Kichiji

Among the streets of Higashi-Nippori in Arakawa City, Kichiji offers approachable Chinese sweets and baked treats. The egg tarts are the first thing to catch the eye: crisp, layered pastry holds a gently sweet, simple custard filling. The plain version can be chilled for a smooth texture, while options such as raisin are enjoyable lightly warmed, allowing you to choose how to savour them.

The display case holds more than tarts. There is Basque-style cheesecake, rich and marked by a browned edge; Oreo box cake layered generously with crushed biscuits; and coconut roll cake, among other Western-style and Chinese pastries. The selection also goes beyond sweet cakes: buns and breads made with pork floss, a familiar ingredient in Chinese bakeries, as well as egg-yolk pastries, offer savoury-sweet snacks that make the shop particularly interesting.

There is space to eat in with a drink such as coffee, or you can take something away as a gift or snack. Open continuously from 11 to 21, Kichiji is an easy stop during a daytime stroll and an option to keep in mind when a sweet craving strikes later in the day.