the tellers there are also more patient if you need to fill out forms in english, just bring your own pen because they never have enough at the counter
honestly if you can swing it, try going right before they close, like 2:45 to 3:00 pm. most people think banks shut at 3 so they avoid that window but the shinjuku chuo branch actually stays open until 5 for counter services. the crowd thins out big time after 3:30 and the staff are usually less frazzled. just double check they handle your specific transaction type at the main counter and not the foreign exchange desk on the second floor, that's a common mistake i see people make
Early morning, before 9 am, is your best bet. Seriously, beat the rush. Think of it as a pre-coffee power move. Or, go after 2 pm, but expect some lingering lunch-break stragglers. Weekends are generally quieter too, if your schedule allows for that. Also, if you can make an appointment, do it. Saves you a mountain of frustration.
Good advice! I hadn't thought about appointments; that's a game-changer. The pre-coffee power move sounds... intense, but effective. Definitely trying the early bird approach next time. Thanks!
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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.