Purchased seasonal bread (Chrysanthemum greens and cheese, Chestnut sesame loaf) at RAKUDA, a bakery featuring homemade yeast and domestic wheat flour, located a 3-minute walk from Kuroiso Station.

Just a 3-minute walk from Kuroiso Station‘s West Exit is RAKUDA, a bakery using homemade yeast and domestic wheat.

Its limited business days and hours made it hard to visit, but this time it coincided with my day off, so I went.

Basic infomation on the bakery

• Name：Rakuda
• Category：Bakery
• Address：2-11 Honcho, Nasushiobara-shi, Tochigi-ken
• Access：3-minute walk from the west exit of Station Kuroiso
• Business Hours: It seems to be mostly 13:00 to 16:00, but there are frequent changes (check the official SNS for updates).
• Regular Holiday: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays are common, but subject to change monthly (check official SNS for details).
• Phone Number: 0287-63-2986
• Official Website/SNS
  • (Instagram)
    https://www.instagram.com/rakuda.b/
  • (Facebook)
    https://www.facebook.com/rakuda.pan/

Review of my actual experience visiting

The entrance is a bit hard to find, but there’s a door in the middle of the fence of a private residence.

Further ahead, you’ll also see a small board with the shop’s name written on it, so if you get lost, look for it on top of the wall.

Purchased Menu and Price

This time I bought two seasonal breads and a donut!

• Chrysanthemum greens & cheese (\360)
• Chestnut sesame loaf (\620)
• Kanoko* Donuts (\220)

*Kanoko is sweet azuki beans left whole for texture.

Chrysanthemum greens & cheese

The toasty flavor of the bread, the distinct bitterness of shungiku (chrysanthemum greens), and the richness of the cheese all came together beautifully.

The combo worked way better than I expected—seriously delicious.

Shungiku can be a love-or-hate ingredient, but if you like it, you’ll totally fall for this.

Chestnut sesame loaf

The dough is super chewy, the sesame aroma is amazing, and the sweetness of the chestnuts ties everything together.

When you cut into it, you’ll find big chunks of chestnut inside—such a luxurious loaf!

Kanoko Donuts

A chewy donut made from dough mixed with kanoko—sweet whole azuki beans—and fried before being coated in kinako (roasted soybean flour).

Break it open and you’ll see plenty of kanoko inside.

The sweetness from the beans is mild and elegant, and the nutty kinako flavor makes it even better.

The atmosphere inside

The image of a candy store that looked like a secret hideout I saw when I was little.

When I opened the curtain, the shopkeeper greeted me with a smile.

If you ask about the bread on the shelves, she’ll explain it to you politely.

When I asked for recommendations, she happily suggested bread suited to my purpose (main meal, after-meal snack), which made me happy.

Features & Usability of RAKUDA

Here’s a quick look at the dining scenes and facilities at Rakuda.

Recommended for different occasions

Business hours are limited, so plan your visit accordingly!

Sales start in the afternoon, making it perfect for those who take a slightly late lunch break.

Any remaining items after closing will be available on the online store (though they often sell out completely).

Facilities

• Wi-Fi & Power supply：N/A
• Smoking：Smoke-free shop
• Payment method: Cash only
• Eat-In: N/A
• Online store: Available（https://rakuda-b.stores.jp/）

Access & map

From Kuroiso Station (West Exit), take the left-side exit*.
*The exit on the right is closer, but it requires passing through the smoking area, so I don’t recommend it.

Turn right, and walk straight ahead.

Cross the crosswalk next to the Kuroiso Station Police Box

Keep going straight until you reach an area lined with residential fences; the wooden door along the way is your landmark.

Summary｜Who I recommend RAKUDA for

• For people who love bread made with natural homemade yeast (not commercial dry yeast)
• For anyone who enjoys the aroma of Japanese wheat and that soft, chewy texture
• For those who want bread made with organic, carefully sourced ingredients

👉 If you’re looking for bread that really highlights the natural flavor of the dough and the ingredients, RAKUDA is absolutely worth checking out!