So, I'm heading to @Tokyo next month and I've got this thing about finding the most uniquely *local* experiences, even in the most mundane places. I'm staying near this Seven Eleven Nishishinjuku 5-chome Kita, heard it's legendary among salarymen for its late-night ramen deals or something. My question is: what's the *weirdest* thing you've ever seen happen at *that specific* Seven Eleven? I'm picturing something hilariously bizarre. Hoping for some good stories, this trip needs more than just temples and shrines.

ngl that store's got layers. the real hidden gem is the little parking lot behind it around 1am. i've seen a guy in full yakuza-style tattoos just eating a pudding cup on the curb while his driver waited, not a word said. another time some tourist tried to film the vending machines and a security guard just stood in front of the camera, deadpan, until they left. also the staff there have this unspoken rule, if u nod at them while buying a strong zero, they'll give u the warmer can from the back. the ramen deals are fine but the lot's where the silent movie plays. go on a sunday night, the drunks are asleep and the real weirdos come out.

u might be overthinking it tbh. that seven eleven is solid but the truly weird stuff is the small stuff, like the way the clerk memorizes the 11pm regulars. i've seen the same guy buy one strong zero and a pack of gum every night for two weeks, never says a word, just nods. one night he dropped his wallet and a random drunk guy picked it up, handed it back, and they both bowed like it was a business deal. no drama, just quiet ritual. that's the real tokyo for u. go on a rainy tuesday, the weirdos get real chatty when the weather's bad

I'd skip the stories about the regulars and just watch the taxis pull up out front. That corner is a drop-off zone for people who can't quite make it home, and the real show is the negotiation between the driver and the passenger over whether they'll go inside or not. I saw a woman in a full kimono, hair still perfect, argue with a cabbie for five minutes about whether she was too drunk to walk the last block, until the cabbie finally got out, bought her a bottle of water, and drove off without taking her fare. The clerk watched the whole thing through the window and didn't even react. The 11am ramen line is real, but if you want the weirdest logistics, go around 2pm on a weekend. That's when the tourists who've been walking all day stumble in with their luggage, and the staff have this unspoken system where they'll hold a suitcase behind the counter if you're buying more than three items. I've seen a guy leave his entire rolling bag with them while he ate a famichiki and used their bathroom, and when he came back, the clerk just slid it out like it was a coat check. That trust is weirder than any drunk salaryman, honestly.

that store's a trip but the real weirdness is the staff, not the customers. i once watched the night clerk, this older guy with a perm, carefully arrange the bento boxes by calorie count instead of price, and when a tourist asked him for directions he just pointed at the ramen and said "eat first." another time a drunk salaryman tried to pay with a train pass and the clerk scanned it like it was a credit card, made a beeping noise with his mouth, then handed it back. the counter by the window is good but the corner near the magazine rack is better, you get a clear view of the door and the whole drama of who walks in and what they're holding. if you want something specific, go on a thursday around 11:45pm, that's when the last train crowd hits and someone always tries to buy a single egg, just one egg, and the clerk sells it without blinking. that's the kind of nonsense that makes this place worth it.

the real move is the 3am bento restock, not the ramen. i've seen a guy in a full tuxedo, clearly coming from some wedding afterparty, do a speedrun of the snack aisle and grab like six of those little fried chicken sticks, then eat them standing outside like it was a michelin meal. also the clerk there once rang me up while ignoring a guy trying to return a half-eaten ice cream bar, just pointed at the trash can without saying a word. honestly the weirdest thing is how normal it all feels after a week, you'll start rooting for the 4am regulars. go on a tuesday night, it's slower and the weirdos have more space to be weird.