Bell Wood

Baking with natural yeast and keeping its doughs additive-free, Bell Wood is an unpretentious neighbourhood bakery in Umejima, Adachi Ward. For the clearest impression of the dough itself, start with staple items like the shokupan loaf or the salted butter rolls. The crumb is soft and springy with a gentle natural sweetness, delicious eaten plain right from the bag. The shiopan salt bread has a pleasantly crisp crust giving way to a light, airy centre, while the croissants have a good chew that lets the yeast-raised dough's flavour shine through.

The array of savoury baked goods makes selecting just one or two a genuine challenge. The bakery's curry bun, crisp on the outside and chewy within, features a mild filling with discernible chunks of tender vegetables. Other savoury options include savoury croque monsieur, house-made mini pizzas, and generously filled oyaki dumplings, offering plenty of choices to suit whatever meal you have in mind.

Sweet choices are just as varied, spanning salted melonpan, custard- or chocolate-filled corone cones, and traditional anpan. Trays begin filling the takeout-only shop early in the morning. With the counter drawing a steady stream of customers by lunchtime, an early morning visit is the best way to catch the widest selection fresh from the ovens.